The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-31
MIR. Commissioner Curtis.

of the same date:
10 Ae Editor of the Daily Adpertiser:
A friend has put into my hands copy of the
Commonwealth, containing report of speech
made by Mr.. Horace Mann, at Lancaster, on
the 18th instant, and which appears, from the
closing sentence, to have been made in order to
promote the election of Mr.. Palfrey. Full one
half of this long speech, the whole of it occu-
plying thirteen columns, is devoted TO review
ofmy decision in the case of Thomas Sims, the
fugitive slave, and TO an attack upon my char
acter. 1t contains, AMONG other things, the
following Statements
GAS you would naturally suppose, in order to
shelter himself from the odum of such decision,
he has put all personal and all collateral
into requistion TO make the plausible as in
genuity canmakeit Itissaid, too, that MIR. Webster
and Mr.. Webster's friends and the commissioners
friends have contributed of their strength to help
the debility Of the case. While the cause pend
ing before him, one of the points involved in it
brought before the supreme court of Massachusetts,
| and also before the circuit court of the United
States The commissioner adjourned the
after all the arguments OF counsel were in. He
thereby gave himself opportunity for prepare
ton and Tor consultation. am taking no exception
to all this. / am glad it was done. We now have
the breadth and length and strength of what can
be alleged in favor OF the law. never feel
| hdent OF my conclusions as when strong men have
taken the opposite side and have failed TO sustain
it. Now to this decision of the commissioner, made
under such indictments, and with suoh assistance
propose to invite your attention."
My first impulse, on reading this paragraph, was
to address note to Mr.. Mann, to ask him what he
meant by these insinuations. But as | read on,
through some other paragraphs in that speech,
very soon came to the conclusion that man
who could stand up before any audience and say
the brutal things there said was not person with
whom j should choose to hold any personal COM
munication whatsoever. There seemed, also, to be
the less necessity for asking him What his meaning
was as twas quite apparent he intended to give
his audience to understand that my decision was
made under private influence and with the assist
ance of others. 1t is not at all probable that any
body who knows will believe this to be true,
even on the authority of Mr.. Mann. doubt if he
himself believes it. But this constitutes no reason
why it should be passed over. Any man may we'll
leave his character to take care OF itself
| against such statements these, save where the
public have interest in his integrity and in that
of others who may be assailed with him.
| Two very distinct assertions are made by Mr.
| Mann:
/. That MIR. Webster, and MIR. Webster 8 friends
and my friends, assisted me in making that de-
cision; he phrases it, s'contribhted of their
strength to the debility of the case" This is ut
terly false, in any and every sense in which Mr..
Mann may wish to have it understood.
2. Mr.. Mann says TO his audience at Lancaster,
was pending before me of the points involved
| in it was brought before the supreme court and
| the circuit court; that adjourned the case over
| after all the arguments OF counsel were in and
thereby gave myself opportunity for preparation
and consultation. The object of this statement was
to ii to be believed that consulted with the
judges Of the supreme court, or the judge of the
circuit court or some one else, In the preparation
| Of my opinion; and that this the motive of the
| adjournment He does not put it alphabetically,
or conditionally; he goes on to cay that "itswas
| done" and he is glad of it. He calls the attention
Of his hearers to the decision made under such in,
elements and with such assistance"
| The application to the Supreme Court for writ
of habeas corpus was made on Monday, and was
| decided on the same day. was not present when
| the decision was made, and did not read the opn-
ion of the chief justice until the following week,
after my own was delivered and published. The
arguments in the case before me were closed at a
late hour Tuesday afternoon, and then ad-
journed the case until Friday morning, Thursday
being fast day, and one day at least being mecca
sary Tor the preparation OF my opinion. The APP
| plcation to Judge Woodbury. for writ of habfas
corpus was made on the evening of fast day !
was not present During the whole time Of
my adjournment did not anywhere one of
the Judges OF the supreme court, Judge Spraguc,
! OF the district court or Mr.. Webster, (who
was not in town. and saw Mr.. Justice Wood
bury but once, for less than half minute, as
will be presently stated. During the whole of
| Wednesday did not leave my own house tor the
space OF more than five minutes. On Thursday
/ was out of my house for about two hours for
|
was made to Judge Woodbury. the whole of my
opinion was written as it afterwards deliv-
cred and published. On my way to the court
house, on Friday morning, was told by gen.
| tleman who was present the night before that
Judge Woodbury. had granted writ. ! met that
learned judge in the lobby, as | was going into
the court room to deliver my opinion, and was
| told by him that the writ which he had granted
was applicable only to criminal process ON which
Slime was held, and was not intended to interrupt
! the proceedings before rae Our interview was
not of half minutes duration, and nothing else
! passed between us. And now tell the good peo-
/ pie Of Lancaster, whose have been SO much
abused, that if they believed from the statements
of Mr.. Mann, that at any time consulted or
! ferrcd, directly indirectly, with MIR. Webster,
or with one or more Of the judges of the supreme
court, with any judge of the courts of the United
| States, with regard to my decision, any thing
connected with it, or that any human being but
myself knew the course OF reasoning in that opn-
ion, any part of it, before it was delivered, or in
any way influenced or "incited," or ''asssted" il,
| they were made to believe an utter falschood l
am aware that in this community it must seem as
unnecessary on my own account, as it is ac-
count of Others for me to make these statements,
and that the mere suggestion OF necessity for
making them is almost disrespectful to the eminent
persons whose names offices coupled with
mine in these disgraccful insinuations. But con-
sderng the place and the purposes of this attack,
| trust shall be excused for repelling such a
SANDER.
| Mr.. Mann has had the hardihood to say, that
Gin order to shelter himself from the odium OF this
decsion,'' the commissioner 'has put all personal
and all collateral into requisiton to make
the case plausible ingenuity can make it,"
| To say this OF a magistrate, is to charge him with
having made corrupt and dishonest decision. To
say it, accompanied by pure invention of every
! fact necessary to sustain it, is certainly mon
strons eilrontery, which may we'll fill all good
men with disgust. But it is only n part of
settled systein apd policy of dctraction and as
saut, by which the officers Of the law are sought
to be driven from their posts Speaking for one,
at least, Of those officers, let me say that this
| policy is powerloss il is wicked. All the
"odium" that Mr.. Mann his coadutors can
excite against my decision, against me for
making 1t, will never to doubt its cor
rcctness, to regret that it was made. How
ever extensive and however foul his vocabulary
may be, it is utterly impossible for him to cause
me to seek the least shelter from the consequences
Of that opinion lie may tell people at Lancaster,
or elsewhere, that the commissioner is a man who
''must have heart before no can feel, and eyes
baf,r that