The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-14

IpEsfDENT FILLMORE AsD THE COMMON CorScu,
oF BosIos The following IL q letter from Presi-
dent Fillmore, declining an invitation to visit
Boston
wAsHfSerov. June o. 1851
Hau. frrsdssf ef the Common Council n CIR If Boy.
Wh'n tad the pleasure of meeting you and your
ascste~ o. the committee from Boston la New York.
and sou did me the honor q inviting to visit your
city, sud kiadly rendered behalf Of the Common
Ctuncil rs hospiiates. fnndy hoped that should BE-
aide during ID. present mouth to accept your Invitation
But resiet TO say that End Inconsistent with what
dstm my public duty TO indulge 10 this eradication
hsd therefore. while au profoundly grateful Tor the
distinguished honor implied ~ the invitation feel
luctsnty compelled 20 decline l. NJ personal aequsin-
lance 10 your city " but slight; bat slight a. II
hae teen. II has left many plcEgaut recullsctiont,
anu should have BEEN extremity happy 70 have
pe~ed and extens.d IL a. this time have long cnter
taDed Lish respect for the intelligence and pstrie
tam q the great mass % your eitgen, md recent
events have not impaired that respect You have been
and trust III ever b. iawOving and abiding
people know Tat your devotion % this rrat prin.
iple has had tst in yuur recent Efforts 20
cute the Law for the return q fugitive slaves slavery
In any form. repugnsnt 10 Jour feelings and educa-
don- md the fugitive naturally and Inevitably exes
your deepest sympathies nothing bat a Of
duty founded upon rational sol mn conviction that
constitutional and legal obligation must b. ob~yed at
any end very fee could haze insured the
tien q the law In case like this But, for myself
dou bted that The a- would ultimately triumph
csl security Tn. free states hsd pledged themselves BY
che constitution 10 thu performance ~ this duty The
slave States bad risLt 20 mist, and did insit,
upon lite performance fhrre tn n, alternative
but TO break our faith. f1rfcit cur word u honor
and thereby tramps the constitution II coun
try w the dwt, anu the bazsros ~ civil war,
On ere 70 rdnt the obligation ke hOnet true hearted
men, srd do AL in our power 10 comply With t-stil
horirg snd Trusting that in due time some mode would
b. devised by tbosr who have the constitutional poser
~ sboih slavery, aud phc most eiy interested
In It, husl exinciioito ct rid o. the evil without des
GfJrg the fairEt fabric free dom n at mortal hands
have ever fai.d ana Ia IT. txtinguishing the Last
hoe q humanity for s.fgvverrmrnt Permit me to
say hst this government has cost Boston much to
b. given up bszsrded fur slight trivial
Sone u The patriots a the revolution TIN hngrr among
you-sDd the monumental pillar a your grateful reco
lection "a the her, who fen ut Burker lIiu would
se' m 10 b. mocktry. their could forget
that THE constitution tn hearts blood ~ their
fires That ytur citix have acted wisely aud patriot
csy In sustain ing the Law, cannot doubt Their
duct has been governed ~ the bighe-t 81 moral
and political obligation; sid Tor this noble example.
feel cosstain,d tho Ch Magistrate whose ssppcisl
DUTY y 10 zee that tn laws faithfully executed 20
return the citizens a bostln my wsruet acknowiedg
mnts--and should have Teen most hsypy 20 have
Gone thS W person wtre II consistent witn my on
cssi ~ HHs'rs nts a. leave this cy With many thanks
oyvu sbd through the citzens ~ Boston for this
sfnd mNtauon have the H. nor t. t+ your friend
H@cN thi3'n' WILLARD FfLLM ORE.