The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-20

take any steps TO prevent the rescue; but on
application, postponeincnt Of three days was
granted to the negro's counsel
In short the plain and truthful narrative of
Mr.. RILEY, shows that the public sentiment of
Boston sides with the negro mob--and thut the
city officials partook of the prevailing feeling,
and allowed it full scope. Mr.. RILEY doubtless
did his duty but he seems to have been un-
aided and unsupported. He cannot be made
the scapegoat for the sins of whole commu-
nifty, which aided or conniyed at this yillainous
outrage.
The Boston journal thus boldly arragns the
true criminals before the bar of public opinion
and even in the course Of its denunciation, makes
the pregnant admission that law-abidng citizens
who disapproved of the act, would yet rejoice
at the escape of the prisoner" And we doubt
not that such is the state of public sentiment
there The chances of the execution of law
under such state of feeling, all can Judge
} They disapprove not Of the end attained, but of
the means by which it was brought about In
stances multiplying every day, prove that such
is the real sentiment of the conservative por-
ton" of the citizens of the North. The Journal
says:
Observation-Disclosures Boston--has become
the theatre of strange scenes. A court room
entered by mob of negroes--the ministers of
the law overpowered-a prisoner taken from
the custody of the United States ofiicers Such
was the scene which was witnessed in our city
on Saturday afternoon! Such is the tale which
the telegraph and the mails are now bearing to
every city and village in the Union--exciting
the INDIGNATION of every one who respects our
lie gal tribunals, and who considers an obedience
TO the laDs as the only safeguard against mob
rule
1t cannot be commended by the negroes who
committed this act, or By their ,rhite advisers,
that there was any necessity for this summary
proceeding. The case had not been examined
by the United States Commissioner On the
contrary, he had already given liberal construc-
ton to the law, 10 favor of the prisoner, by ac-
cording the able counsel who appeared in his
behalf, until Tuesday, to prepare his defence.
The liberty Of the fugitive was in no immediate
danger, neither had peaceable means been eX-
hausted to secure his release. The act was
committed in utter contempt for the law and for
Lilc CUuit WHICH, was ECU w VII tuC CACSubiOH
of the law 1t was an exemplifcation of the
practical operation Of the higher law" which
ia taught by Charles Sumner, Wendell Phillips,
William Lloyd Garrison, and others Of the same
| school.
We take it for granted that every law-abdng
and order-loving citizen of Boston, ho,ccrer much
| he may rejoice al The escape Of The prisoner will
] feel deeply mourned at the lawless means which
| we're adopted to bring about the result. The
| law cannot be resisted and defied with impunity,
and we trust that the instigators and executors
of this bold outrage, so disgraceful to our city,
will not 90 unpunshed- they will be iden-
tilted, arrested, and compelled to pay the heavy
penalties to which they have rendered them
selves liable. But even if the perpetrators of
the outrage escape punishment, the mob spirit
which has been aroused, will find manifestation
on other occasions and for other purposes, which
some who are so ready to defend this act. may
not be so willing to countenance. The mob has
learned its strength, and the next manifestation
of its spirit, may be to aid the murderer to es-
cape. j he law-defers have sown the wind
let them beware that they do not reap the whirl-
wind!
We are not disposed 10 charge this outrage upon
The colored people Of Boston, or eren 10 suffer
them 10 bear the odiu,n of this lapless act We
orderly and well disposed Those who ,cere en-.
gagged as aiders and abefiors in hs outrage, ,cere
acting under the aduice Of others, ,oho dared mol
themselves take an actiue pzrt in the affair. They
suffered themselves to be made the blind tools Of
parties who teach that no law is binding which
does not receive the sanction of mans own
conscience. When Charles Sumner declared in
Faneuil Hall, his belief that the Fugitive slave
bill could not be executed in Boston--when he
affirmed that there were many "who were ready
TO offer the fugitive the shelter of their houses
and if need be to project his liberty by force
he melted this outrage. The chairman of the
Faneuil Hall fugitive slave meeting, when he de-
clared that "if the fugitive slave should Kill! the
marshal who might come to arrest him, no Mas
sachusetts jury would convict him of the muir
der"-aso fired the blood of some of our col.
ored population, and encouraged in them spirit
of resistance to the laws, even unto blood The
Rev. Mr. Colver, when he offered resolution
that "iaw or no iap, Constitution or no Constau
tion, the citizens Of Boston pledge themselves
to protect at all hazards, the fugitive slaves who
have taken shelter in ther cty"--aso directly
insiigated the law defying spirit which was mani
tested on Saturday. The same remarks will
apply to all the higher law" orators from
Charles Sumner down to William Lloyd CARR
son, and there the responsibility of this outrage
should be visited.
Since the above was written, we have received
copy of the following handbiI which was
| posted about the streets of the city yesterday
| (Sunday) Comment is needless:
| KIDNAPPERS DISAPPOINTED
Shadrach, waiter in the Cornhill Coffee House
was yesterday arrested fugitive slave, and
taken before George I. Curtis, esq, on the com
plant Of John Kephart, Of Norfolk, Virginia, in
behalf of his pretended owner, John Debree, Pur-
! ser in the u. s. Navy.
By writ OF deliverance, issued under the
higher law, he was released from Imprisonment,
in the U. S. Court room, and is now enjoying his
inaenable rights.
For full particulars see the Commonwealth Ex-
ira Of this morning. For sale at TO- State street.
TAKE CARE OF THE KIDNAPPERs
The Albany (Ga.) Patriot thus refers to the
recent correspondence between Governor Means
and the British consul:
STATE CONNECTION WITH FOREIGN GOVERN
MESTs.--The recent correspondence between the