Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-22
RESISTANCE TO THE LAW IN BOSTON.


The Senate took up the following resolution
| submitted yesterday by Mr. Clay:
RESOLVED, That the President of the United States
be requested to lay before the Senate if not inc ompa
Bile with the public interests, any information be may
possess IN regard TO the alleged recent of forc
Die RESISTANCE TO the execution OF the laws OF the United
States in the city OF Boston, and to communicate to the
Senate, under the above condition, what means he has
adopted to meet the occurrences and whethern his opn
ION, any additional legislation is necessary TO meet the
exlgency OF the case and to vigorously execute
existing laws.
Mr. CLAY explained the object of the resolution
to be to obtain from the President any information
| he may possess in regard to the recent outrage
| to obtain from him information as to what mea.
sures he has adopted to meet the occurrence, and
also whether in his opinion any additional legis-
| latlon be necessary TO more vigorous execution
| of the laws of the land. Until that information
was received, he considered it premature to enter
into any extended discussion of the subject But
he could not forbear saying that he had been
| shocked and astounded upon reading the accounts
as given in the newspapers ofsuch an occurrence
takiug place in the third city of the Union 1t was
not alone that the laws had been resisted, the Of
ticers beaten down, and driven out of the court
room, 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 hun
bred and fifty thousand inhabitants. BY whom
was this done Not by people of our own race
or color. BY negroes, by Africans, and the des-
pendants of Africans. The question was whether
our laws and Government were to be the laws
and Government of white men orof 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 tWohighest officers of the
Government assurances were given that the law
would be maintained since then he Mr.. c. had
had IAN interview with these persons, and had re-
ceived similar assurance.
Mr.. DAVIS of Massachusetts, said he had read
the accounts of the occurrence in Boston; which
occurrence the Senator had condemned Be-
fore arragning any one, before condemnng or
commencing any one, concerning this proceeding,
he desired to have the information and facts be-
fore him, and when he had these before him he
would not hesitate to express his condemnation or
commentator, as the facts of the case would
show who was 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 country, and that its provisions had been most
discussed and commented upon. But the people
of Boston were law-abiding people. They were
willing and content to leave this law to the action
of the coarts to have its constitutonality decided
upon. They were not disposed to resist the law
by violence. While the law was upon the statute
book it should be maintained and obeyed; but there
should also be allowed freedom OF speech, free
dom OF debate upon the subject.
Mr.. CLAY. Freedom OF debate upon what
subject? Upon an open, impudent violation of
the laws of the country?
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, said he meant
that freedom of discussion should be allowed up
IN tho rannra1 mera Of the law
Mr. Clay asked who opposed any discussion of
the merits of the law?
| Mr.. DAVIS said that he had no allusion to the
Senator. Without the Senate there had been OBJ
sacles thrown in the way of free discussion of
the merits of the law.
Mr.. CLAY said that Congress- less than five
months ago had passed law to carry into effect
provision of the Constitution. 1t was passed af-
ter full debate by a considerable majority. And to
those who now required its repeal they said, we
will not repeal the act we have SO lately passed,
particularly in the face ofan open attempt to re-
sist it. He hoped he had not offended the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts by expressing the indig-
nation he felt upon hearing ofthe conduct of those
who entered the temple of justice, and Selling
the sword of Justice ITSELF waved it in triumph over
the heads OF the officers and ministers ofjustice
He would on this and every other occasion speak,
offend whom it may, ofany gross outrage and re-
sistance of the law, whether by white men or
black men.
Mr.. DAVIS said he felt as indignant as any one
at the occurrence. The people OF Boston were
law abiding people. But they were also free
people, 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 argu-
ment by reason, and by an appeal TO the ballot
box.
The debate was continued by senators Hale,
Foot, and Davis OF Mississippi
| Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, meant, when he
said that there was a sentiment prevalent in Mas
sachusetts against the law, that tho law was OPP
posed by the people; but he did not mean that
therefore the law would not be enforced. lie ven
tnred to say that all the specuations that the army
and navy would be necessary to enforce the laws
of the United States, were wholly unfounded-
IL fol tba f.