The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-03-01
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE IN RELA-
TION 70 THE BOSTON RIOT.
WAsnNnToN, Feh. 2I, la

WAsHiSGroS, Feb p, 1851.
Tic lallaa.ss -'''es-sr-- -srut INTO the
Senate from the President, In answer 10 Mr.
Clay's resolution of inquiry relative 20 the
Boston Riot
To IHr SCfNTr 90 rHE /, 81 have
received a resolution from the Senate, request.
ing me "a lay hriurc that body anY iniufu.-
tiun W1y pn-sc-s in regard "a the alleged
recent case Of iurrible resistance a. the laws
of the United States in the city Of Boston,
and 90 communicate % the Senate what means
! have adopted "a meet the occurrence, aud
whether ia nay opinion, any additional lcpls-
lauou . necessary Co meet the cSigCuCy 81
/ the cnsc, aud more vigorously 10 execute the
existing laWH,frrr-
The public newspapers runtaiu nm affidavit
Of Patrick Hlcy.puputy Marshal for the Dis
trict Of Massachusetts, setting forth the cir
cuulslhuccs OF the casc--a copy Of which aili-
davit h herewith communicated. Private
and unofficial communications concur ia 90
tthlisling The main ihrts at this account. bat
no satisfactory official information Las a. vet
been rccciNcd,und ia SOME important respects
the accuracy Of the account has been denied
hy persons whom IL implicated
Nothing could be- more unexpected ihan
gross violation Of the law. such lugh-handcd
contempt Of the authority Of the Unilod States
pcrpctrairr'by q band OF hWlco confederate
ia the cily of Boston, and ia the very tcnl-
pile of justice.
] regard this nIgiiious ccdiug ~ being
"a surprise not unattended hv some degree OF
Negligence, nor do | doubt that IL nny such
act o. VIGILANCE had hr.n apprrhcu1cti, thee-
yaudg o. the good citizen. OF Boston would
have presented thvmscl,c, promptly and vol
unfairly, % prevent IT, Bat their danger
al D .
duly appreciated -hy thosc/whn were con
ccrncd IN the execution orthc process. lna
community distinguished for is love Of order
aud respect for The Jaws, among people whose
sentiment is'Iiberty and law, aui not liberty
without law, or abnvc'tlir law, 1iqfh an our
rage cogll oa,y Dc the result oi Sudden ,iu-
souocr uBd1ppiiy too much unprvparcd 70 be
successfully resisted
u would lc melancholy indeed. il We we're
obliged 10 Inrd this outbreak against the
Constitution and legal authority at the gov
crnmcut as proceeding from the general iurl-
in. of the people, on the spot which il pro-
verbally called the cradle Of american libcr-
~
Such undoubtedly is not the fact Il yio-
latcs, without question, the general sentiment
OF the people of Boston, and the vast maiori.
wv rtV Whoic rc6plo OF Massachusetts,, a.
much as it violates the law aud dcfes the au-
ttori'y of goycrumcnt, and dsgraccs those
concerned in il, their aidcrs and abcttors.
IL is, nevertheless, my~tluty 10 lay before
the Senate, in answer 20 its resolution some
important facts and considerations connected
with tho snh,eE
\ resolution of Congress, of Sept. ~, l 7ss
declared that It be recommended TO the Log.
islaturcs of of the States to pass laws making
Il expressly the duty of keepers OF jails 10 re-
ccivc into safe keeping all prisoners commit. /.
t'-'( uiittcr authority Of the United States, I'M
Ill they shall be discharged by the due course |
of the-iaws thereof, under the like penalties /
as IN cases of prisoners committed under au-
thority of such States respectively rrhc L. I
nited States To pay for the use and- keeping |
Of such jails, at certain rates per month, for
each prisoner that shall be under their att
thOrity, and be committed thereto, during the
time that such prisoners shall be therein con
fined, and also to support such of the said
prisoners M shall ho committed for offences
a further resolution Of Congress passed
March Sd, 1871, provides that, whereas Con-
yress did by resolution on the 2Sd Sept. 7s9,
recommend to the several States to pass laws
making it expressly the duty of keepers of
tIits 10 receive and safe keep therein all pris- n
,ucrs committed under the authority of the
'nitcd States in order, therefore, to insure
he administration Of Justice, it was resolved
" the Senate and House of Representatives
VI the United States in Congress assembled
hat in case anyState shall not have complied {
With the same, the Marshal of the United
states shall under the direction of the Judge
# the District Court, be authorized Ia hire |
place To serve as temporary iails, {
nd To make the necessary provision for the 6
ate Keeping of persons committed under the 4
OF the United States, until perma- 4
cnt provision he made hv law for that pur- e
'osc ; and the said Marshal shall be allowed T
lis reasonable expenses incurred for the a. d
owe purposes, to be paid ont Of the L. s. y
Treasury and a resolution of Congress, of v
iarch 3, 1921, proEides that when any State n
r States having complied with the recon- O
iendation of Congress, in, the resolution of O
Sd day of Sept, s7Sa have withdrawn who'll c
or in partAhc use OF their .iails for prison d
RS committed under the authority of the [. IL
1.-The Marshal in such State or States, under n
he authority of The Judge of the District ii
curt, shall be and hereby is authorized and II
nqurcd to hire a convenient place 10 serve il
; a temporary jail, and to make the necessa- o
y provisions for the safe keeping of prison G
RS committed under the authority Of the L. o
tied States, until permanent provision shall n
Q made by law for that purpose and the Il
I'D Marshal shall be allowed his reasonable 81
expenses, incurred for the above purposes, to Il
BY the various provisions of the law of p
rs that law stood before the p
4 Of the Legislature OF that state. Of THEFT Al
March, 1898, common jails in the rcspec- n
Va counties Mcrc 10 hl used for l4a-al--+S14
ON of any persons detained by the authority q
the Courts OF the United States, ms we'll as W
' the Courts and magistrates ofthat State. b
But these provisions. were ahrogated and az
'pralcd nv The act of the Legislature Of the IL