The daily crescent., 1851-04-01
-' The Boston Mob.
LETTER FROM MR.. WEBSTER TO THE MAYOR.

.. ... WASHINGTON. March 10, 1851.
Hon. John p. Bigeko,o, Mayor Of Bost0u-
SIR The President has had the pleasure to re-
ceve your letter Of the 18th February, enclosing
official copies of the order and resolves lateiy
adopted by the two branches OF the Government OF
the city of Boston.
1t affords him great satisfaction to perceive that
such measures have been taken by the authorities
of Boston, as give that no other outrage,
similar to that which was, he presumes, the imme-
date cause of their adoption, will be permitted to
take place in your city.
From his earliest youth, he has been accustomed
to regard with the greatest respect and veneraton
the city of Boston and the Commonwealth Of Mas
sachusetts. ..... -e. D.
He has been taught to believe that their inhabi
tants were, almost above all others, the friends OF
order and good government; intelligent enough to
appreciate the advantages Of free institutions OIL
their own choice, and capable of understanding and
resolving that great political problem, OF the COM
patblity Of freedom with order, OF liberty distln-
guished from licentioussess, and OF self-govern-
ment the farthest removed from the dangers oi
anarchy that they are especially deyotod to the
union of the States and to the Constitution
which established, and still maintains that Union /;
and that their patriotism would never tal to coun-
sci them to fulfil all their obligations under the
Constitution justly and fully, and in the very spirit
in which such Obligations were ehtereo INTO ny
their renowned ancestors -..
Entertaining these sentiments, it was difficult
for the President credit the accounts which were
received of the outrage on all law, perpetrated in
Boston, on the 18th Of February last.
That prisoner, in lawful custody, within the
walls of the Courthouse, in the centre OF the city,
and in full sight of the Offices OF the municipal
authorities had been, at MONDAY, forclbly rescued
| by mob of one or two hundred persons, from the
officers of the law carried OF the building, and
through the public streets, in sort of triumph and
enabled to escape altogether, without an attempt
on the part OF any OF the authorities, or any OF the
citizens to preserve order and maintain the law, or
to pursue and retake the fugitive, was statement
| that seemed to him too improbable to be true.
| 1t was with feeling OF great relief that he re-
ceved such explanations OF this strange occur
renee, showed it to have been entire surprise
| upon the citizens, and upon the authorities; an act
| Of successful temerty the part Of very incon-
siderable number of persons, which only needed TO
| have been apprehended the shortest time before
| hand to have been prevented.
| The President IS confident that the great ma
orty of the citizens of Boston are entirely loyal to
the Constitution that they view with just indigna
ton all such outrages, and all attempts, whether
| by writing or speaking, to incte the ignorant ant
| unthinkng to such acts of violence and that they
| are ready to discharge the duties incumbent or
them, by the Constitution and laws OF the U niteo
States, faithfully and fearessly, under all crcum
stances, whenever called upon by the prope
| authorities.
The occurrence Of the 18th February is certainly
great to be regretted it gives occasion to thos'
| not unwilling to seize upon it, to question the dis
position of your fellow citizens to comply with the
constitutional obligations in good faith; and tn,
history of such outrage is spread far and wide
reaches where explanation OF it may never fol
low, and creates i'll feelings towards those who's,
| only connection wirh it is that they resident
| of the place in which it was perpetrated. But il
as the President doubts not it will, this event sha
arouse the attention Of all good citizens to
Of the dangers to be apprehended from the incul
cation Of such doctrines as have been spread abroa
| in the country, tending to shake the authority
all law, to unsette society, and to absolve me
from all civil and moral obligations and shall pr
them their guar against the further diffusion
such pernicious sentiments II may, IN the end, B
j .r-ea~,iva Of L-Pry 1as,l'S', nnd ~--.~--lJ, IL
! | almost unanimous expression of Indignation whlc
| it called forth among your citizens, balances,
: | some extent, the ill effect flowing from it.
, The President does not doubt that the people
Massachusetts perfectly well understand the dlfit
| renee between the freest discussion of polite;
measures, and opposition to legal enactments a
ready made and established. He is quite sure tn;
! they regard the law of the land not as sentimeI
or an opinion, but as rule of conduct prescribe
| by the general authority, and which all are boun
to obey at the risk Of the penalties attached to il
: | violation.
/, The President directs me to tender you h
. | thanks for the transmission Of the resolutions.
/ remain, Mr. Mayor, with great respect
,fI Your ob't servt DANIEL WEBSTER.