The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-03-01
COngress.
DEBATE IN THE SENATE ON THE
MOB IN BOSTON,.

patibie with the public interests, any informa t0n
he may possess in regard to an alleged recent case
Of orcible resistance to the Ition of the laws
of the United States in the city of Boston, and to
communicate to the Senate, under the above
don, what means he has adopted to meet the
currence and whether, in his opinion, any addi-
tionai legislation is necessary to meet the exgency
OF the case, and 10 more vigorously execute exist
ing laws.
Mr.. Clay explained the object of the resolution
10 be 10 obtain from the President any information
he may possess in regard to the recent outrage to
obtain from him information as to what measures
he has adopted to meet the occurrence, and also
whether in his opinion any additional legislation be
necessary 10 more vigorous execution of the laws
of the land Until that information received,
he considered it premature to enter into any
tended discussion of the subject But he could not
forbear saving that he had been shocked and as
founded upon reading the accounts as given in the
newspapers of such an occurrence taking place in
the third city oil the Union. II was not alone that
the laws had been resisted, the officers beaten
down, and driven out of the courtroom the person
whom they had in custody taken from them; but
this was done in open daylight by mob, and in
the face OF a population of one hundred and fifty
thousand Inhabitants. BY whom was this done
Not by people Of our own race or. color. BY ne.
groes, by Africans, and the descendants of Afri-
cans. The question was whether our laws and
government were TO be the laws and government
of white men of black men. At first he could
not believe the accounts of this affair, as given in
the papers but he had heard it confirmed by high
authority; by person who had received letters
from Boston. The Senator from Mississippi (Mr =.
Foote) had stated yesterday that in AN Interview
with the two highest officers of the goyesinaft az.
surances We're stpsp.thai the law Would ~ main
tanned since then he tMr.C haf bad an, liter.
view with these persons. and had RECEIVED, . simi,
lar assurance.
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, said he had read
the accounts of the occurrence in Boston; which
occurrence the Senator had condemned Before
arraignng any one, before condemnng or com.
mpDuiDp concerning thiS iS.prnn lin, h
desired to have the Information and facts before
him. and when he had these before him he would
not hesitate to express his condemnation or com.
msndation as the facts of the case would sboyy
who entitled to either. 1t was we'll known
that the law, whose operations had been resisted
was an unpopular one in that section of the coun-
Try, and that its provisions had been most discussed
and commented upon. But the people of Boston
were 2 Iaw-abiding people, They were willing
and content to leave this law to the action of the
courts 10 have lis constitutiOnailty decided upon
They were not disposed TO resist the law by rio-
lence While tho law was upon the statute book
1t should be maintained and obeysd but there
should also be allowed freedom Of speech freedom
OF debate upon the subject
Mr. Clay. Freedom of debate upon what sub.
Iect Upon an open, impudent violation Of the
laws of the country
Mr. Dduis, of Massachusetts, said he meant that
freedom OF discussion should be allowed upon the
general merits Of the law.
Mr. Clay asked who opposed any discussion of
Mr. Dluis said that be had no allusion to the
Senator. Without the Senate there had been OBJ
s,aces thrown in the way of free discussion of
The merits Of the law.
Mr. Clay said that Congress, less than five
months ago, had p,ssed law 10 carry into effect a
provision OF the Constitution. 1t was passed after
full debate by considerable majority. And to those
who now required its repeal they said we will not
repeal the act we have so lately passed, parlicu-
larry in the face of an open attempt TO resist it.
He hoped he had not offended the Senator from
Massachusetts, by expressing the indignat lion he
felt upon hearing OF the conduct Of those who en-
tered the temple Of justice, and seizing the sword
of justice itself, waved it in triumph over the heads
If the ministers and officers of Justice. He would
On this and every other occasion speak, offend
whom II may, of any gross outrage and resistance
of the law, whether by white men or black men,
dIr DAVIS SAID he felt as indignant as any one
at the The people of Boston were a
law-abidng people. But they were also free peo
pie; and since the days OF the Revolution they had
maintained the right of free discussion and inquiry
into every subject affecting them. Their remedy
against the offensive law was by argument, by rea-
son, and by appeal to the baot-box.
Mr.. Hale conceded in great part of the in
dgnation expressed by the Senator from Kentucky
He was sorry little OF 1t was not heard at the time
when the newspapers informed them that Judge
in Southern State refused to execute the law by
issuing his warrant for the arrest of party charged
with being fugitive from justice. No resolution
was then offered to know whether the President
heard OF It, No resolution was offered to know
whether the President had heard of armed men
preparing In Southern States to invade Cuba. Nor
when mob held possession of this city for two
days, under the nose of the President no indipna-
ton was heard nor was any resolution offered to
ascertain whether he heard of it or not mob
might arise anywhere. He had heard of one in
Kentucky, where printing office was broken up
and the press and materials shipped to another
State. He hoped the Government was not about to
take that short step which led from the sublime to
the ridiculous. He hoped there was to be no such
thing ordering the army and navy to hold
themselves in readiness to proceed to Boston to
put down negro mob. He thought the matter
would be much better if left to the quiet admins
traton of the people of Massachusetts. He con-
sidere that law could be enforced, no matter
whether in Louisiana or Massachusetts, which the
moral of the people could not sustain.
George the Third tried the experiment he sent his
troops to Boston, and they shot down the citizens
in State street, but he did not succeed in enforcing
his law. He believed the supremacy Of the law
would be sustained if left to the authorities of Bos-
ton. If he were citizen of that city, he would
consider 1t as an insult the Government to pre-
sume that Massachusetts could not enforce the
laws.
Mr. FoOte denied that any Judge in Mississippi
had refused 10 do his duty. That Judge had issued
his warrant for the arrest of the party accused that
party had been arrested, carried before the court
and was prepared for trial. 1t was not true that
bands of armed men had proceeded through south.
that some persons were concerned in that Carde.
mas affair. But it was suspicion. The Govern.
ment very properly had directed an inquiry and
ine-enlhs of the southern people had sustained
the Government for doing its duty and executing
the law.
He alluded to the proceedings of Washington in
the matter of the insurrecton in Pennsylvania ;
also to the meri,orous conduct of the Governor of
Massachusetts concerning Shay's rebellion - con-
duct which he hoped would be initiated by the pre-
sent Executive of that State. He had no doubt
but the President would lend The aid of the Gov
eminent of the United Safes if it were required.
Mr.; Dauis, of Mississippi, expressed the opinion
that The people of the Northern States wonld never
allow the Fugitive Slave law to be enforced. 1t
was question entirely with the people, and not
with the States. The President of the United
States had the power TO resist invasion, and sup
press nsurrecton, and for this purpose TO use the
army and navy of the United States
The law was not executed when first attempted
and the marshal was removed what was this
but an encouragement TO violate the law, He
was opposed 10 employing the army and navy of
the United States 10 enforce the laws in the States
When the State refuses to obey those laws, the
question beyond the control of the Govern
menr, and became involved in the sovereignty of
the State. 1t was contemplated that the militia of
fha uff,c 10