The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-06

The Peace and Dignity or tho Common
wealth.-NO. xvi.
| Let us now attempt to analyze the elements,
and understand the texture and complexion of
rlora-resistance and lgM and Loce, at the present
day. | have before me document entitled
Nineteenth Annual Report, presented to the
Massachusetts Ant-Slavery Society, by its
Board of Managers, January q, 1851" This
report is signed by Francis Jackson, president
| of the society.
happened to open this book at page 2 and
my eye was instantly arrested by the name of
SAMUEL ATKINS ELIOT, in double CAPT
tails. proceeded to read the following pas
sage: SAMUEL ATKINS Eliot is the mis-
creant who has made all former treason look
white by the side of the blackness of his infa-
my" | take this statement, subscribed by
Francis Jackson, to refer to our highly respected
fellow citizen, who has repeatedly been mayor
of this city, the treasurer of Harvard College,
and our representative in Congress. A man OF
more elevated integrity, Of more pure and UNI
blemished life, of more exalted notions of honor,
or of kindlier humanity, never claimed the city
of Boston for his home; and it would be a char
table construction to suppose that this Mr..
Frdncis Jackson, when he put his signature to
this insoent and abominable statement, was
crazy or drunken. This outrage is cast upon
MIR. Eliot because he voted with one hundred
and eight others according to his sense of duty.
''Mr. Webster had the impudence to AFFIRM"
Sc. "Shamefully and ANONYMOUSLY did he
betray the trust" &c. 'Mr. Webster's pitt
full attempt to evade," SC. "Treachery and
baseness," SIC. ''ln April Mr.. Calhoun passed
from this world to render an account of his dia-
boical public life, ;" Sc. The abolitionists shave
played the DEVILS tattoo for Mr.. Clay, and the
rogue's march, which has drummed Mr.. Web
ster out q the legislative camp" sc. ''Mr.
Webster has sneaked from the Senate chamber
to the Department of State" at is the aboli-
tionists, and they only, that have created the
prejudices at the North from which all the mis-
chief springs" Doctors of divinity agree ''that
the straight and narrow way which is to con-
duct American christians to the Celestial city
is that in which they can best pursue miser-
able flying wretch to thrust him down to
earthly hell" sit would be no unpoetical JUS
tice, if the same fate which awaits aboitioniss
at the South should encounter shareholders at
the North" "Whatever be the result, it can
hardly fail to produce that effervescence in the
popular mind which tyrants and their tools alb
nor, and which is the certain precursor of pOit-
ical change" Enough may be learned Of the
tone and spirit of this document from the ex-
tracts have made.
On pages 80 and 40 we find some account
of the escape of the Crafts, and an allusion to
the vigilance Committee" Upon this oc-
casion this committee "were alert and active.
They were in almost continual session, and
suits against Knight and Hughes, the two mis-
creants in question, were brought in every
practicable shape for the purpose of embarrass-
ing their pursuit. They were waited upon at
their hotel, and advised to retire, while they
were WELL They were followed in the streets
and pointed out as slave hunters" Here then
| Al
law of the United States-''that satanic en-
actment," for the purpose of giving effect to
a constitutional provision, (Which it seems
even Daniel Webster himself is either not bad
enough, or too cunning, to approve in the
lump"
| On page Al it is stated that con the fourth of
October great meeting of the colored citizens
of Boston was held in the Belknap street
church, of the most resoute and enthusiastic
character" This meeting was held under the
stimulation and with the aid Of the white abo-
| litionsts. "Stringent resolutions" were passed,
and the clergy were urged "to lift up their
| voices like trumpet" and the colored people
were encouraged by certain light-complexioned
| lawyers 10 oppose the execution of the law by
| lifting up certain other things in nowise like
a trumpet.
We now come to the meeting in Faneuil
| Hall, October Id, described on page az. After
stating that the moral sense of the meeting was
opposed to the fulfilment of the constitutional
| compact between the North and the South
| made by their fathers, and to be enforced by
| the Fugitive Slave law, this meeting resolved:
THAT we cannot believe that any citizen can
be found, so destitute oflove for his country and
his race, and so devoid of all sense of justice,
| as to take part in returning fugitive under
this law" Now certainly this was most ex-
| traordinary resolution for body fgood citizens
to pass. Here was a law of the United States
| founded on an express provision of the Consti-
| tuition. However disagreeable, patriotism
love of country-clearly demand obedience to
the law, while unrepealed. But here num-
Der of citizens come together, and resolve that
they do not believe any citizen can be found so
destitute of l0ce for has country as to aid in
the doing of an act which lore for his country
mperatively requires at his hands. In other
words, these patriotic resolutioners believe it to
be the duty of the officers of the law to refuse
to issue those warrants, which they have sworn
to issue, when duly required and of the mar
shals and their deputies, to violate their oaths.
This resolve is not susceptible of any other con-
| struction.
But another resolution was passed upon this
occasion, in these words" Resolved, that we
individually pledge to our colored felow-cit-
zens who may be endangered by this law all the
aid, cooperation, and relief which the Obliga-
tions of each of us to the supreme law of God
and right impose upon us; and we accordingly
advise fugitive slaves and other colored inhabi
tants of this city and vicinity to remain with u.s.
We have no fear that any one will be taken
back to the land Of bondage, and we trust that
such as have already fled in fear will return to
their business and their homes'
The reader will weigh the words of this reso-
luton in the old-fashioned scales of common
sense. These resolutioners haze no fear that any
one ,cW be taken back, SC. Whence this
confidence? Was it because they believed, as
stated in the prior resolution, that no one could
be found who, for the lore Of his country,
would not violate his oath and prevent the exc
cution of law of the land! Motley hare
no fear, Sc, because they pledge themselves 10
aid and cooperate with the fugitive slaves