Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-07-03
THE TIMES
PRESIDENTS LETTER TO THE
BOSTON COUNCIL.
WASHINGTON, June o, .lS5

HON. FRANCES BRINLEY, President OF
the Common Council of Boston:
SIR--W When l had the pleasure Of
meeting you and your associates of
the Committee from Boston, in New
York, and you did me the honor of in.
viling me TO visit your city, and kindly
rendered me, on behalf of the Comm on
Council, its hospitali,ies, fondly hoped
that should be able during the press
ent month TO accept your invitation
But lregret 10 say that | find ii incon,
sistcnt with what | deem my public
duty TO indulge in this qualification;
and therefore, while l ain profoundly
grateful for the distinguished honor i'm.
piled by the invitation, ! feel reluctant
Iy compelled TO decline it,
My personal acquaintance in your
city is bu, slight, but slight as it has
been, il has left many pleasant recol-
leclions, and | should have been, ex.
tremely happy 10 have renewed and
extended it al this time. have long
entertained high respect for the in.
,eligcnce and patriotism of great
mass of your citizens; and recent
events have not impaired that respect.
Yon have been and | trust will ever
be, a law.loving and law. abiding
people. | know that your devotion
to this great principle has had Sc,
we're test in your recent efforts TO exc.
cute the law for the return of fugitive
slaves. Slavery, in any form, is re-.
pugnant 10 your feelings and educa.
tion, and the fugitive naturally and in.
evilably excites your deepest sympa,
thies. Nothing but STERN sense of
duty, founded upon a rational, solemn
conviction, that Constitutional and
legal obligation must be obeyed, at any
and every sacrifice, could have insured
the execution of the law in a case like
this. But for myself, never doubted
that the law would ultimately triumph.
Good faith is the foundation of NOR
ality and all sociel security. The
Free States had pledged themselves by
the Constitution TO the performance of
this duty. The Slave States had a
right to insist, and did insist, upon lis
performance. There was, then, no
alternative but TO break our faith, for
felt our word Of honor, and thereby
trampIe the Constitution Of our country
in the dust, and run the hazards of
a civil war; or else 10 admit the OBJ.
legation like honest, true hearted men,
and do all in our power 10 comply
with il, still hoping and trusting that
in due time some mode would be de-
vsed by those who have the Constitu.
lional power 10 abolish slavery, and
who are most deeply interested in its
final extinction, TO get rid of the evil,
without destroying The fairest fabric
Of freedom that mortal hands have
ever raised, and in its ruins extinguishs
ing the last hope of humanity for self.
government. Permit me 10 say that
this Government has cost Boston too
much TO be given up or hazarded for
slight or trivial causes. Some of the
Patriots of the Revolution still linger
among you, and the monumental pillar
of your grateful recollections of the
heroes who fell al Bunker Hill, would
seem TO be a mockery if their son:
could so soon forget that this Consti
tuition cost the hearts blood of their
sires.
That your citizens have acted wisely onc
periodically in sustaining the law, canno
doubt. Their conduct has been governed
by the highest sense OF moral and polilica
obligation, and for this the noble example
feel constrained, as the Chief Magstrat,
whose especial duty it is to see that tn
laws are faithfully executed, to return tn
citizens OF Boston my warmest acknowl
edgements, and should have been mos
happy to have done this in person, were
consistent with my official engagements
leave this city.
With many thanks to you, and throug
you to the citizens OF Boston. for this kin
invitation
have the honor 10 be,
: Your friend and fellow citizen,
MILLARD FILLMORE.