The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-29

secure certain fugitive slaves, who have been
claimed by their owners; and that calls upon the
commandment of the Philadelphia navy yard to aid
with the marines in the execution OF the laws, by
the civil authority, are often made, and you in
quire to your duty in rendering obedience to
them.
That part of the inquiry which pertains to calls for
military aid by officers acting under State author-
ty il is not deemed necessary specially to answer,
there being no present occasion 10 require II.
In reply to the other question presented by you,
am instructed by the President to say, that. he
deprecates any necessity for calling on the mill
tary force of the United States to aid the civil Of
ficers in the execution of their proper functions;
and he trusts that the patriotism OF the good people
OF Pennsylvania will enable the narshal and other
civil officers to command sufficient assistance
from among those in civil life to serve any process
in his hands, and to render II eiiectual
But the President, feeling the full force OF his
constitutional obligation ''to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed" directs that, if the
marshal, or any of his known deputies, charged
with the service of process by competent authority
Of the United States, shall be unable to raise the
necessary force for that purpose, or to prevent a
rescue, or 10 make recapture IN case OF rescue,
by virtue Of his authority TO summon citizens to
his aid, and shall call for the assistance OF the ma
rines, you will, in such event, promptly order
them to accompany and assist him in the perform
of his duty, having previously instructed the
officer in command of the marines that during this
service he will receive the orders OF the marshal or
his deputy, and act only in strict obedience to
them
Such will be your duty in applications from the
marshal and his known deputies. But in the case
of like applications from special deputies appointed
by Commissioners of the United States to execute
process under the act Of the last session OF Con-
gress, entitled ''An act to amend and supplement
airy to the act entitled IAN act respecting fugitives
from justice and persons escaping from the service
of their masters approved February IL, l793,"
they will be required in each instance to produce
to you certificate Of the justice judge Of the
United States in their district, stating that the
II been actually
resisted, that combinations to resist 1t have been
formed too powerful to be overcome by the author
lily q such deputy, to call for the posse comitatus,
in which event you will render to him the like as
sisance as if called on by marshal or his deputy,
Observing the cautions above indicated.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILL. A. GRAHAM.
Commodore GEORGE C. READ,
Commandant Navy Yard Philadelphia.
Letter OF Edward Everett TO the Webster
Convention.
In the proceedings of the convention at Bos-
ton to nominate DANIEL WEBSTER for the Pre-
sidency, as reported in the Courier of that city,
Mr. AsHMUN stated that Mr.. EVERETT was
from ill-health unable to be present in person
at the convention, but that his heart was with
them, that he had conferred with the commit
tee on the address, and that that instrument, as
fore calling upon the committee to report, Mr..
AsHMUN said he would read the following
letter:
BosroN, November %, 1851.
To the Hen C GORGE AsHMUN,
President of the Convention:
DEAR Sir: beg leave in this way to express my
deep regret that the state of my health is such at
present as to prevent my attending large public
meetings and taking part in their proceedings.
For this reason it is out Of my power to discharge
in person the honorable duty assigned me upon
the committee for preparing the address of the
great and enthusiastic convention over which you
preside. need not say to you that most cordial
ly approve the object of the meeting. | regard il
as a duty which the friends of Mr. Webster owe to
the country to bring forward his name in this pub
lie authentic manner a candidate for the Presi-
dcncy 1t is due to his character, alents and long
life of public service, and especially to his noble
efforts for the support of the Constitution and the
preservation of the Union.
Such step appears to be peculiarly reasonable
at this momer, when, if we may judge from the tone
of some leading journals, new issue is about to be
made in poli,ics A feeling appears TO be get
ting up in favor of reversing the foreign policy of
the country, established when Washington
President and jefferson Secretary of State, and fol-
lowed by all their successors, and of adopting in
stead the policy Of Systematic Intervention; that is
to say, of going to with all the other nations of
Chrstendom for the sake of propagating prin-
ciples and ferns of government
| need not say that such policy is much less
likely to result in changing the monarches of Eu-
rope into republics than in eventually changing
own happy Republic into military despotism. In
the mean time, of course it would plunge US and
Europe into general confused, revolutionary,
murderous conflict.
On whom can the country rely, at once to main.
tain our own principles of popular government
with firmness, and to prevent our attachment to
them from degenerating intoan oflicious propagan-
dism, with greater confidence than on Daniel
Webster?
Faneuil Hall was never opened for nobler pur-
pose than that for which it is this day thronged.
l remain, dear sir, with the highest respect, your
friend and fellow. citizen,
EDWARD EVERETT.