The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-21

| ueHls tLldt VIII he 1Nttcs tnus
copies THE LETTER from the Citizen, of Macon,
the sheet which was put down by public indigna-
| ton for its Abotonism some time since, but
| which has again revived since submission reared
| its head in Georgia"
| Here are three or four points of complaint,
the inevitable deduction from which is, that the
Press is quite apprehensive that the letter is SO
just, and moderate, and satisfactory, that it will
operate to the disadvantage of the Disunionists
In Georgia. We are of the same opinion, and
we think it was very proper and wel-consid-
cred In DIR. COLLINS to publish the letter i'm
mediately on receiving it; and particularly in
view of the election impending And, mas
much as the negro in question was the property
of DR.. COLLINS, and of nobody else. we appre-
bend that, if he is satisfied with the PREsI-
DENTS part in this matter, it cannot be very
far wrong. He is the least likely, being the
sufferer, TO be easily satisfied 1t is surprising
to what extent the existing excitement is famed
by gentlemen who own no negroes them
selves, but who are exceedingly distressed by
the wrongs and injuries inflicted upon the slave
holders. The fling of the Press at DIR. Col
Inns is in the spirit in which the Friend of
Humanity rails at the Knife grinder in the
.4nti-Jacobin--
+" Wretch whom no sense of wrongs can rouse 10
vengeance;
"Sordd, unfeelng, reprobate, degraded,
"Spiritless outcast!"
The Washington Union receives the letter
in somewhat different temper 'We should
8 no in ,, 4
we did not cordially approve the spirit of Mr..
FILLMoRE's letter. We hail it with plea
sure, as sign of his determination to exc
cute in good faith the laws of the land, and
especially the important law upon which the
Union of these States hangs" Z" Still harp
ing sc. We do not see that the PRESIDENT
regards any one law as involving the fate of the
Union, or that he entertains any views in re-
gard TO one law which are not common to all
the laws. But the Union has not received in
formation enough. 1t wants to know little
more, and particularly it wants to indulge its
old fancy for asking questions.
"But must again respectfully ask whether
the President has directed inquiry to be made
into the official conduct of the Marshal of Massa-
chusetts; whether, if nc has not done so already
the facts, charged in Knights letter, do not
quire the most scrupulous investigation; whether
the facts, stated in the following article do not
enforce the call; and whether, if the Marshal OF
| Massachusetts should have proved, in the slight
est degree, remiss in the discharge of his duties,
it u not due to the public peace and to the laws to
remove him without delay? Another suggestion
we beg also to repeat whether the President of
the United States, although he might not call out
a man to meet the contingency, would not be
rendering a great public service by issuing a
proclamation warning all citizens to attend to the
law Nothing would justify this course, add
nit, but the critical, and alarming, and excited
state of the public mind
The Union has almost given up the procla-
mation-but not quite. A few days since
there were instruction and rebellion about
that called on the PRESIDENT to follow the ex-
ample of WASHINGTON, and issue a proclama-
ton preliminary to calling out the troops.
Tho Union was astonshed to find how sex
actly similar the circumstances were in that
case to those existing in Boston," The cir
cumstances in that case were assault and bat
terry, arson, theft, mail robbery, murder and trea-
son-and the exactly "similar circumstances, !"
resolve themselves into an "eXcited state of
the public mind" Now, the law does not
provide for calling out the army and navy to
allay an excited state of the public mind and
we apprehend that such step would have any
thing but quieting effect. If our worthy con-
temporary will only try to frame a proclama-
ton on the "whereas the public mind is in
an excited state" and to deduce from such
| Ia fha ipcu 10 a
perse and retire to their homes, he will see at
once that he has not the wherewiihal to form
the basis Of proclamation, for we apprehend
that the American people do not require such
| formal promulgation Of the very elementary
proposition that they are bound to obey the
laws.
With regard to the numerous questions so
grayely propounded, as if with view to cate
gorical answers, we must take the liberty of
quoting another lesson from DR.. JOHNSON. We
have once before intmated that the Doctor dis
liked being leased with questions. BozzY
was once present when gentleman asked so
many, as "Whst did you do, sir7" ''What do
you mean 10 do, sir7' "What did you say,
sir7" that flesh and blood could stand it no
longer; and the Doctor exclaimed, 81 will not
be put to the question. Don't you consider,
sir, that these are not the manners Of gen
tlemanl ! will not be bated with tohat and
trhy: what is this7 what is that7 why is
cows tail long? why is fox's tail bushy7"
Death Of the Hon. Richard VI. johnson.
A telegraphic despatch from Louisville, Ken
lucky, apprizes us Of the death Of Col. Rich
ARD NJ. JoHNsos, former Vice President Of
the United States. lie died Of paralysis at
Frankfort, (where he was in attendance as a
member Of the Legislature on the 10Th inst,
at an advanced age. Col. JOHNSON was dis
tnguished in war as a brave soldier in the
Senate Of the United States as a firm advocate
Of the adjustment Of Imprisonment for debt