Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-02-26
THE BOSTON OUTRAGE.

the Senate on Tuesday last, the presentation oy
Mr. Clay Of the following Resolution in relation to
the recent outrage in Boston. We copy from the
Washington Republic:
''The Senate took up the following resolution, sub
mitted yesterday by Mr.. Clay:
Resolred, That the President of the United States
be requested to lay before the Senate, if not incom-
patble with the public interests, any information he
may possess in regard to alleged recent case of
forcble resistance TO the execution of the laws of the
United States in the city of Boston, and to commu-
ncate to the Senate, under the above condition. what
means he has adopted to meet the occurrence; and
whether, in his opinion, any additional Legislation is
necessary to meet the exigency of the casc and to
more vigorously execute existing laws.
Mr.. Clay explained the object OF the resolution to
be to obtain from the President any information he
may possess in regard to the recent outrage obtain
from him information as to what measures he has
adopted TO meet the occurrence and also whether in
his opinion any additional Legislation be necessary to
a more vigorous execution of the laws of the land.
Until that information was received, he considered it
premature to enter into any extended discussion of
the subject But he could not forbear saying that he
had been shocked and astounded upon reading the ac-
counts as given In the newspapers of such occur
renee taking place in the third city of the Union. 1t
not alone that the laws had been resisted the Of
hcers beaten down, and driven of the courtroom,
the person whom they had in custody taken from
them =; but this was done in open daylight by mob,
and in the face of population of one hundred and
fifty thousand inhabitants. By whom was this done!
Not by people of our own race color. BY me-
groes. by Africans and the descendants of Africans
The question was whether our laws and Government
were to be the laws and Government of white men
or of black At first he could believe the &C.
counts of this affair, as given in the papers but he
had heard it confirmed by high authority by per-
son who had received letters from Boston. The
Senator from Mississippi (Mr Foote) had stated yes
fkot in ntoru sho
officers of the Government assurances were given that
the law would be maintained since then he (Mr.
CO. had had interview with these persons, and had
received similar assurance.
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, said he had read the
accounts of the occurrence in Boston; which occur
the Senator had condemned. Before arraigning
any one, before condemning commending any one,
concerning this proceeding he desired to have the
information and facts before him, and when he had
these before him he would hesitate to express his
condemnation or commentator, as the facts of the
would show who was entitled to either. 1t was
well known that the law, whose operations had been
resisted, unpopula. in that section of the
country, ard that its provisions had been most fully
discussed and commented upon. But the people OF
Boston were law-abiding people. They were will
ing and content to leave this law to the action of the
courts to have its constutionality decided upon.
They not disposed to resist the law by violence.
While the law was upon the statute book it should
be maintained and obeyed; but there should also be
allowed freedom of speech, freedom of debate upon
the subject
Mr.. Clay. Freedom of debate upon what subject!
Upon an open. impudent violation of the laws of the
country!
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts,, said he meant that
freedom of discussion should be allowed upon the
general merits of the law.
Mr.. Clay asked who opposed any discussion of the
merits of The law!
Mr. Davis said that he had no alusion to the Sem
~L1S Al lzl zI.A~~ L.
thrown in the way of free discussion of the merits
of the law.
Mr.. Clay said that Congress less than five months
ago had passed law to carry into effect provision
of the Constitution 1t was passed after full debate
by considerable majority. And to those who now
act have lately passed, particularly in the face
of open attempt to resist it, He hoped he had not
offended the Senator from Massachusetts, by express
ing the indignation he felt upon hearing of the con-
duct Of those who entered the temple Of us.ice and
seizing the sword of justice itself, waving in tr
umph the heads of the officers and ministers oil
justice. He would this and every other occasion
speak. offend whom it may, of any gross outrage
and resistance of the law, whether by white men or
black men.
Mr.. Davis said he felt as indignant as any one al
the occurrence. The people of Boston were law.
and since the days OF the Revolution they had main.
tained the right of free discussion and inquiry into
every subject affecting them. Their remedy agains
the offensive law was by argument, by reason, and
by an appeal to the ballot-box.
MIR. Davis; Of Mississippi. expressed the opinion
that the people Of the northern States would neve
allow the Fugitive Slave law to be enforced. Itwas
question entirely with the people, and not with thu
States. The Presidenf'of the United States had thu
power to resist invasion and to suppress nsurrecon
and for this purpose to use the army and navy of h'
United States.
The law was not executed when first attempted
and the marshal was not removed what was this bu
an encouragement to violate the law I! He was op
posed to employing the army and navy of the Unite'
States to enforce the laws in the States. When tn
States refuses to obey those laws, the question wa
beyond the control Of the Government, and becam
tempated that he militia ofthe States were sucien