The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1851-03-08

direction Of the enemy lad, named Arthur
Stewart, then beardIcss hoy, wherent Put.
nam demonstrated with Capt. W., in the
hearing Of Stewart, on the improperly Of
placing so young and inexperienced n sen.
tincl In so responsible situation, but Capt.
Whctherby, who knew Stewards mcttlc,
guaranteed his fitness and fidelity.
Stewart took his post, aud during the
night the General had occasion to pass out.
side of the lines for what purpose is not
stated, but we suspect for the purpose Of
trying the young sentinel, for, in returning
he encountered him.
"Who goes there !" inquired the sentinel
"Cen. Putnam was the reply.
ave know no Gen. Putnam here"
Steward answered.
But am Gen. Putnam returned that
person.
"Givc me the countcrsign, them
81 have forgotten it," was the reply.
That's pretty story from the lips of
Gen. Putnam warrant You arc a British
officer, sent over here MS a spy" returned
Stewart, who was well aware that he was
addressing Putnam. fer the moon was
shlniug brightly, hut he had the stafin his
own hand and he meant TO psc 1t.
vaUaAt you am not" said tho Gen.
etal, and be attempted to pass on.
Pass that line Sin, ana you AFRO dead
Inaa exclaimed Stewart, at the same
time cooking his gun. "S,op where you
are, or III make you stop, !" continued the
sentinel las the Geneaal dsregardcd his
first notice,l hastily raising his gun to his
and taking somewhat deliberate
aim.
"Hold hold" he exclaimed
al do hold" was the reply; " but warn
YOU, ence more, no, to pass these lines
But ! am your General, continued
Putnam.
81 deny it, unless you give the counter.
sign"
Here the General was at fault.
"boy, 4" said he, do you not know me
| am Gen. Putnam.
"A British officer, more like. If you
are Putnam, as YOU say, why don't yon give
me the coun,e,sgn So sure us am my
mothers son. If YOU attempt TO pass the
ines, III make meat of you. I'm u senti-
mel. I know my duty, though there are
some people in the world marvclously in.
cincd to question it,
At this Putnam, finding that further par.
ley would be useless, desisted, and the boy,
deliberately shouldcring his muske,, began,
with great dead of assumed haughiiness,
10 pace the ground as before, The Gene.
raj rcgaucd his tent by another route. bat
sen, for Stewart, commended
his fidelity, rewadcd him pccuniarily, and
him to the rank OF ensign.
Proclamation Of President Fillmore.
Some excitement was created here yes
ter,!ay by the news of the successful inter
ference of a mob in Boston with the eNccu'
ton of the Fugitive Slave law, the release
of the fugitive, the arrest of four OF the
mobiles, and the consequent proclamation
of the PRESIDENTIAL of which are detailed
nj length in another column. some per.
sons, who have found it rather an uphill
business Ia convince the Southern people
tha, the Fugitive Slave bill is OF any real
value in Massachusetts,. aud that IT will he
put in force, were quite overIoyed at the
Presidents proclamation II the matte
was now placed beyond Ill doubt. and the
future Operations of the law rendered GER
tain and inevitable. We confess that this
document produced no such satisfactory
feelings in our mind OF wha, practical
value is this proclamation II is, after all,
merely caution and reminder, by the rrcs.
idcnt, TO the Federal officers TO do their duty.
TO us il is rather "A source OF modification
and regret, than Of pride or cs."l'ation, that
there should be any necessity to arm pub
lie officers 10 do their duty. II bears unia.
yorablc testimony to the energy and hon
es,y of those whom the President has ap-
pointed 10 federal trusts in Boston. We
should be better pleased with the NOR" prac'
teal and tangible evidence of the President $
desire to have the law executed, which would
be afforded BY the election OF the del'n-
oucnt officers. and the appointment OF others
who would be more firm aud diligcnt in
their duties.
What good will this proclamation do
What efficacy or power does II possess
Its cautions viii be unheeded by the tanat'
ical mob, which thus tramples upon The
laws and the dignity of the Republic 1t
will not restore the fugitive slave TO his
rightfl owner. nor will It panisl. those who
effected his release. What, too, is the
are the means by which the
President can enforce this laws The Fed
cral Government, in itself, is weaker than
the smallest of the States. Rhode Island
or Delaware can tomorrow call out larg'
or force than TINT which is placed under
the command Of the President The ut.
most effort Of the Federal Government could
not concentrate in Boston force which
would be equal to onc-hnlf the militia OF
that city. VIVA, then has the President to
rely oni .ic is compelled after, ALL to rely
upon the power sf the States. me
posxe comifafus Of the conn'ry-upon the
people at large. where the resistance Is TO
be overcome.
Tins. then. II comes 10 this at last, that
the people OF Massachusetts will have ia
SCI. 10 the execution Of the Fugitive Slave
NM, That State has bound itself, by Il
solemn compact. to carry out the ob!'ga'
Inn !. has entered into with the Southern
states. Thus far. il has proved rccrcan'
and regardless Of its pledged faith Il has
suffered mnbs to defeat the enforcement o.
tho law. The mass Of its people, whilst
otctcudinp TO be advocates OF law ahd or
der, have stood idly by aud permitted
mob 10 defy and obstruct the officers Of the
Federal Government h their duty.
We desire tho question to h. brought y
An Issue with Massachusetts,. whether shs