North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-01-08
LETTER FROM non! ABRAM RENcHER !.

centvsit to Boston with view reclaim his escaped
slaves. This letter read by Gen. Saunders in the
Commons. Thursday last, in the course of his
marks on the Slavery question, and is here published
! for general information 1t speaks for itself.
! Mr.. Rencher is well known to the people of the
State as a gentleman of sound judgment and eminent
ability and what he may say upon any subject is en-
titled to attention and respect This letter is the
suit of MI Rencher's own personal observations and
experience and it contains facts, which address
themselves in the strongest manner, the judgmen,
and feelings of every Southern man. f.
/ PITrsRoRoUGH, December 9Th, 1850.
MI Dean SIN: Your letter of the 25th ultimo max
ing certain inquiries the result of my recent visit
Boston, in quest of slaves who escaped from nv service
during my absence in Europe, has been received and
regret that have not been able to make earli-
| er reply.
| AS member of the House of Commons, and of a
Select Committee on the subject Of Negro Slavery, you
desire know, LIST, whether succeeded in efecting
a recovery of my slaves; and secondly, what was my
opinion, from the result of my observations
probable execution in good faith of the Fugitive Slave
| Bill in the nonslavehoding States.
To your first question, whether was able effect
recovery of the slaves sought have to reply in the
negative. ascertained that they had been Boston
from the period Of their escape in 1885, until within
short time before arrival when they either sought
another retreat concealed that could find
them with the limited means which able bring
to my assistance. From the commencement
very sanguine of success had good believe
that public sentiment in most of the non-slaveholdng
States and especially in Massachusetts, opposed to
the execution of that provision of the Constitution which
was intended to the rendition of fugitive
slaves. We had the State laws this subject eth
repealed totally dsregarded in of those States
and the Fugitive Slave Bill, which nothing but
fair execution of the Constitution and which therefore,
we had a right to demand but which driven to
the humiliaing condition OF purchasing at high
price, received the support of only thirty members from
the States and of that number only three from what
may he termed the dominant party of the North, and
upon which mainly depended, for the present at least
the execution of the law. These things clearly in
Dictated the prevailing sentiment of the Northern people
upon this subject and forbid that any undertaking
the re-capture of fugitive slaves in the North should be
very sanguine of success
But the law had been passed under the most solemn
ccum and such ought 70 address themselves
most powerfully the friends of the Constitution and
of the Union for its faithful execution The power too
with which the President clothed that the laws
he faithfully executed would, if properly employed, do
much correct the Of popular sentiment and
down anatical agitation. was therefore, not without
hope of success and felt it due myself well to
the public that should make the effort. 1t is important
the South that should know whether the
by which hold property and rights is under
the Constitutions or by po,oer higher than the Con-
Sfion. regret therefore, that could not test 1t III
my case; but in the absence of such test have
for believing, if had found my slaves in Bos
ton that should have been more successful than were
the unfortunate Geogians whose only crime that of
seeking their constitutional rights a constitutional and
lawful way in the midst of community who wish to be
considered par excellence, the friends of law and the
Constitution.
Judging therefore, from the result of my own obser-
vations while the North, well from popular cleo
TONS and from Conventions both political and religious,
doubt what is public opinion in the North
relative to the Fugitive Slave Bill. Pubic opinion is
against it, There is everywhere large and respecta-
ole party who insist upon its execution while continues
be a law who notwithstanding for its repeal, for
such modification shall deprive it of all efficiency,
aud render useless to Thus far the fugitive slave
law has been failure 1t has rather increased than al
Iayed agitation. Whether it shall hereafter command |
respect and consideration from the people of the
North and he executed by them in good faith, must de-
pend upon the operation of two causes To
will depend upon the action and influence of
the powers exercised by the President of the United
States Thus far the people of the South have cause to
complain of him. His duty to them, under the Constr
tuon required more of frankness and energy the
ecution of a law vitality Important to them Upon my
arrival in Boston, and before it ascertaned that
slaves were there the Marshal stated the difficulty
and danger of making an arrest He anticipated mob.
He expected aid from the Police-none from the
State authorities They had been forbidden by law from
giving aid whatever in the recaPture retention of
might've slaves. The keepers of their prisons not
allowed under heavy penalties, to receive them. Under
these circumstances he wrote to the Executive at WASH
ngton, asking authority to employ the ships in the hdr
tor Of Boston far the safe keeping Of fuStiCeS 1t
should be necessary; and to employ the United States
military stationed Boston resist any forcibIe
combination that be offered to the execution of the
law. Such Authority, under the circumstances ap-
both necessary and proper. Public meetings had
been held in Boston and other places in which the law
execution threatened,
and the negroes exhorted to themselves and make
their and the officers the first victims. Yet the
President thought proper to withhold this necessary au
thorty. He wished defer the employment of military
until after had been made in which both the
owner and Marshal might have lost their lives the
hands of mob. No wonder therefore, the Marshall
could be induced upon Crafts and
wife, although they i'll open defiance of his authority
for more than three weeks Yet the President processes
confidence in the local authorities, and to rely upon
them the execution of the law, al though he must
know that local authorities both in Boston and other
combination with the Aboonists to defeat
the law either by forcbe resistance to Its execution
by the Fabian policy of defeating it by delay 1t is
manifest that if the execution OF the law is made to de-
pend upon the local authorities unalded by the power
and influence of the Federal Executive, it fail
and yet the President merely gives 1t kind and encour
aging word in reported private conversation or in
letter from Clerk in the Department. written
by authority He cannot the urgent neces-
sy for the employment of military force appeared to
him necessary and proper in the case OF weak and
dcfeuceless, though sovereign State of the Union
But though the power and influence OF the Executive
could do much arrest the current OF anacai agitation
and thereby the prompt and faithful execution OF
law fortunately for is not only, nor is it our
main dependence in this hour of trial. Our means ut
safety lie ,othin ourselres. 1t depends upon union
mon interest must make common destiny. The
people of the North be made believe, and to feel
if necessary that upon the subject Of Slavery we are
only united but in earnest. Heretofore they have
believed it. and of Southern prints as we'll
Southern politicians have msed them into this fatal
We have been long in the habit OF singing
hozannas to the Union without specifying the Union to