The republic., 1851-06-16

At the meeting of the Common Council of the
city Of Boston on Thursday night, the 18th
instant, The following letter from the PREsI-
DENT of the United States was read by Mr..
BRINLEY:
WAsHISeToN, June 9, 1851.
Hon. FaANcIs BarsLry, President Of the Common
Council of the City of Boston
Sin: When had the pleasure of meeting you
and your associates Of the committee from Bos-
ton in New York, and you did me the honor of
inviting me to visit your city. and kindly tender
ed me- on behalf of the Common Council its hos
pitalities, fondly hoped that ! should be able
during the present month to accept your invita-
tion. But regret to say that find 1t inconsist-
ent with what 1 deem my public duty to indulge
in this qualification; and therefore, while am
profoundly grateful for the distinguished honor
implied by the invitation, feel reluctantly com
PEELED to decline it.
My personal acquaintance in your city is but
slight, but, slight it has been, it has left many
pleasant recollections and should have been ex-
tremely happy TO have renewed and extended it
at this time. l have long entertained high re-
spect for the intelligence and patriotism of the
great mass Of your citizens; and recent events
have not impaired that respect. You have been,
and trust ever will be, aw-loving and law
abiding people, j KNOW tudt YOUR ueFotou W
this great principle has had test in your
recent efforts to execute the law for the return OF
fugitive slaves. Slavery, in any form, is rcpug-
nant to your feelings and education, and the fu-
gitive naturally and inevitably excites your deep
est eympathies. Nothing but a stern sense of
duty, founded upon rational, solemn conviction,
that constitutional and legal obligation must be
obeyed, at any and every sacrifice, could have in
surcd the execution OF law in case like this.
But for myself never doubted that the law
would ultimately triumph. Good faith is the
foundation of all morality and all social security.
The free States had pledged themselves by the
Constitution to the performance Of this duty. The
slave States had right to inSlst, and did insist,
upon its performance. There was, then, no alter
native but to break faith, forfeit our word sf
honor, and thereby trample the Constitution OF our
country in the dust and run the hazards of civil
war; or else TO admit the obligation like honest,
true hearted men, and 90 all in power to COM
ply with it, still hoping and trusting that, in due
time, some mode would be devised, by those who
have the constitutional power to abolish slavery,
and who are most deeply interested in its final
tinction TO get rid Of the evil without destroying
the farest fabric of freedom that mortal hands have
ever raised and in it's ruins extinguishing the
last hope of humanity for self government. Per-
NIT to say, that this Government has cost Bos-
ton too much to be given up hazarded for slight
trivial causes Some oil the patriots of the Rev
olution still linger among you; and the monumen-
tai pillar Of your grateful recollection of the herocs
who fell at Bunker Hilr would seem to be mock
cry if their sons could SO soon forget that this Con-
sttution cost the hearts blood of their sircs
That your citizens have acted wisely and patri-
otically in sustaining the law, cannot doubt.
Their conduct has been governed by the highest
Of moral and political obligation and for this
noble example feel constrained, the Chief Ma
gisrate, whose especial duty it is to zee that the
laws faithfully executed, to return the citizens
of Boston my warmest acknowled gments, and !
should haxnkbeen most happy TO have done this in
person, weyeit consistent with my official engage
ments to leave this city.
With many thanks to you, and through you TO
the citizens Of Boston, for this kind invitation,
have the honor to be, your friend and fellow
citizen, MILLARD FILLMORE.