Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-12-02
THE BOSTON CASE-THE OPINION OF
MIR CRITTENDEN.

THE BOSTON CASE-THE OPINION OF
MIR. CRITTENDEN.
To all readers Of the Vrglnian, our opinion is
we'll known. that unless the North shall permit
the execution Of the Fugitive Slave Bill the I'm
law may be obsuuccd;--it may be by open re-
sistance. or by assisting fugives to elude pursuit
and thus to escape, or it may be by remssness in
duty, and dlaorincss Of action on the part OF
the officers OF Justice winked at and encouraged
by the community. If the law be practically
nuliicd by any Of these methods, we repeat,
that tie present union Of the States can never
be perpctuatcd. In every matter OF difference
which has arisen between the North and South.
under the present Constitution, the latter has
made large and liberal concessions. These con-
ecssions have been made, when abstract right,
and a strict construction of the Federal compact
would well have warranted IA refusal of all com
promise. They have been made in Difference TO
a construction, of which the Constitution was
susceptible, by giving TO It's mere language the
most latitudlnous meaning, and through a sincere
devotion TO the Union of the States. The argu-
ment of the North however now made in oppo-
siiion to the law for the recovery Of runaway
slaves, has not even the merit Of plausibily. Il
is one which the South cannot respect and to
which if anything be yielded, our people might
and ought to be subjected to bondage more than
Egyptian in its CALLING severity.
Looking then to the mighty consequences con
nccted with our own dcstlnics as free people
aud affecting human liberty and republican insti-
La,
tive execution OF the provisions Of this Bill, II is
not at all wonderful that we watch its operation
in the Northern States with the protoundest
anxiety. In some parts of New York and Penn
sylvania, the Judges, Commissioners and Mar
shals, have discharged their duties with eXempla-
~ fidelity. Their frmness, energy and activity
have awcd the mob, and repressed all outbreak
and violence. And it is most significant and
gratifying fact, that whenever the officers of JUS
,icc have met the responsibilities of their several
stations with becoming spirit and resolution
wholesome and sustaining public sentiment la,
been almost Immediately developed. Whilst We
have been favored by these encouraging ndca.
tons of just and lawabdng temper in certair
portions of the North, are panied that mani
/ II
been made elsewhere. The Intellectual attcmp
in tho city of Boston to arrest the slave Georg,
Crafts and his WIFE and the hostile demonstra
tons of the mob towards MessrS. Hughes an,
Knight, are especially to be dcporcd. The lag
gard and hesitating conduct of Judges Spragu,
and Woodbury., and the delay and evasion Of du
ty on the part OF the Marshal, were scarcely les
len thnn hn If cit L.,
assembled to insult Hughes and to resist the law
II there had been prompt action at the outset
followed up, if violence had been threatened b.
calling on, the Military, these slaves would hay
been recovered, and what is of more importance
the supremacy of The laws would have been win
dictated, and the character of the city, preserves
unarnshod. AS it is, however, the fugitive
have escaped, the laws have been defed, an
the mongrel rabbc have triumphed We fee
that the Marshal, Charles Devens, is ospecall
to be blamed tor these unoward results AM
while we doubt not tina, the papers submitted t
the Attorney General warranted the opinion
which he gave TO the President in regard to III
conduct of Dcvens, yet we think that the princi
; pies upon which his judgment was formed, wer
too lcnent and snch, as if they are continued I
be acted on, will screen from responsibility ever
other Marshal who by paIleying and delay MAJ
wish TO give the slave pursued an opportunity I
escape. The emergency is cr,ical, the inter
ests involved are incidentally important, and ey
cry officer charged with the enforcement Of TIN
laws, whether judicial or executive, should b.
held TO the Strictcst accountability. In othe
words his conduct should be such as to constitute
its own vindieation, independent of all certificate
and athdavltS. We believe nothing short of TN
will answer the present necessities of the day
and be available TO save the Union.
We have no language, to express the indigna
ton and loathing we feel for those pious and pet
titoggng abolltioniStS, who resoued TO suits 10
SANDER, in order to annoy Hughes, and TO dete
/ him from his rcsoluto pursuit of Crafts. Tha
they were enabled to effect their object in yer,
great degree through the ordinary forms of Jus
tee indicates a state of affairs in Boston which
ought TO be remedicd, though 10 do So shoult
require the hanging and quarering of hos,
evolves in sleeps clothing" Canning and Par
ker, Designating the plaines preceptS of the
Bible, the cleareSt principles of right
and Subvertng the necessary and Fundamental
ideas OF society and government, they doserv,
the eXecraton of all good citizens, and should be
punished as rioters aud kdnappers, If an ex
ample could once be made OF such men If the,