The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-18

Of the feeling there:
THE Bosros FUGITIVE SLAVE CAsK.-The
people of Lynn, Mass., tolIed their bells on Sat
urday, when they heard that Sims had been de-
lversd up TO his master.
The Boston Commonwealth states that see.
eral warrants have been issued for the arrest OF
other fugitive slaves in that city.
The citizens Of Fall river were to hs ID a town
meeting on Saturday afternoon, to see it they
would instruct their representatives to vote for
Charles Sumner, and to expresa the public SEN
Gment upon the Fugitiye-slavs law.
The coat of the extrsdition Of the fugitive
slave, Sims, il estimated at about five thousand
dollars A large part Of this sum will fall upon
the claimant, some $1,000 upon the city, and
500 upon the United States government. The
total expense, including subsistence of troops
and officers, and fees Of counsel, not to consider
exceed the sum Of $4,000.
These revelations, AZ well as other unmis-
takeable proofs of popular sentiment elected by
the recent events in Boston, suggest many re-
reflections They lead irresistibly to two con-
eluaions: Firstly, that the delivery of fugitive
slasss ID repugnant to the moral sentiment Of
the great masses Of the people Of New England,
who will use every means in their power to rem
der the late set null and void, SO long they al
low it to remain on the statute book. Secondly,
that it must cost more than it will come to-" up
der the most favorable circumstances, and that
the expenses are such as practically to destroy
the utility of the act.
This Boston case was very favorable one
for the most extraordinary efforts were made to
facilitate the proceedings and secure the slave,
at the least expense, to the owner--and yet it
will be- seen that the reclamation Of a negro,
whose value would not amount to one thousand
dollars, costs the owner from two to three thou
sand dollars! and the Federal and State Govern
ments "a much more. And all this, too, not to
ensure an open triumph of law and order, but a
fitting before daybreak, and an avoidance of the
risk of rescue on the railroads. Nay, so much
were the Abolitionists emboldened by this mid
night movement, that they actually pursued the
Acorn, and had the winds not favored the brig,
might probably have borne the fugitive back in
triumph to Boston.
But to recur to the main point. The value
Of any legislative act depends upon the ease, the
certainty, and the cheapness of its execution.
II a man loses his slave, and is to be taxed four
times his value for the chance Of recovering
him, of what use is such law! All South
ern shareholders cannot afford the same expen-
sve luxuries which Mr. PoTTER's ample means
allow him to indulge in, for the purpose of test
ing principle: and the rendition of Sims, at
such price, encourages the Abolitionis!s, while
it disconrages the owners of fugitive slaves from
repeating so costly nm experiment The result
has verified our protectors to the letter; but
we feel bound to admit that in one matter we
were mistaken. We gave the citizens Of Bos-
ton more credit than they deserved, for we
thought the rendition there would have been
easy-wherens it was accomplished with diff
Guilty and danger, and consummated by dexter
Gus lodging after all.
So much for this equivalent" for the en-.
pire surrendered by the South.
Fanueil Hall refused to Mr. Webster.
The City Council of Boston have refused the
use of Fanue Hall to Mr.. WEBSTER! When
the same body recently refused to allow the
abolition convention to sit in the same hall, it
was trumpeted abroad by the national" organs
As another proof of the loyal" sentiment Of the
people of Boston.
We presume this subsequent action will not
tend to confirm this opinion. The insult thus
deliberately offered to the most eminent of her
public men, by the city authorities of the capital
city of Massachusetts, presents the strongest
commentary as to the feelings Of his felow-citi-
zens:
RECEPTION OF Mr.. WEBSTER IN Bosrox-
The citizens of Boston have been for some days
in expectation of witnessing public reception
of Mr. Webster by the people Of this city in
Fanuei Hall. On Monday evening, .the mayor
and aldermen went into secret session for the
purpose Of acting on the following petition:
To the Honorable Mayor and Alderman of The
City of Boston:
The undersigned respectfully ask the use of
Fanueil Hall, on the 18th day Of April, 1851, for
the purpose Of public reception Of the Hon.
Daniel Webster and to consult on the public
good.
Signed by George G. Smith and over 100
other substanti.l citizens, of both political par
ties.
Alter some proceedings had taken place in
private, the door were opened, and the follow
| ing notion on the foregoing petition was
ported:
Upon the petition of George G. Smith and
others, for the use of Fanue Hall for public
meeting on the 18th instant,
ResolDed, That, in view of the recent action
of this board upon other similar applications, and
of the present excited state Of the public mind,
It is inexpedent to grant the use of the Hall for
the purposes asked for.
The vote on the adoption of the resolution
stood as follows: Yeas-AIdermen Briggs,
CLARK, Grant, KimbalI and Munroe. Nays-AL
dermen Holbrook, Rogers and Smith. II was
not necessary for the mayor to vote, but il is un-
derstood that he declared himself strongly
against the resolution.
Yesterday afternoon, in consequence Of the