The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-07
eesd wl.h The sketch Of the happy tslOindet Of

coed with the sketch Of the happy rejcindef OF
i Gov. Brown.
Gov. Brown said, ii there had been no such
man as John A. Quitman. we should have had
no speech from his friend Freeman. The gen
tleman's whole speech seemed to have been made
with a special view to attack Governor Qni.-
4 man. II was Quitman first, Quitman last, and
i Quitman in all the intermediate parts Of the
\ speech Indeed, the gentleman had become so
accustomed to speak against the late governor,
i that he could not get along without it. He had
seen horses that had worked in a mill so long,
that when they were turned out, they contn-
ued to walk round in circle So it seemed
with his friend Freeman. He had so long kept
up his assaults on Governor Quitman, that now
whenever he gets up to speak, he starts of on
| Quitman. In this instance, 1t was especially
inappropriate, as he said nothing about the gov
ernor. He was quite confident that the gallant
old soldier could defend himself; but since il
has pleased the gentleman to bring the name OF
John A. Quitnan before this audience, he would
say what otherwise he should not have said -
that he was for Quitman in this contest, and
against bis assaiants, in the State and out OF it,
He did not feel called upon to say whether he
approved entirely all that Gen, Quitman had
1 done. II was sufficient for him that there was
a deliberate attempt to hunt down the late gov
ernor. He had been arrested, in the discharge
of his official duties, and carried to another uris-
diction, under false and lying pretext that he
had violated the laws of his country And who
was at the head Of this dirty business? Why,
Willard Fillmore Ia President who could find
power to arrest Southern governor, but who
could not muster strength enough to arrest
fugitive slave--who could take governor from
the people Of Mississippi, but who could not
take a fugitive slave from free negro mob in
Boston! II might be that Gen. Qutman had
tnken extreme grounds was not his pnrpnse
to decide any such question. or one thing he
felt certain if Quitinan went too far, (Which
he did not admt,) his assailants did not 60 far,
4 enough, on the Southern question. And when
it come to choosing between one who was too
Jealous in the cause md one not jealous enough,
he could not hesitate as to what his course
J, should be. He vas for his too jealous friend.
!, He would never shoot soldier for too much
t gallantry, OF because he had gone too near the
!, enemy.
Mr.. Brown adverted briefly, to Dir. Free
mans enlogy on Mr.. Fillmore He asked if it
lay well in the mouth of the Democratic ex-at-
4 torney general thus to eulogse Willard Fill
more! For what were all these eulogies pro-
i nounced! Was il for seeing the Fugitive slave
law executed How had this been done? Early
in last December, Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois,
had called the Presidents attention to the fact
that the district attorney in that State had de-
nounced the Fugitive slave law as unconsti-
tutional, and had openly declared that he would
not execute it. Mr.. Richardson asked the re-
moval of the attorney on this ground but it
had not been done, and he supposed he never
would be. How was it with the Boston mar
shall? He had fagrantly neglected his duty
the President knew it, acknowledged the fact to
Congress, and vet he did not remove him. He
has not removed him--hc never viii remove
i him, for he dare not The President has not the
moral courage to encounter the fierce howlings
of his free-so friends and allies over an act like
i this could cite many instances where persons,
in the employ of government, have repudated
and denounced the Fugitive slave law, and de-
cared that they would not execute it, and yet
they are retained in Office. And the gentleman
eulogizes the President for seeing this law faith
/ fully executed
/ The gentleman finds great fault with some
body, hut he does not seem to know exactly
who, for not voting additional powers TO the
President TO enable him TO execute the law in
Boston. He says the President ought to have
power given him by law to send military force
i into Boston, and snbdue the free negroes, and
he thinks that somebody has been guilty of
treason again, in refusing this demand Of the
President. Let me refresh the gentlsman's
memory. Last year, when the country was con-
vulsed on the subject Of our territorial relations.
including, among many other matters, the ques
ton Of the Texas boundary, this same President
sent message to Congress, saying, in sub
stance. that he had made up his mind to take
! from Texas one-third Of her territory--that he
i had ample powers, and If Texas resisted, he
would reduce her. This was his tone last year.
| This year. when the Fugitive slave law has been
hnprantly set at defiance by a mob Of free ne
| eroes in Boston, he comes whining to Congress
| with doubts as to the extent of his powers
In what language shall express my reprehen
/ sion of President who, last year, could find
power and will to visit slave State with fire
| and sword-with death and desolation-for as.
sorting her simple rights, and this year whines
sickly doubt as TO his power TO put down q
negro mob at Boston, and they IN the very act
| Of trampnp down the laws and the Constitu-
ton Of the United States.
Mr.. Brown was proceeding with some farther
| remarks when his time again expired. AT a.
later period, end in reply to an inquiry from
Gen. Freeman, Gov. Brown said no charged the
President with causing the arrest and removal
Of Gov Quitman from the State, on the ground
that the President was the head Of the govern.
l
New Orleans TO prosecute Gov. Quitman. This
fact was known to the President Gov. Omit
man had asked to be left in discharge Of his du-
ties until his term cxpired--'his had been de-
MED But rs if he were an ordinary criminal.
who must be locked up or put under bonds to
prevent his escape, he was pursued with unceas.
ing vigilance and with unusual acrimony. Much
more pains were taken to arrest him here than
any other man. All this was known TO the
President. An intmation from him would have
quoted the Fauquier Tinville Of Louisiana, and
all his subs--but It was not given. They hoped
to goad Quitman into some act Of rashncss, but
they failed Of their object. He confronted his
accusers, and they sbrunk from the gaze Of an
honest man and patriot After annoying him
for months, and exciting the country with great
expectations, they finally forced him to resign
the Office Of governor, and go off TO New Or
leans and no sooner was he there, than these
very jealous advocates Of the law find that they
have no charge against him. For these foul
1 Ill II E.ll,,o-. he IL 20