The republic., 1851-04-10
THE REPUBLIC.

States aud that this refusal is in obedience 70 sta
tule Of that e&ate; and you enclose copy Of your
correspondence with the sheriff, well Of the sta
tute in question, and ask that the commandant OF
the navy yard, Of the revenue cutter 1t Boston,
may be instructed to furnish such assistance the
marshal may require in the execution of the law
for the arrest Of fugitive slaves.
BY the Presidents direction have the honor to
say, in reply, that the obstacle to performance Of
your duty, arising from the withdrawal by the
State of Massachusetts, of the Of her jails for
the confinement of persona arrested fugitive
slaves, has been anticipated, and provided against
by the resolution Of Congress. approved March 3,
1921, Sd volume Statutes at Large, page GAG, by
which the marsha in such case is expressly "au-
thorized and required to hire a convenient place
to serve as temporary Jail, and TO make necessn-
ry provision for the safe keeping Of prisoners COM
mittcd under the authority Of the United States;'
and he is 10 be allowed all reasonable expenses in
CURED for the above purposes. The want of the
of the ails Of the State, therefore, s not Deem
ed q sufficient reason for granting your request
that the commanders of the navy yard and reve
nue. cutter may furnish you assistance in the exc
cution Of the law in question. The President,
however, desires il TO be understood that he feels
the full force Of his constitutional oath and duty
"to take that the laws be faithfully executed"
and, should other obstructions arise, which cannot
be overcome by your power, to summon to your
aid the posse 'comitatus obstructions which, from
the loyal and law-abiding character of the people
Of Massachusetts,, cannot be expected by him, you
are desired to give early Information of them to the
proper Department
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) WILL. A. GRAHAM.
CHARLES DEvENs, jr., esq,
U. s. Marshal of Massachusetts,, Boston.
UNITED STATES MARsHAL's OFFICE,
BosToN, November 4, 1850.
Sra: / had the honor to receive the letter from
the Navy Department Of the date Of October 26th,
ultimo, but delayed acknowledging the same un-
til had received communication from the De-
partment Of the Interior.
From some paragraphs in the letter from the
Navy Department, l am induced to believe that O
different construction has been given to my letter
of October oath from that had intended. had no
design of requesting, from the Navy Department,
any other assistance than that which could be af
forded by providing secure place Of detention for
those persons arrested fugitive slaves under the
recent statute of the United States, and beg that
it may be observed, that the request "that the
commodore on this station, and the captain of the
revenue cutter, may be instructed to furnish such
assistanCe aS Tue mafshai may Tequt0 ~ VIC CA
ecuting of tho law referred to- is in immediate
sonnexion with the former position of my letter,
and the correspondence with the sheriff Of Suffolk,
in which the subject Of detention of persons arrest
ed as fugitive slaves the only one adverted to.
have concluded 70 reply to the respective COM
munications Of the Secretaries of the Interior and
of the Navy, lest misrepresentation be entertained
| as to the object Of my inquiry.
am, cir, very respectfully, your obedient SER
want,
(Signed) CHAS. DEvENS, Ja.,
United States Marshal of Massachusetts.
Hon. VIM. A. GRAHAM,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington, d. c.