The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-21

the defects, II there are any defects be devel-
oPed during the progress of its execution, aud
when there IL a spirit Of obedience peryading.
AZ It ought to pervade, the whole country, then
and not till then, will the time arrive when we
should look into the law and ascertain whether
there be any grounds of objection calling for
further legislation.
Sir, did not when up before, say anything
about the people of Boston or the people OF
Massachusetts. said something-and ! hope
1t does not disturb the feelings of the senator
who has just spoken Mr.. DAVIS Of Massachu-
setts)--to express the indignation which felt
at the Outrage which occurred in court Of jus
tice. do not know whether the courtroom is
part OF, but if not, it is near to Faneuil Hall,
that great cradle of American liberty. hope
it is not deemed unkind by the senator from
Massachusetts, or offensive, to speak of that me-
gro mob that dared to lay their sacrilgous
hands in the sanctuary of justice, upon the very
sword Of justice itself, and to wave it over ts
officers and ministers, threatening them with it,
application. Ii it be true then in my place here
and everywhere, denounce such resistance
whether made by white men or by black men,
| Dir. DAVIS, of Massachusetts. l have but
q word to say in reply to the remarks of the
honorable senator from Kentucky. | heartily
agree in much that he has said, and lament
this occurrence as much as he does, and as sin
cereIy as he does. What did mean to shy it,
that We are peace-loving and law-abiding
people in the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts
and mean to connect with that the fact tina,
we are a free people. From the day that we
took up arms against Great Britain down to
this time, we have claimed the right, and main
tanned the right, and will continue to do it, to
discuss with freedom the measures Of those who
govern us.
Now, sir, go little further Ideprecate all
violence to correct any evils existing here. ]
leave truth to combat error, and would let il
be done through freedom Of speech and through
freedom Of the press. | ask for nothing more
and II laws which are passed here are found to
be Objectionable in their character, in the judg-
ment OF the people Of that State, trust they
Will adopt none but proper measures to meet
such difficulties. They will bow in obedience
to the judicial tribur ais, and they will leave these
great questions in all cases to be decided and
settled by these tribunals and if there be any
evils connected with this government, they will
patiently bear them until that revolution foi
which the Constitution itself provides can be
worked out Why, sir, peaceable civil revolu.
tons in regard to public sentiment, is that for
which the Constitution designed to provide. II
Is the most speedy in its character, the most
eflcacious, and it is the only mode consistent
with the institutions Of the country. Go, sir, il
you have evils to complain of, to the ballot box
and there try the question and there settle the
difficulty which exists under the influences of
freedom Of speech and freedom of the press
NO gentleman on this floor can deprecate more
than do any disposition to violence or opposi.
ton to the laws.
| say, obey the laws of the u. s. obey the
laws ofthe States until they are either repealed or
modified or decided to be unconstitutional be-
cause the laws are the public will constitutionaIy
expressed. That is my doctrine but at the same
time while advocate obedience to law, shall
deprecate at all times any attempt to suppress
free discussion, free examination, free inquiry
| into these subjects; for that is as much con-
nected with the genius of our government as
the Constitution itself. Why, sir It is in vain to
attempt to prevent public and free expression
of opinion upon these subjects, and they can
never be frowned down, and it is in vain and
idle to attempt it.
Mr.. HALE. l am not going to oppose the
passage of the resolution. | think am glad
that it has been introduced have listened
with some satisfaction to the torrent of indig.
nation which the senator from Kentucky has
poured out s~Ainst this obstruction of the ex-
ecution of III laws. But confess | should
have been more grati6ed if this Indignation had
been exhibited in opposition to laws manifest,
for a different latitude, and upon different sub
lect We are relying upon newspaper accounts
| have seen an account though do not know
whether it is true or not, but have seen an &c
count since this Senate has been in session, thai
judicial officer in one Of the Southern States
has refused, and did for n long time refuse, to
| execute the law of the United States for the
surrpndar of kalnpr,pp -
State. | do not know whether the account j.
true or not, but saw it in the newspapers, and
| have as much authority for that as we have
for the account which we find of the occurrence
in Boston.
Since have been n member of the Senate,
have seen an account Of an expedition got ur
In Southern city to march into foreign coun.
try, in opposition to law and treaty stpulations
forbidding anything Of the kind but never
heard of any resolution calling on the President
| to know what he had done about it. recolec,
that after the expedition against Cuba was got
up, resolution was offered here, and that reso-
luton was rather one of censure upon the efforts
made by the Executive to suppress it.
Since have been member of the Senate,
have known mob to hold control for success
sive days of considerable portion of this city,
under the nose of the President Of the United
States, and there was no anxiety manifested then
to know what the President had heard of it, or
to know what the President had done about il ;
10 know whether, in this federal city, where all
the authority of the United s ates is concen-
trated, and where he was bound by every obi
CATION that could weigh upon n civil officer, to
know whether he had taken steps to maintain
the supremacy Of the law. There wns no in
quiry made then. l did not hear word about it.
But, as said am not opposed to the pas
sage Of this resolution, for | will vote for it ;
but fear the government Of the United States
are about to take that very step which it is aaid
separates the sublime from the ridiculous Yes,
sir, here is n mob of negroes who have for a
time executed their purposes there, as n mob
may do in any place and in any city. Mobs are
not peculiar to Boston. | believe / have read
about n mob in Kentucky which took'possession
Of printing press and sent it off into neigh.
boring State. Mobs may arise everywhere
But have heard that it is seriously the inten-
ton Of the President Of the United States to
issue formal proclamation to all the naval and
military forces to hold themselves in readiness
to put down this mob Of the negroes in Boston