The republic., 1851-04-12

| From the Transcript we extract review o
the outrage of the 18th Of February in Boston, ex
hibiting that affair in the light in which it pre-
sents itself to the sober inhabitants of that city
We apprehend that no one can read it and fail
to arrive at the conclusion that the proclama-
ton of the PRESIDENT on that occasion was i'm
peratively called for by the circumstances; and
that the importance attributed to the event by
Mr.. CLAY was in no respect exaggerated. One
of the Boston journals, pretending to be friendly
to the Administration, denounced that procla-
nation as unnecessary and uncalled for" and
is astonished to find that the Administration il
disposed to publish the laws in journals which
sustain the PRESIDENTS efforts TO execute the
laws, and maintain the public peace.
THE PEACE AND DIGNITY OF THE COMMON
wEALTH.-No. XIII.
Let US now proceed to show the bearing Of
the law upon the facts-the outrage in this
city on the fifteenth day of February last.
The following editorial article appeared in
the Boston ATLAS Of March %:
"We happy that it has been ascertaincd
after full inquiry that the recent at the Uni
ted States courtroom in Boston, was entire
surprise upon the citizens and upon the authori-
tics; act of successful temerty, on the part Of q
very uncomfortable number of persons; which
only needed to have been apprehended the shortest
time beforehand to have been prevented This
is what the President directs the Secretary oi
State to inform Mayor Bigelow. II tells the whole
story"
The passage quoted in this notice is from
Mr.. Webster's letter of March 10 to the
mayor and aldermen Of Boston, in reply to .
communication from them to the President OF
the United States, of their " deep regret that
the integrity Of the La,rs and the dignity Of the
Commonwealth and city had been greatly i'm
paired, by the .forcibs rescue and abduction
Of prisoner from the hands of an officer Of
the United States, ,cho had him. in legal Gus
tody."
Now, let US devote few moments to very
brief analysis of those elements from which
the editors of the Atlas derive their happiness:
:" They are happy that it has been asceriained,
after full inquiry, that the recent rescue, &c.,
,cas an entire surprise upon the Citizens" sc.
1t is pity their happiness has been deferred
so long. They seem singularly slow Of appfe-
hension. 1t was but a few days ago that they
published vile rumor, from their hired news
monger at Washington, which everybody but
themselves well enough knew to be aimed at
Mr.. Webster; and they, like our worthy mayor
upon another occasion, had not ga atadoc OF
Suspicion" that it referred to Mr. Webster.
And now they are happy that "it has been as
certained, after full inquiry" SIC.
Who ever doubted, the worthy mayor ex-
cepted, that the rescue was ''an entire sur
prise upon the citizens and upon the autho-
rites 2" Who ever doubted that it was s' an
act Of successful tenserity on the part Of a pery
ineonsiderabse number Of Perso'4s; which only
needed to hace been opprehended, the shortest
time beforehand, to haze been prepented Y''
Who ever doubted that the board of aldermen
would have effectually prevented the occur
renee, had the worthy mayor, instead Of going
to his dinner, conveyed to them the intelli-
gence which Mr.. Riley swears he communi-
Gated to him2
The editors of the Atlas appear to consider
this matter of recent ascertainment, and they
are happy! Two days only after the outrage,
and before any tidings from the city authorities
had reached him, MI. Webster, in his letter to
the New York committee, thus expresses him.
self
81 am sure, gentlemen, that shame will burn the
cheeks, and indignation fill the hearts, of nineteen
wentieths of the people Of Boston, at the avowa of
principles nndthe commission Of outrages 10 abom-
Unable. Depend upon it, that If the people of that
city had been informed of any such purpose or de-
sign was carried into effect in the courthouse
in Boston, on Saturday last they would have rushed
to the spot and crushed such nefarious project
into the dust. The vast majority of the people of
Boston must necessarily suffer in their feelings.
but ought not to suffer at all in their character and
honor or in their loyalty to the Constitution, from
the acts of such persons composed the mob. I
venture to say, that when you hear Of them next
you will learn that, personally and collectively,
individuals, and also as represented in the city
councils they will give full evidence of their fixed
purpose to wipe away. and obiteratc to the full
tent Of their power, this foul blot the reputation
of the city,
Nothing new, therefore, has been discovered
Really, now, there is no reason why these wOr-
thy editors should be particularly happy at this
moment. Mr.. Webster entertained, and long
since expressed, very just impression of the
matter. But, say the editors in conclusion:
"I'his is ,clat the President directs the Secre-
tary Of State to inform Mr.. Bigelo,p. II tells
the 0holc story" Indeed And these worthy
editors really believe that II tells the WHOLE
STORY! They have not the shadow Of suspicion
that there is one jot or little of the tchole story
which is not told in these fec ,oords! If this be
the whok story, the whole board of aldermen
and every member of the council have taken a
great deal Of unnecessary trouble, and made
themselves little ridiculous, perhaps, by cor
daily responding to a proclamation which was
certainly uncalled for, if the achole story really
lies IN THIS nutshell.
If it tells the whole story, then there will flow
from this fact most agreeable corollary. Mr.
Webster will be made to stultify the President
for issuing the proclamation, and himself and
the Cabinet for advising it!
Now, 1t is my purpose to tell SO much of the
,ohoLe story as has come to my knowledge; and
for part Of it, | may have occasion to recur to
the interesting pages of the nineteenth volume
Of work published in this city, entitled The
Boston Daily Atlas. "the only paper in Bos-
ton," say these worthy editors, ''that consd-
cred the proclamation of the President unne-
cessary and uncalled for"
DO these worthy editors think that Mr.
Webster believes the phole story is told in the
passage they have quoted Do they imagine
that Mr.. Webster meant to convey the idea
that the President had found out his error, and
that he was wrong, and that Mr.. Webster and
the Cabinet were wrong in supposing the res