The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-22
Hon. Daniel Webster and the Fmgiuve
Slave Rescue In Boston.
The following letter has been addressed 70 the Mayor

Hon. Daniel Webster and the Fugitive
Slave Rescue In Boston.
The following letter has been addressed TO the Mayor
Of Boston, by Hon. Daniel Webster, relative to the
late rescue OF Q fugitive slave In that city
WARRINGTON March 10, 1851.
sR The President has had the pleasure to receive
cope. q &. order and resolve: lately adopted the
two branches Of the Of the city Of Boston
i affords him greet satisfaction to psrssiy: that
Boston % give assurance that other outrage similar
to that which was he prssumes the immediate cause
o. .nsM saop'i0n Will DO permitted to take place In
From bis earliest youth he has been accustomed to
regard with the greatest respect and vensraton the
city Of Boston, and the Commonwealth o! Massa-
ne has been taught to believe that thar ,nh.bi-
tants almost above all others the friends Of
and good governn emit; intelligent enough to appreci-
choice. and capable OF understanding and resolving
that great political problem OF the compatibility Of
freedom with order q liberty distinguished from icsn
ed from the dangers Of anarchy that they espe
oiay devoted to the uuon Of the States and to the
constitution which established, and still maintains
that Unie n; and that their patriotism would never
fail to counsel them to uhi all their obligations under
the constitution, justly and fully, and in the very
spirit which ruch Obligations were entered into BY
their renowned apeestors.
Entertaining these ntmsnts, 1t was difficult for the
Preeident TO credit the which received
OF the outrage on all Law perpetrated Ia Boston, tho
That prisoner, in lawful custody within the walls
Of the Court Houte In the centre Of the CITY, and in
full sight Of the offices Of the municipal authorities,
had beer, at MONDAY forcibly rescued, by mob Of
one or two hundred persons from tho officers Of the
law carried cut OF the building and through the pub
altogether without an attempt on the part Of any OF
the authorizes any of the citizens to preserve
der and maintain The law or to pursue and retake the
fugitive was state ment that seemed to him too i'm
probable to De true
NTH feeling of great relief tina. he received
sEch explanations ~ this strange occurrence as
showed 1t TO have bern entire surprise upon the
citizens aud upon the authorities act of success.
number Of persons which only needed to have been
aprrehended the shortest time beforehand to have
The President Is confident that tho great ma GRITTY
Of the citiztns OF Bottom are entirely loyal to the
constitution, that they view With just indignation
all euCh outrsges, ard all attempts whether by writ.
ing speaking to incts the ignorant and unthink-
ing to such acts of voence and that they iy
to dfcharge the duties Incumbent on them, by the
constitution laws OF the United States faithfully
and feerlessly, under all circumstances, whenever
called upon by the proper authorities.
The occurrence OF tho 10th February is certainly
greatly 10 De regretted 10 gives occasion to those
.ition OF your fellow-ctizsns to comply with their
constitutional obligations n good faith and the his
tory OF such Outrage spread far and wide reaches
where explanation OF it may never follow, and
creates i'll feelings towards those whose only
ton with is that they residents OF the place
doubts not it will this event shall arouse the atten-
tion Of all good citiz sense Of the dangers to
be spprehended from the Of such doctrines
have been spread abroad In the country, tending
to shake the authority Of all law to unsettis society
and to ebsolve men IRON eli civil and oral obra.
tion,, and shall put them their guard agAins the
further diffusion Of such pernicous sentiments, it
may in the end be productive OF happy results; and,
certainly the almost unanimous expression Of niig-
nation which 1t called forth among your citizens ba
laHces to some extent, the i'll effect flowing from il.
The President does not doubt that TIE people OF
Massaehustts perfectly well understood the difference
between the fTeest discussion Of political measures,
and oppoeion 10 legal enactments already ads and
established. He 10 quite sure that they regard the
law Of the land not sentiment, OPT non but
rule of conduct prescribed BY the general author
IT, and which all mound to obey at the risk Of the
penalties att ached to lite violation.
The President directs to tender you his tn inkc
ioy the tra nj mission Of tho buttons.
l remain Mr. Mayor,
with great respect,
Your obedent servant
DANIEL WEBSTER.