The republic., 1851-04-14

Pursuance Of the Constitutional provision to that
effect. The minor details Of the affair are un-
important in this view of the subject. We do
not care how much prscaution was exercised
by the municipal authorities, on by the msrshal,
in the execution Of their duty. 1t is enough that
the thing has been done. Mr.. RHErr an
nounced, on the floor of the Senate, for the en-
couragement Of notification in South Carolina
and Massachusetts, that no law could be exc
cuted to which any portion of the people of
State were opposed. His associate Disunion-
lists proclaimed the same doctrine in the same
place. The Abolitonists in Boston have
proclaimed during the last week, with the
greatest confidence, that the law could
not be executed. Whilst the recent pro-
ceedings were in progress, Mr.. HoRAcE
MANN held forth in the Temple, with the view
of exaspersting popular prejudice against the
law \; and letters were read from Mr.. SEWARD
and Mr.. JOHN Van BuREN, designed to pro-
duce the same effect. Mr.. RANToUL, in
newborn zeal for free soil, exhausted himself
and his hearers in long harangue before the
Commissioner 10 establish the enormty of the
law. MIR. WENDELL PHILLIPS called upon
the blacks to arm themselves, and invoked the
citizens of Massachusetts to rally by thousands
to prevent the desecration of their soil. Mr..
SUMNER, the candidate for the office of Sen
ator, as late as the evening of Thursday,
was flying about in the fremont house
with law book under his arm, with
the view Of enlightening Judge WOODBURY.
in the matter Of the application for a habeas
corpus, and announced emphatically in tine pub
lie reading room that the Fugitive Sims would
never leave Boston--would never leave Bos-
ton." 1t appears by the above account that,
Immediately ON the termination of the judicial
proceedings, as soon as arrangements could be
made for the debarkation of the fugitive, he was
marched quietly to the wharf and placed on
board the vessel designed to receive him.
WENDELL PHILLIPS and his posse were among
the missing, and the only conspirator of any
distinction (saving two crazy clergymen) who
was man enough to appear on the field of ac-
tion was Mistress ABBY FOLSOM, who mani
tested her disgust by getting into the gutter
and being sent to the watch-house Her cleri-
cal associates distinguished themselves by ac-
tive prayer, but do not appear to have resorted
to actual violence.
The sum of this affair may be stated in few
words. The mass of the citizens of Boston,
Of all professions and pursuits, are as solicitous
that the Fugitive Slave law should be execu-
ted in good faith as that any other law in the
statute-bock should be obeyed. They would
turn out in arms to enforce it with as much
alacrity as for any other object of self protec-
tion-for the question whether or not law
shall be executed is question with them
Of self protection. The individuals and the
journals that have denounced the law, and
instigated violent resistance to it, are re-
garded with as much adherence in Boston
as they could be in Charleston or in Savannah.
In view Of the affair of the 18th of February,
and the reasonable purposes industriously pro-
claimed by SO many reckless declaimers and
fanatics, it was eminently proper that the mar
shal should have a force in readiness competent
to quell even formidable outbreak. II the
penalties of the law are duly visited upon the
individuals engaged in the rescue of Shadrach,
we have no doubt that half dozen constables
will be force enough to deliver any fugitive that
may hereafter be the subject of commissioners
certificate in the city Of Boston. The Disunion-
lists and the Abolitionists will find that there is
public opinion which overrides with our peo-
pie any opposition or repugnance to a particular
law-and that is public opinion in favor of the
execution of all the laws.