The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-02

Gov Brown said, il there had been no suct
man AZ John A. Quitnlan we should have had
no speech from his friend Freeman. The gen
tleman's whole speech seemed TO have been made
with special view to attack Governor Qui.
man. 1t was Quitman first, Qutman last, and
Quitman in all the intermediate parts Of the
speech Indeed, the gentleman had become 70
accustomed to spenk against the late governor
that he could not get along without it. lie had
seen horses that had worked in mill 30 long
that when they were turned out, they contin-
ued to walk round in circle. So It seemed
with his friend Freeman. He had 40 long kept
up his assaults on Governor Quitman, that now,
whenever he gets up to speak, he starts oil on
Quitman. In this instance, it was especially
inappropriate, as he said nothing about the gov
ernor He was quite confident that the gallant
old soldier could defend himself; but since it
has pleased the gentleman to bring the name of
John A. Quitman before this audience, he would
say what otherwise be should not have said -
that he was for Quitman in this contest, aud
against his assaants, in the State and out of it,
He did not feel called upon to say whether he
approved entirely all that Gen Qutman had
done 1t was sufficient for him that there was
deliberate attempt to hunt down the late gov
ernor. He had been arrested, in the discharge
of his official duties, and carried to another uris-
dcton, under false and lying pretext that he
had violated tho laws of his country. And who
was at the hend of this dirty business! Why,
Willard Fillmore Ia President who could find
power to arrest Southern governor, but who
could not muster strength enough to arrest a
fugitive s,ave---who could take governor from
the people of Mississippi, but who could not
take fugitive slave from free negro mob in
Boston II might be that Gen. Qutman had
taken extreme ground was not his purpose
to decide any such question or one thing he
felt certain If Quitman went too far, (Which
he did not admit) his assaiants did not go far,
enough, on the Southern question. And when
it come to choosing between one who was too
jealous in the cause and one not Jealous enough,
he could not hesitate as to what his course
should be- He was for his too Jealous friend.
He would never shoot soldier for too much
gallantry, or because he had gone too near the
enemy
Mr. Brown adverted, briefly, to Mr.. Free
mans eulogy on Mr. Fillmore. He asked if it
lay we'll in the mouth of the Democratic ex-at-
torney general thus to eulogise Willard Fill
more? For what were all these eulogies pro-
nounced! Was it for seeing the Fugitive slave
law executed How had this been done? Early
in last December, Mr. Richardson, of Illinois,
had called the Presidents attention to the fact
that the district attorney in that State had de-
nounced the Fugitive slave law as unconst-
tutiona and had openly declared that he would
not execute it, Mr. Richardson asked the re-
moval of the attorney on this ground; but il
had not been DONE and he supposed he never
would be- How was it with the Boston mar
shall! He had fagrantly neglected his duty
the President knew it, acknowledged the fact to
Congress, and ret he did not remove him. He
has not removed him-he never will remove
him. for he dare not. The President has not the
moral courage to encounter the fierce howlings
of hs free soil friends and allies over an act like
this could cite many instances where persons,
in the employ Of government, have repndiated
and denounced the Fugitive slave law, and de-
clared that they would not execute it, and yet
thov are retained in Office Ard the gentleman
eulogzes the President for seeing this law faith
fully executed.
The gentleman finds great fault with some
BODY hut he does not seem to know exactly
who for not voting additional powers to the
President to enable him to execute the law in
Boston He SAYS the President ought to have
power given him by law to send military force
into Boston, and subdue the free negroes, and
he thinks that somebody has been guilty of
treason again. in refusing this demand Of the
President Let me refresh the gentleman's
memory. Last year, when the country was con-
vulsed on the subject Of our territorial relations.
including, among many other matters, the ques-
ton of the Texas boundary, this same President
sent message to Congress, saying, in sub
stance, thai: he had made up his mind to take
from Texas onethird of her territory-that he
had ample powers, and if Texas resisted, he
would reduce her. This was his tone last year.
This year, when the Fugitive slave law has been
fagrantlv set at defiance by mob Of free ne
groes in Boston, he comes whining to Congress
with doubts as to the extent of his powers
In what language shall express my reprehen-
sion of President who, last year, could find
power and will to visit slave State with fire
and sword-with death and desolation-for as
serting her simple rights, and this year whines
sickly doubt as to his power to put down
negro mob at Boston, and they in the very act
of trampline down the laws and the Consttu-
ton of the United States
Mr.. Brown was proceeding with some farther
remarks, when his time again expired. At "A
later period, and in reply to an inquiry from
Gen. Freeman, Gov Brown said he charged the
President with causing the arrest and removal
of Gov Quitman from the State, on the ground
that the President was the head of the govern
ment Council had been employed here and in
fact was known to the President Gov. Omit
man had asked to be left in discharge Of his du-
ties until his term expired-ths had been de-
MED But as il he were an ordinary criminal,
who must be locked up or put under bonds to
prevent his escape, he was pursued with unceas-
ing vigilance and with unusual acrimony. Much
more pains were taken to arrest him here than
any other man. All this was known to the
President An intimation from him would have
quieted the Fauquier Tinville of Louisiana, and
all his snbs--but it was not given. They hoped
to goad Quitman into some act of rashncss, but
they failed of their object. He confronted his
accusers, and they shrunk from the gaze of an
honest man and patriot After annoying him
for months, and exciting the country with great
expectations, they finally forced him TO resign
the Office Of governor and go off to New Or
leans; and no sooner was he there, than these
very jealous advocates of the law find that they
have no charge against him. For these foul
transactions, hold Willard Fillmore the head of
the government responsible.