The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-27
From Tie Boston Journal.

President has met the recent outrage III this city s
worthy of commendation II is his duty to see that
the laws of the United States respected and
forced and that he will fulfil that duty to the let
ter those who have set the laws at defiance have
now sufficient assurance. The advocates Of
higher law ridiculc the proclamation of the Prcsi
dent, and assert that it was unnecessary and I'M
called for; that the recent Outrage was the UMPIRE
mcdtatcd act Of few negroes, &c. Mr. Hale gave
utterancc to this sentiment when he remarked in
the Senate Oh Friday that ''the idea Of the great
Republic of the United States calling on its army
to assemble and hold themselves in readiness oput
down mob composed Of a mere handful OF negroes,
ridiculous in the extreme"
This reasoning is spccious, but unsound. II ia
idle to attempt to shift the responsibility OF the re-
cent outrage upon "a handful OF negroes" The
spirit of resistance to the laws is deeper rooted and
extends to other classes than the coorcd population
of Boston. The President had good reason to be-
lievc that organization existed in this city to
prompted indirectly, if not directly, by that or
ganizaton. 1t is doubtless, fresh in the minds of
all our readers that meeting was held in Fam
sul Hall. several weeks since, to denoupce the Flu
tended, and among those who took part in the pro-
ceedings were a few of our most prominent citi.
zens The son Of an ex.President presided. At
this meeting the following resolution was passed:
Rcsolred, That individually pledge to our
colored fellow citizens who may be endangered by
this law all the aid, cooperation, and relief. which
tho obligations Of each OF to the supreme law OF
God and right impose upon US, and we accord.
ngly advise the fugitive slaves and other colored
inhabitants Of this city and vicinity to remain with
Us. We have no fear that any one will be taken
back to the land of bondage, and trust that such
as have already fled in tear, Will return to their
business and their houses.
II should be borne in mind that this resolution
was passed by individuals who too conscientious
to contribute to purchase the freedom Of the slave
by individuals who " would sooner give $25 to
purchase pistols'' than to compensate the south
to him by the Constitution. This resolution, there
fore, affords strong presuniptve evidence of an
ganized resistance TO the laws
Another resolution passed at the came meeting
was to the effect that "thc citizens of Boston in
Faneuil Hall assembled, Inv no law, Constitu
ton no Constitution pledge Themselves TO protect,
ALL HAZARDS, the fugitive slaves who have taken
shelter in their city" This is another evidence Of
q combination TO resist the laws.
Again, the Fanepil Hall meeting appointed
committee of vigilance and safety, consisting OF
fifty members, with full power to add to their num-
bers 'if any future exigencies shall require. The
duty of this committee is defined to be "to take all
measures which they shall deem expedient to pro-
tect the coored citizens Of this city in the enjoy
ment of their lives and liberties' Taking this
resolution in connection with the sentiments ex-
prcssed at the meeting does it not justify the pre-
sumption that organization exists in boston
having for its object resistance to the execution Of
the laws!
But there is another and still stronger evil
dence-cvidence which it is natural TO suppose
would have great weight at Washington--that the
rescue Of Shadrack was not the unprecedented act
of "handful of negroes" II has been tauntngly
promulgated in the Free soil papers that the Fugi-
tive Slave law cannot be executed in Massachusetts.
The impression has gone abroad that in this State
if in no other the law will be resisted and defied
The &c uthcrn disunioniss and the northern Free
sellers unite in saying that here at least the law il
dead letter. And, ne If to furnish proof Of the
correctness of this assumption, the only attempts
which have been made here to enforce the law have
| utterly failed!
In the frat instance of attempt to arrest flu.
gitivc the authority of the United States marshal
WA act Defiance. and the individual against
whom warrant had been issued remained in the
city pursuing his usual calling in perfect immunity
from arrest. 1t is notorious that while the warrant
| pending against Crafts the colored population
Of Boston generally wore concealed weapons, and
that they openly and boldly threatened to resist his
arrest There is good reason to believe that in this
instance the officers of the United States were over
awed. In the second case where attempt was
made to enforce the law, the alleged fugitive was
forcbly taken from the hands of the United States
| officers, even before examination had been in
| stiuted. This state of things, palliate 1t as we
may, called for prompt and decided action on the
part of those whose duty il to enforce the laws.
There are those-and among the number, we re.
greet to say, some who denounce the recent out
rage---who think the President should have looked
calmly on and allowed the lava OF the United
States to be trampled under foot without rebuke
We are not of that number. The President, we
contend, could not have dono less than to issue
proclamation calling upon all well disposed citi-
gems to rally to the support OF the laws. he might
have done much moro without great stretch OF
| the authority conferred upon him by the Consttu-
| ton.
| A little calm reflection will convince all who are
open to conviction, that il is the duty Of tho Presi
dent to obedience to the laws and that the
more promptly and energctically that duty is per-
formed, the less occasion will exist for resort to
extreme measures Had the President neglected
to take official notice of the recent outragehad he
delayed issuing his recent proclamation until the
| United States officers in the discharge Of their
duties shot down in streets, he would have
| assumed fearful responsibility and been justly
fvvifh nf ble
| rcmissness of duty.
| THIRD TRIAL OF JOHN HEsprRsoN- The balance
of the venire Of ninety sig jurors summoned on Sat
urday last, appearing in court yesterday morning,
they were scverally called TO the book to test their
| qualifications. They we're all set aside but one,
who was sworn in, making only three jurors yet
empannelled.
The court ordered the sheriff TO summon another
vcnire of ninety ak persons to appear on Thurs
day next the goth instant, and adjour ned tho case
until that dav.-Ns,c Orleans Picdyuns, 18th.