New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-24
The President and the Bo.tou Rescue.

inc ffcs1dent and the bostou Rescue.
We find In the Boston papers Of Friday the
following letter from Mr.. Webster, Secretary q
State, to Mayor Biselow,
WAsmSGroS. March 10 lS5
Zen. JOHN p. BIcELow, Mayor QJ Besioa.
SIK-The President has had the pleasure h.
receive your letter Of Ghe Goth February. inclo..
ing hcial copies OF the order aud resolves latelv
adopted by the two branches oil the Government
Of the City of Boston
IL affords him great satisfaction 10 perceive thar
such me asures have been taken by the suthori
ties OF Boston as give assurance that no otber
outrage similar to that which was he presumes
the immediate cause Of their adoption, Will be
permitted TO take place in yourcty.
From bis eariles. youth he has been accus.
toned 10 regard with the greatest respect and
veDeraton the city Of Boston and the Common.
wealth of Massachusetts.
He has been Taught believe that their inhabi.
tants were, almost above ali others. the friends Of
order aud good government. intelligent enough 70
appreciate the advantages OF free institutions Of
their own choice and capable Of understanding
anc resolving that great political pro blem of the
compatibility otfteedOm " ia order of liberty dis.
linguistic ed from liceutiOuBness and Of self govern.
ment tire farthest removed from the dangers Of
anarchy; that they were especially devoted 70
the Union of the States and 20 the Constitution
which established and still maintains that Union
and that their patriotism would never fail tocoun.
sci them to fulfil all their obligations under the
Constitution justly and fully, and in the very spirit
in which such obligations were entered into by
their renowned ancestors
Entertaining these sentiments, it was difficult
for the President TO credit the accounts which
were received. of the outrage on all law, perpe-
trated in Boston, on the 10Th OF February last
That prisoner in lawful custody, within the
walls OF the Court House, in the centre Of the
city, and in fall sight of the offices of sll the mu
nj ufh kgu a al
bly, rescued, by mob Of ore ortwo hundred per.
sons from the officers Of the law, carried cat OF
the building, and through the public street, 10
sort of triumph, and enabled u escape altogether,
without an attempt on tho part OF any OF tho au-
thorties, any of the citizehs 70 preserve Order
and maintain tito law, or TO pursue and retake
the fugitive, was a statement that seemed - hln
too improbable TO Be true.
Twas with a feeling Of great relief that he re-
ceiyed such explanations OF THIS strange occur
renee as showed IL 10 have been an entire sur
prise upon the citizens, aud upon the auth rites =
an act oguccessful temerlty, on the part OF avery
uncomfortable number 0t persons, whch only
needed to have been apprehended the shortest
time beforehand, 10 have been prevented
The President is confident that the great ma.
iority of the citizens OF Boston are entirely loya,
to the Constitution thst they view with just In
dignalion all such outrages, aud all attempts,
whether by writing or speaking, to inoite the
and that they are ready 10 discharge the dutlen
incumbent on them, by the Constitution and laws
of the United States faithfully and fearlessly, I'M
der ali circumstances, whenever called upon by
the proper authorities. .,
The occurrence of the 18th February IS certain
" greatly to be regretted, as It gives occasion TO
those not unwilling to seize upon 1t to question
the disposition OF your fellow citizens to comply
with their constitutional obligations In good fathi
and the history of such an outrage Is spread lar
and wide reaches where an explanation OF hmay
never follow and creates i'll feeling toward those
whose only connection with IL is that they were
residents Of the place in which 1t was perperatec.
But it. as the President doubts not 1t wall, this
event shall arouse the attention OF all good CHI
zens 10 G. sense Of the dangers TO be apprehended
from the incubation Of such doctrines as have
been spread abroad in the country, tending 10
shake the authority Of all law. 80 unsettle society,
and TO absolve men from all civil and moral obi
cations; and shall put them on their guard against
the further diffusion of such perncious sentiments
it may, in the end, be productive OF happy resal"
and, certainly, the most unanimous expression o.
indignation which il called forth among yoar cltl
zens, balances, TO some extent, the i'll effect How
ing from it.
The President does not doubt that the people
of Massachusetts perfectly well understand the
difference between the freest discussion Of po-
litical measures, and opposition to legal enact.
ments already made and established. lie is quite
sure that they regard the law OF the land not az
sentiment, or an opinion but as rule Of conduct
prescribed by the general authority, and which al
are bound to obey, at the risk Of the penalties at
tached to its violation.
The President directs me to tender you biz
thanks for the transmission Of the resolutions.
remain, Mr.. Mayor, with great respect
your obedient serv'L bANL WEBSTER