Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-11-28

SrArs DErARrMENT,
Washington. Ncv. 9, 1850.
Robt. Collins, Macon, Ga-Sir: AN ,nstfuc-
ted BY the President to inform you that your let
ter Of the Sd inst addressed to him, enclosing
several slips from newspapers, in reference 10
proceedings of portion Of the community OF
Boston, on the subject Of the fugitive slave law.
was received by him yesterday. and that ne has
given to this letter and its enclosures careful
perusaL You state in substance, that you are
owner If Crafts, one of the fugitive slaves for
whom warrants of arrest were issued in Boston,
and call the Presidents attention TO the enclosed
slips, taken mostly from Northern papers. BY
which he will perceive the manner IN which your
agents were received and treated, for merely
asking that the slaves be returned. according to
the laws Of the United States; that they have
been arrested, under various warrants. as KID
nappers and on other frivolous preteEces, and
unreasonable balls demanded; and that your
friends have become their suretIes tor more than
$4,000. You also say that many cases in which
officers have not performed their du'y will ap-
pear by the slips, and that warrants now lie dead
in the marshals Office. You then speak Of the
pernlcious effect of such proceedings and ct
their tendency to disturb the harmony Of the u
Mon, and Of the great importance OF having the
law faithfully executed, and finally inquire whe-
Their it is not in the power, and IS not the lnten-
ton of the executive of the United States, 10
cause that law to be faithfully and properly en-
forced?
To this the President directs me to reply, that
you cannot be more deeply impressed Than he is
with the importance of having every law faith
fully executed. Every statute in This country,
passed in accordance with the provisions Of the
constitution, must be presumed to embody the
will of majority of the people Of the Union,and
as such is entitled to the respect and obedience
of every true American citizen; and the con-
stitution which the President was sworn to sup
port, has made i his especial duty 10 take care
that the laws be faithfully executed. He has no
thought Of swervng from his duly in this or any
other case, bot will, to the utmost OF his ability,
firmly and faithfully perform it. But how is he
10 cause the laws 10 be executed? FIRST, by
appointing proper officers TO fill the off
ces and discharge their various functions, with
diligence and fidelity, and if any shall be found
incompetent or uniaithfnl, by removing them
where he has power Of removal, and appointing
more competent and faithful officers in their pla
ces, and, secondly, in extreme cases, whenever
the laws of the UI,ted Sta,es shall be opposed,
or theiexecutIon thereof obstructed, In any State!
BY combinations too powerful to be suppressed
by the ordinary course Of judici1l proceedings,
or BY powers vested in civil officers, with powers
which the law au horzes and requires them to
call to their aid-it would be his duty To call
forth the militia, and use the army and navy, for
the purpose of overcoming such forcbe combi-
nations against The laws.
But in either case, prudence and justice re-
quire that there should be more satisfactory evil
dence of official delinquency or forcibe resist
ance than mere ru,nor or newspaper statements,
aud yet these are all which have been furnished
in The 4 hal lacfa
form his duty. the law gives the right Of action
to the nggrieved party for the Injury which he
may sustain; and ifhe refuses to perform it the
statute has imposed upon him a severe penalty
but if he refuses or wiliully neglects to per-
form it, when this shall be satisfactorily made to
appear 10 the President, then, in addition TO his
liability TO the aggrieved party, it would doubt
less be the duty OF the executive to remove him
from Office, and appoint another in his place
But your letter contains NO proof OF this kind
and therefore seems to require no action. Il is
equally clear that no case is presented justifying
q call upon the militia, or the use Of The army,
to execute the lave, and the President has so
much confidence in the patriotism and devotion
to the laws which has always characterized a
large majority of the people Of Boston, that he
cannot for moment believe that il will ever be
necessary to call on any extraordinary aid TO OK
ecu;e the laws in that city. Individuals may
become excited, and may, in the heat of the mo-
ment, offer resistance to the laws, but he has no
doubt that, IN such an event. SO much to be re-
GREETED, the good sense of the community would
soon rally to support The civil authorities, ana
that those sustaining the law would triumph. =
But he directs me to assure you that If unfortu-
nately he should find hinisclf mistaken in this,
and the painful necessity should arise, he should
perform his dury by employing all tine means
which the col stlluiion and congress have placed
at his disposal to enforce the law.
As to the complaint that your agents were un
Justly prosecuted and held TO bal, in unreason-
able amounts for pretended offences, the Pres
ident directs me TO say that however he may re-
rret any such Injustice and incivity, he is not
aware that he has power to remedy the evil. II
The complaints against your agen, be unfounded
the defendants will doubtless be acquitted. and
if malicious, they have their remedy in action
for malicious prosecution. But all these are
leyal questions over which the executive can
exercise no C, ntrol, ami The evil complained OF
results from the acknowledged rights OF every
individual to prosecute any one for an alleged
offence or violation OF rights.
FROM the importance OF avoiding as far as
marketable all causes of irritation between the
north and the SOUTH and especially on the exert
ing subject of slavery, we're he permitted 10 ad-
wise, he would suggest to all The importance Of
permitting the laws TO take their usual course,
and that every thing like intimidation, or Illegal
or unjust annoyance, should be scruplously a.
voideG. Every effort should be made to cultiv-
ate a fraternal feeling. We should be people
of one interest and one sentiment-knowingn no
local division, and ioeratlng no sectional injus
tice. Our Union, go dear 10 the heart Of every
true American, can only be preserved by strict
observance of the constitution, and impartial ad-
mnstration of the laws.
am, sir, respectfully your obedient servant,
w. s. DERRICK, Acting Secretary.
Southern Convention.