The republic., 1851-02-22
SECOND SESSION.

himself from those charges and he then fully ex-
planned his conduct and connection with the Indian
complained of by the committee in the Mouse.
The committee. composed Of majority Of political
opponents, had acquitted him of all charges except
two, and on these reported resolutions condemna-
tory of his conduct the House, however voted down
these resolutions, and the chairman Of the commit
tee, who was also the accuser, was placed in the
position OF a false accuser and unjust judge. He
contended that the speaker was wrong in having
appointed Mr.. RIcHARpsoE chairman Of the COM
mittee. While the committee was in session, he
was addressed on several occasions, and made seve-
raj communications to it; but in the printed report
OF the committee these documents are wholly sup
pressed, he did not know nor care by whom, but
the fact was, they were suppressed.
MIR TURNEY replied, and after some remarks
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that Justice to a colleague Of
the other House required that he should say word
The chairman Of the committee was charged with
having suppressed certain papers which were ma
terial to the defence of the Senator from Ohio.
The same charge was made some time since in the
Tribune, and the chairman Of the committee had,
in his place in the House, pronounced the charge
falsehood, and the author a calumniator. This was
done IN the presence Of the minority Of that COM
mittee, and was not questioned. He was sorry the
charge had been made in the Senate, when there
was not in the House man who dared to hazard
his character for truth by making the charge
After some further remarks.
The communication was laid on the table.
TENHEsssE AND GEORGIA RAILROAD.
Mr.. JONES moved, and, after some debate the
vote by which the bill for the relief Of the Georgia
and East Tennessee Railroad Company was laid on
the table, rcconsdered. The bill was then
postponed.
MRS. CHARLOTTE LYNCH.
Mr. SMITH moved to reconsider the vote
by which the Committee on Pensions were dis.
charged from the further consideration of the
petition and resolution relative to amending the
act granting pension to Mrs. Charlotte Lynch
80 az to enable other representatives of Colonel
Ebenezer Gray to share in the pension; and, after
debate, the motion to reconsider laid on the
table,
REsIsrANcE TO THE LAW BOSTON
A message was received from the President of
the United States. in response 10 Mr. CLAY's reso-
luton calling for certain information in regard to
the recent case of resistance to the law in Boston
The message was read az follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
February 10, 1851.
To the Senate Of the United States:
have received the resolution of the Senate OF
the 18th instant, requesting me to lay before that
body, if not incompatible with the public interest
any information may possess in regard to an al
legged recent of forcibe resistance to the exc.
cution Of the laws Of the United States in the city
OF Boston, and to communicate to the Senate under
the above conditions, what means have adopted
to meet the occurrence; and whether. in my opin-
ion, any additional Legislation is necessary to meet
the exigency of the case, and to more vigorously
execute existing laws.
The public newspapers contain an affidavit of
Z, O
Massachusetts, setting forth the circumstances of
the case, copy of which affidavit is here with com
municated. Private and unofficial communications
concur In establishing the main facts Of this account
but no satisfactory official information has as vet
been received, and in some important respects the
accuracy OF the account has been denied by
persons whom it implicates. Nothing could be
more unexpected than that such a gross violation
of law, such high handed contempt of the autho.
rity OF the United States should be perpcrated by
band Of lawless confederates, at MONDAY. in the
cit nf RnNtn upd svr he -
Iregard this fagitious proceeding as being a sur
prise, not unattended by some degree Of neel-
gence; nor do doubt that, if any such act of vio
iencc had been apprehended, thousands of the good
citizens of Boston would have presented hemseIves
voluntarily and promptly, to prevent it, but the dam
ger does not seem to have been timely made known
or duly appreciated by those who were concerned
in the execution of the process. In community
distinguished for its love of order and respect for
the laws; among people whose sentiment is lib.
erty and law, and not liberty without law, nor
result OF sudden violence, unhappily too much un-
prepared for to be successfully resisted Il would be
melancholy, indeed, if we were obliged to regard
this outbreak against the constitutional and legal
authority OF the Government, as proceeding from
the general feeling of the people, in a spot which
is proverbially called "the cradle of American lib
erty.''
Such, undoubtedly, is not the fact. II violates
without question, the general sentiment Of the peo
pie OF Boston, and of vast ma iority of the whole
people OF Massachusetts, as much az it violates the
digraces those concerned in it, their aiders and
abettors.
is. nevertheless, my duty to lay before the SEN
ate, In answer to its resolution, some important
facts and considerations connected with the sub.
ject.
resolution of Congress, of September 90, 1889,
declared
THAT it be recommended to the Legislatures of
the several States 10 pass laws making il expressly
the duty Of the keepers Of their iails 10 receive and
safe eevtherein, all prisoners committed under
the authority OF the United States until they shall
be discharged by the course of the laws thereof,
under the like penalties in the case of prisoners
committed under the authority of such States re-
spectvely; the United States to pay for the and
keeping OF such jas, at the rate OF fifty cents per
month for each prisoner that shall under their su-
thority be committed thereto during the time such
prisoner shall be therein confined and also to sup
for offences"
further resolution of Congress, of the third of
March, 1871, provides that, I" whereas Congress
did, by resolution Of the 23d day Of September
I5s, recommend to the several States to pass laws
making itexpressy the duty of the keepers of their
1ails to receive and safe keep therein all prisoners
committed under the authority ofthe United States
in ORDER therefore to insure the n
justice,
"Resoiced BY the Senate and Houss of Repraenfa.
uoea q me Onasd States Of America in Congress
asssD'ed' iha. IN case any State shall not have
comphco win the said recommendation the mar
sha IN such State under the direction of the Judge
OF the district, be authorized TO hire convenient
Pice W serfe az temporary Jail, and TO make the
necessary provision for the safc- keeping of prison
ers committed under the authority Of the United
States until permanent provision shall be made nv
law for that purpose; and the said marshal shall be
allowed his reasonable expenses, incurred for the
above purposes to be paid out of the treasury Of the
United States"
And resolution of Congress, Of March 3, 1871
provides that "where any State or States, having
complied with the recommendation of Congress in
the resolution OF the twenty third day of Septem-
Der, l7S9, shall have Withdrawn shall hereafter
withdraw, either in whole or in part, the use OF
their jails for prisoners committed under the au-
thority Of the United States, the marshal in such
state or States, under the direction Of the Judge OF
'he district, shall be, and hereby is, authorized
ana required TO hire convenient place to serve
as temporary Jail, and TO make the neces-
sary provision for the safekeeping of prisoners
committed under the authority of the United States
until permanent provision shall be made by law for
that purpose; and the said marshal shall be allowed