The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-17
She Fugitive Slave Law In Boston-TAc
Law OatrageA.


who had him in charge, by mob of negroes, who
forced an entrance into the United States Court
room and carried him of. 1t seems that Shadrach
decamped from the service of Mr.. De Bree, in the
month of May last, and from that time to the day
of his arrest, lived IN the capacity of waiter in
coffee house in that city. He was recognized few
days since, and warrant for his arrest was issued
in regular form, by the United States Marshal.
When he was in custody of the Commissioner and
when the case was under advisement, the counsel
for the fugitive asked postponement of the case
TIL tomorrow, (Tuesday,) which was grant
ed. The court room was then cleared; but on
the application of the fugitives counsel, those
gentlemen were admitted, for the purpose of con-
sulting with him as TO the line of defence which
they should adopt in his case. When the confer
ence was terminated, they proceeded to depart,
and as the last of the was leaving the court room,
the door was forced in by an infunsted mob of CO.
lored people, who knocked down the officers, and
carried the fugitive away in triumph
This is the greatest outrage TO the laws that has
taken place in many years and it shows conclu-
sively that the teachings of the white negroes Of
Boston have produced the only effect which they
could produce on the black negroes of that city.
That degraded portion of the population have at
length broken the law and violated the sanctuary
of justice. They have committed one Of the
gravest offences known to the law, and in.
suited the maj ssty of the people and of the
government of the United States. But what
else could be expected in city which
telerates such dsorganizers as Lloyd Garrison,
Wendell Phillips, and their coadjutors in mischief !
The city of Boston stands disgraced before the
whole country The stigma OF this act cannot be
washed out, except by the punishment, TO the full
est extent of the law, of all who took part in, or
connived at, this gross outrage, as well as their
aiders and abetters-black, white, blue or grey
whatsoever they may be. II the citizens of Boston
have any desire TO be rensta.ed in the good opinion
of their fellow citizens throughout the country,
they will exert themselves to the utmost TO that
the law is indicated. They are bound, at all
events, not only morally, but legally, to pay the
value of the fugitive to his claimant This, however,
is an Insignificant matter compared with the gross
outrage which was perpetrated by the mob in
violently rescuing the slave from the custody of
the United States officers That disgrace cannon
be atoned for in any other manaer than by punish
ing the rescuers, and teaching them lesson which
they will remember for the remainder of their lives
that laws-no matter if they are Objectionable to
them-must be obeyed as long as they remain on the
statute book, and that they cannot be resisted or
disobeyed with impuniy They must be taught
that the higher law doctrine of resistance cannot be
put in practice, although il may be cited by dema-
gogues TO suit their own purpose, pro note their
private ends
great responsibility now rests on the United
States authorities in Boston, especially the Disric,
Attorney and the Marshal, in reference to this
matter. They may not be able to recapture Sha-
drach the fugitive, for it is very probable that he
is by this time beyond their reach, having IN
doubleday fed to Canada but they can arrest
and bring to punishment the vag abonds who broke
into the cour, room and rescued him. They shuold
leave no stone unturned Fortunately they have
abundance of testimony; for the several officers
from whose custody the fugitive was violently
taken will unques,ionably be ale to recognise
and identify the ringleaders and most active of the
mob. If they fail in performing their duty promptly
and efficiently, they should be Immediately dis
missed from office, and better men substitutes in
their stead But we have no apprehension that
they will. We feel confdsn, tina. they will dis
charge the responsibility now resting on them with
irmness, and with fidelity to the laws, and to their
fellow citizens throughout the confederacy.
This is the second failure % execute the Fugi-
tive Slave law in the city of Boston. The country
expects that il will be the last Fsgl.ives from
slavery, now living in different parts OF the North
ern and Eastern States. will doubtless flock TO that
city, under the impression that they will be secure
there-that the law cannot be carried into effect.
We therefore recommend ouch of our Southern
fellow citizens as have lost slaves, TO keep a
watch on that city, in order to discover them, If
possible; and we adj the officers OF the United
States, when they arrest such ugtves, to take them
10 ,.e Charlesiown navy yari Nor would it, we
think, be amiss, on future occasions, 10 call on
Mayor Bigelow for a detachment OF military to
sustain the United States authorizes IN carrying on,
the Law. II it be necessary to shed blood and ake
life, IN yindIcang the law, let II be done, even II
thousand be sacrificed. The constitution and the
laws must be upheld, without regard to conse-
quences we would be traitors TO ourselves, our
country, and 10 the world, if we shrink from main
tanning III. m.
The REPUBLIC or LlEERra-We published, ia
yesterdays Herald, some very interesting in,elli-
gence from the new republic Of Liberia, for which
we were indie bted TO Captain Ellis, Of the park
Edgar. The message Of President Roberts,
which we published, was a remarkably well
written document, and gave perfec. insigh. into
the present state Of that colony The proceedings
Of the Lbersn Congress are conducted with great
decorum-more go than those Of our American
Congress How strange il is that our colored
population do not emigrste TO Liberia in greater
numbers than they do
THE FoREleS Mans Them nls Of the ste iners
Africa and Atlantic, for Boston, were yesterday
expressed through, per steamer Knickerooc ker,
via Norwich. BY this arrangement Of Postmaster
Brady Boston friends will receive their foreign
correspondence nearly twenty.four hours earlier
than by the regular mail The Knickerbocker
left at ; O'Clock yesterday morning The number
Of letters received by the Africa was l33, 600.
The NEXT News PROM EURoPE.-The Cambria,
from Cork, with the cargo Of the Atlantic, and
news to the 4th instant will be due on Wednesday,
and the Baltic, with adviees from Liverpool to the
sib will be due on Saturday