The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-25
The Boston Commissioners and Marshal

The Boston Commissioner and Marshal.
The submission prints of this city and else
where, are greedily catching at an excuse
for the defeat Of the Fugitive slave law in the
case Of Crafts at Boston, which has been
recently put forth by GEORGE It. CURTIS, one
of the Commissioners under that law, in the
shape of letter to DANIEL WEBSTER. A more
ridiculous epistle of excuses for gross bunders
of f.ithless or cowardly public servant we
have seldom seen.
IL appears that this Mr.. Curtis was duly
commissioned under the law TO issue warrant
for arrest in such cases On accepting that ap-
pointment, he ought Immediately to have ac-
quainted himself with his duties under it. He
must have known that fugitives We're fleeing be-
yond the jurisdiction of the law, from all parts
of the North, and that there was the strongest
probability that he would soon be called on to
aid in execution But in what light does his
attempted excuIpaton exhibit him? Let us
look at him.
He says that when the attorney for the claim
ant called on, ard asked him. if he was ,olling to
attend to case of fugitive slave, he gave the
following evasive response -
any reply was, that could not answer an
inquiry whether should be willing to do nv
duty under the law of the land that when q
case was presented to me, it would be for me
to decide on the facts whether it was proper
case for warrant"
The agent was then brought before him and
presented his statement and demand, together
with n witness to identify the fugitive. But
Mr. Commissioner CURTIS then insisted OH hav-
ing the complaint made in writing and sworn to-
although he admits that the statute did not in
terms require it," Well, after delay, this extra
judicial paper was prepared and put in his hands
But this did not suffice. lie did not then think
it expodient to issue the warrant, but assumed
that "lhe best interests Of the community" and
Of the law, &c, required that 1t should be issued
by the circuit court of the United States then in
session. He then consumed another day in as
sembling the four commissioners, and having an
interview with Judge WOODBURY., Mt which the
Judge decided at oace to give hearing to the
case ut the unusual hour of haf-past eight the
following morning, before the trial of u case then
pending should be resumed. The hearing was
had accordingly, and warrant for arrest granted
under the seal of the court What would have
become of the case in the hands of an officer so
wanting in nerve and intrepidity, had the court
not been in session, it would not be difficult to
guess
And the Marshal was like unto him. He too,
must let the horse run away before he shut the
stable door. When the warrant was placed in
his hands for execution, he became suddenly
impressed with the belief that "very heavy re-
sponsibilities" were involved in the discharge OF
his duties. He must, therefore, consume yet
more time in obtaining legal advice" from CON-
missioner CURTIS brother, as to how far he
might safely proceed in executing the warrant
And not satisfied with that, he must also have
opinion rs to whether, if the warrant in his
hands had been issued by commissioner in,
stead Of Judge, he could exert the same degree
of force in executing it.
Well, the opinions were finally obtained
One as to his duties under the warrant (which
had actually been issued" and the other as to
the warrant which might be placed in his
hands"
Now, while all this was going on, the fugitive
had fortified himself in his castle, and hostile
public opinion was aroused. Thus the execu-
ton of the process was defeated, the majesty OF
an indisputably constitutional law insulted, and
dscountenanced in the city of Boston, and its
derilect officers still hold their commissions.