Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-11-22
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.

L
The National Intelgencer introduces the Pre-
sidents letter to Mr.. Collins of Georgia. with the
following remarks:
The Georgia papers, received last evening" contsin
the suhoned Letter from the President of the United
States in reply to citizen OF Georgia. respecting the
case OF certain slaves escaping from that State to Bos-
ton and there through the agency of the Abolltionss
evading the attempt OF their TO them.
The letter Is important as furnishing public and ex-
plcit assurance of what all who know the President
felt we'll assured OF betorethat he stands ready
ploy his whole power in enforcing the act OF Congress
tor the recovery OF fugitive slaves, whenever the Off
GERS charged with its execution shall find themselves
so obstructed in the performance of their duty
qure the nterpositon of the Executive arm; and that
he in like manner stands ready to punish any officer
~ he Government who shall prove taithless to his
duiy i'll the execution OF the law.
The Union speaks Of the letter thus
IMPORTANT DocUMENT-We received by last even
lngs Southern mail the Savannah Republican of Sat-
urday last, from which we extract very interesting
letter from the Executive of the United States. We
should be utterly wanting in beraity if we did not
cordially approve the spirit of Mr.. FilImore's letter.
We hail 1t with pleasure sign of his determination
t0eIeeute in good faith the laws of the land and espe-
cailythe important law upon which the Union of these
States hangs. But we must again respectfully ask
whether the President has directed inquiry be made
into the official conduct of the Marshal of Massachu-
setts whether if he has uot doneso already the facts
charged Knights letter do not require the scru-
pulous investigation; whether the facts stated in the
following article do not enforce the CALL and whether
il the Marshal OF Massachusetts, should have proved in
the slightest degree remiss in the discharge of his du-
tee it not due to the public peace and to the laws
remove him without delay? Another suggestion we
beg also to repeat whether the President of the United
Staes although he might not call out man to meet
the contingency would not be rendering great public
service by issuing proclamation warning all citizens
attend TO the law Nothing would Justify this course
admit, but the critical, and alarming, and excited
state OF the public mind.
The article referred to by the Union is from the
Savannah Republican, and is as follows:
We are indebted to the Macon Journal and Messen-
ger. and the Georgia Citizen, for slips containing the
following highly important letter from President Fill
to Dr. Robert Collins, of Macon, in relation to
the slaves who escaped from that place to Boston and
about whom there has been much excitement re-
ceoty among the blacks and abolitionsts of that
place. His letter is highly satisfactory. 1t must as
the most skeptical that the fugitive save law will
be executed, if the militia and the army and navy OF
the u. States do it.
The Journal and Messenger remarks that "here is no
special mode prescribed of apprzng the President of
The difficulties distractions in the execution of the ie-
dera laws; but the marshal is the officer whose pow
er and authority are Immediately inerfered with, he
would be naturally aud properly the officer to inform the
President OF the existence of the emergency for his Of
hcal cooperation.
The marshal of Massachusetts and the commission
ers ofthat State who applied to have acted in bad
saith. They refused TO do their duty promptly-hey
delayed the issuing OF the warrant until the object of
Messrs Hughes and Knight was made known to the
sbolonists and free negroes OF Boston. The marshal
refused to execute the warrant when put into his hands,
unless furnished with the evidence that Crafts
tuaily in Cambridge street he refused 10 take the as
surances OF Knight to that effect
The officers therefore, did iat to do their duty
Unfortunately, DR.. Collins, when he to the Pesi-
dent, in possession of the proofs of these facts
and did not furnish them. These will, no doubt he
forwarded to Washington as soon as Mr. Hughes re-
turns. Ia that event, President Fillmore stands pledged
10 remove the tdihlesS and pe,jared officers and sup
ply their places with honest men-with men who will
do their duty Ii such men cannot be found in Mas
achusets, the President has full power send them
rom other States.
Messrs. Collins and Taylor have legal recourse both
upon the officers IN question and the vigilance commit
lee in Boston, and understand they intend pros
ecute the parties to the extent of the law For
tunately, these cases will come up before the United
states courts where the "higher-law" doctrine will
not evail, and where justice will be executed. The
penalty tor obstrucng the law is 900 for each ind
ydua 1.-THE proper effort is made, the Intermediates
IN Boston may yet be made pay dearly for their fol-
lY IN more WayS than one.
These views accord entirely with our own
and especially what the Republican says of the
2 Boston officers. We hope their conduct will be
subjected to the most rigid investigation. AS tothe
Unions suggestion of a Presidents Proclamation,
we think one is scarcely demanded after so ex.
plicit an avowa as we have in the Georgia letter.
That letter is in answer to the complaints of a
single person who has suffered injury from the
non-execution of the Fugitive law but it was
doubtless intended to inform all who are now, or
may be hereafter, similarly interested, what may
be expected at the hands of the Executive.