Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01

upon time in the State OF New Hampshire, negro
made his way the house Of citizen Of that State high n
Office and to the phrsseoogy of the Senator from New
York, r. SEwARD,) laid his weary limbs the door, and
poured the tale OF his suferings to sympathzng ears
He drew moving picture Of the horrors of slavery, and with
his eyes recounted the means by which he had
capped from The lash of the taskmaser. He pointed to bis
mr and assured bis hearer that the manaces had just
stricken from about them He added that the bloodhounds
were still upon his TRAIL and pleaded the of humanity
for succor and for shelter Well happened that in the
bosom o. that citizen the milk Of human kindness album
dant He listened believed pied, and sheered the hos
pitalies OF his house freely bestowed But To- and
behold after while turned out that the fugitive was
fugitive at all He was freeman, and had his Tree papers
in his pocket the time, discovery which, of course, when
made excluded him from all sympathy, and eecua
bar to any claim for assistance. When such mistakes
are made in the State of New Hampshire submit that the
Senator should be little charitable similar mistakes occur
in Pennsylvania or other States
But to the matter more Immediately before
Il has been established by Senators who have preceded
that every where has been attempted this law has been
faithfully executed except in the State Of Massachusetts,
Mr.. HALE. Will the Senator give way to an inquiry !!
The Senator from Alabama to refer the story
1t entirely The facts are as new to me as to
any member OF the Senate. do not undertake to contradict
them, but every word 10 new TO me.
Mr.. CLEMENS. / cannot for the difference of
memory the Senator from New Hampshire manests at diff
ferent times but he certainly told the story ten
months .nce in presence Of Others including think, the
Senator from Tennessee, in reference to himself.
Mr. HALE. thnkthe Senator will give way when he ques-
tons my veacy that think lido remember the cir
cumsance which the Senator from Alabama has reference
recoec telling the Senator that attempt had been made
upon me in that way by individual representing himself
be fugitive from slavery. He to my house, but after
few minutes conversation satisfied that he not
slave but imposor and told the Senator that dstn-
guished him from this fact that he stood in my with
his hat on and knew that slaves the South well
educated that they would not stand with their hats in the
presence of gentleman
Mr.. CLEMENS. do not recolect how long he was
hoyhn
to habor slave and the refusal to assis, fireman. is the
main point and that do not understand to be denied.
said that every where except in the State Of Massachusetts,
this law had been faithfully executed There, all
know, it evsded, and it openly set at
naught. But what does that establish That the law is
nulity Far from it. That the people Of Massachusetts,
determined array themselves in open opposition to the
General Government No such thing This very fur
nshes evidence that the law be executed in Massachu
SETS This fugitive when he had travelled hum
dred snd twenty miles from Boston, dared not attend
abolition meeting in an interior town until he disguised him
self fsmae-a clear proof that the aboloniss themselves
only believed the law could be executed but would be if
the fugitive made his appearance publicly But that is not
all. paper has been laid upon my table just now
tanning ordinance passed by the Mayor and Common
Council Of Boston, as follows
Whereas this Board has learned with deep that the
integrity Of the laws and the dignity Of the Commonwealth
city have been greatly impaired by the orcbe and
abduction of prisoner from the hands Of officer of the
United States who had him legal custody therefore it
Ordered That the City Marshal under the instructions
Of the Mayor be directed whenever he shall properly in
formed by public officer of this State the United States
that there danger that he shall be unawuy INSTRUCTED in
the performance of his official duties by mob and that he
needs his Immediately to repair to the place where
apprehended said riot will be had and there faithfully and
truly with the whole police force under his controls the
the most energetic manner possible support of the
law, and the maintenance Of the public peace"
Then, sir here is evidence from the Mayor, Common
Council and people of Boston that the law be executed
and that they determined proper to
its execution rescue by mob nigh. have occurred any
where, and although must always leave stain the
muny in which occurs is by conclusive proof
that the community sanctions such proceedings ecoect
that mob in the vicinity of Boston burnt convent
TO the ground. play actor produced mob in New York
that flooded the streets with blood In Philadelphia, church
after church burnt down, and other acts of violence
committed. In Baltimore, within forty miles of this place,
the dwellings Of eminent private citizens entered and
the furniture destroyed for political In the Southwest
band Of murderers in than instance have the
laws openly at defiance for weeks at time. mob may
triumph any where and it would be exceedingly unjust to
charge upon the community in either Of the have
toned any thing like sympathy with the wrong doers No
thought Of doing No great interest
at stake. No jealous fears existed magnify outrage
into instruction, and elevate riot to the dignity of
belon do not to paiate In any degree what has
done in Boston, There no language too strong be
applied to -no term OF condemnation 1t does not merit
only to show that it is possible for mob TO triumph
the public sentiment Of any community for time, and
that every violation of law does necessarily imply
rupton in the citizens among whom it is committed
have personal knowledge of what may be the public
sentiment Of Massachusetts, do know whether that seni-
ment will aid oppose the proper officers in the execution Of
the law and do not greatly They may have as
many abstract theories about the sin of slavery they please
but if they attempt to reduce those theories practice
to law they will find that this Government has the power
assuredy has the will enforce the execution Of any
Of Congress in any State Of this confederacy while
mains member Of the Union and matter what may be
public opinion in Boston, any where else, it bend
the public opinion of the republic The Senator from Massa-
chuses ntmated yesterday that the President had acted
somewhat hastily in this matter Sir the Senator would be
right if this of the Of person charged
with muder-wh any other felony-with any thing, save
being runaway slave But must be recoected that this
is subject upon which the people Of half Of the States
this Union feel deep and absorbing interest must be
collected that every arrest of fugitive is watched with
tense jealousy, and the whole proceedings scanned by
those who but too willing to create dscontents against
the Government The tempest which has recently shaken
political fabric has by subsded; the clouds
have not yet dspersed the muerngs of the thunder have
not yet died away the foked ghnipgs still play upon the
horizon and the fierce howngs Of the wind which bore
along the wild cry of dsunion still distinctly audible.
Under these circumstances the President would have been
false to the high confded to him. false to his
country false to his fame, if he had hestaed one
moment TO give public Of his determination
vndcae the violated majesty Of the law and carry by
force need be, the mandates of the constitution. Nav more
si-'he very men who make light Of his proclamation
would have been the first TO denounce and upbad him il be
had exhibited the least hesitation the line Of his duty
Sir honor him for bis course, and if the appreciation of
political opponent who has in times past done him
wrong be at all careful to him. let him be assured that
only but thousands others Of my political friends heartily
thank him for what he has done and feveny thank God
that we have in this crisis patriot and statesman at the
heado of kpo