The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-26
ID EFF + X II r ID ID + b A T T.
FRIDAY, Feb. 81, 1851.
IN SENATE.
FUGITIVE SLAVE Law.

FRIDAY, Fob. Il, 1851,
In SENATE. ~
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
The PRESIDENT OF tho Senate laid before
the body message from the President of the
United States, in answer to resolution of the
Senate of the 18th Instant, requesting him Ia
lay before the Senate any information he nigh,
possess on the subject OF recent forcible re-
sistance to the execution Of the laws of the
United States in Boston, and what means ht
had taken TO NEST the occurrence, and to state
whether any additional degradation was necessar,
to meet the EFFICIENCY Of the case, and to more
vigorously execute the laws. This document
was published In Mondays paper.
The message having been read by the Secre.
tary Of the Senate &f
Nj. CLAY. l listened with great satisfac-
ton to the reading Of that letter Of the Presi.
dent. lts general tone IL in accordance with
the resolution which the letter announces OF
carrying into effect and execution duly the laws
OF the United States, and ought to be, and
trust will be, satisfactory to every impartial and
candid man in the whole community. There is
only one regret that feel in relation to it. !
think the marshal of Massachusetts ought TO
have been dismissed. have very little doubt
although am not authorized to say anything
upon the subject, that the President is subject.
ing his conduct to that scrutiny which will en-
able him to come to satisfactory conclusion as
to the point of duty, whether he should OF
should not be removed. intend, Mr.. Presi-
dent, after few remarks, to make motion in
reference to this message. avail myself, how
ever, of the occasion to express the high degree
Of satisfaction have felt in seeing the generally
faithful execution Of this law. 1t has been ex-
ecuted in Indiana under circumstances, really,
Of great embarrassment and doubt, but promptly
executed. II has been executed in Ohio ia re-
peated instances 1t has been executed in the
State of Pennsylvania-at the seat of govern
ment of Pennsylvania, and ut the great metrop-
oils of Pennsylvania. 1t has been executed in
the great metropolis of the Union---New York
i believe upon more than one occasion. It has
been executed everywhere except in the city of
Boston, and there has been failure there upon
two occasions TO execute the law.
confess, sir, that when heard of the first
failure | was most anxious to hear of the case of
another arrest Of fugitive slave in Boston, that
the experiment might be again made, and that it
might be satisfactorily ascertained whether the
law could or could not be executed in the city of
Boston. 1t was, therefore, with profound sur
prise and regret that heard of the recent oc-
currence, in which the law had been again treated
with contempt, and the courthouse OF the coun-
try violated by an invasion of a law less force.
Sir, stated upon former occasion that the
mob consisted chiefly, as is now stated by the
President, Of blacks. But when | adverted to
the fact had in my mind those-wherever they
may be, in high or low places in public or pri-
vate-who instigated, melted, and stimulated TO
these deeds of enormty those poor, black, dclud-
cd fha ,k< .
to be reached /; they are the persons who ought
to be brought to condgn punishment; and !
trust, if there be any incompetency in existing
laws TO punish those who advised, and stimu
lated, and instigated those unfortunate blacks tC
these deeds of cnormity, that the defects will b.
supplied, and the really guilty party who Turk.
behind, putting forward these miserable wretches
will be brought to justice. believe--at leas
bope-the existing laws will be found compe
tent to reach their case.
Mr. President, in the message which has JUS
been read, the President has suggested two o
three doubts or defects in existing laws Tn,
act of 1875 prcsupposes the existence and con
tinued action Of an instruction, and consc
quently the existence and combination of nsur
gents who carry on that Instruction. The act
therefore, requires that before there shall be any
application Of force to quell the Instruction
there shall be proclamation announced and
read to the community and insurgents, com.
handing them to dispense and then, if they
fail to disperse, the application of force shall com
pei that to be done which the parties would not
do without it. BUTT is manifest that in such ,
case as that which has recently occurred in Bos
ton, this net cannot be carried out, because there
is no pre-existing insurrection. There are ne
known insurgents. The first evidence of op
position and obstruction 10 the law arises from
the fact that party suddenly burst into tn,
courthouse, dispense the officers, violate Tn,
sanctuary of justice, and commit those enormi
ties Of which we have recently heard. To make
proclamation beforehand is, therefore, mpossi
bic The President suggests, among the lega
remedies which these Cases may call for, that oil
dispensing with the proclamation in such cases
There is some doubt, under the act of March,
1887, whether the army and navy authorized to
be employed to enforce the laws of the United
States can be employed without prior proclama-
ton, as il required in case ofan Instruction That
also ia subject worthy of consideration Ny
motion then, ia, that this message and accompa-
nying documents be referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary, and that the committee be in
structed to report, with all convenient despatch,
upon the recommendations contained in the mes
printing, and the printing of an extra number of
copies
Mr.. HALE. | am not disposed to allow this
case to pass without letting it be understood by
all who feel any interest in knowing how stand
upon this question. ! am glad that the docu-
ment which has been read has been sent TO us
for one reason, and but one 1t satisfies me
most conclusively that the President thinks and
feels pretty sure that he ia rendering his admin
istration ridiculous, and that his proclamation
his done it, and he sent us long, labored es-
FAY, rs understand it, to vindcate the propriety
OF W rat cannot be indicated. The idea Of the
President of the United States issuing formal
proclamation calling upon nll the naval and mill
tary force Of the government to hold themselves
in readiness, and all officers and good citizens
everywhere, to defend this great republic agsins
n handful of negroes in Boston! do not know
how it strikes others, but to my mind it is ride
ulous in the extreme and ] am determined, a
far an am concerned, will have no part or 10
in it. Anybody that wants to magnify this int
great affair has my full consent. Why, sir, tn
President has not even waited till he has 90