The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-21

morrow AZ usual am not citizen of that
State, nor do ] represent that State, but ii were
one of the citizens Of Boston should look upon
il US the f0ulest insult offered to my State to
assume that the laws cannot be executed and
the fact that violence has taken place is not the
least indication that the laws cannot be executed
| apprehend that the part OF the account which
relates to taking the sword of justice down and
hourshing it over the heads of the officers is all
fancy have read an account by the deputy
marshal, from whose custody it is said the al
legged fugitive was taken.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts. think, per-
haps, that that account is a mistake.
Mr.. HALE. 1t is suggested to me that it may
be mistake. Whether it be 80 or not, can
not tell. think this move is entirely premature,
and that we had better wait and sec what move
ment the authorities there will make that we
had better leave the laws to the quiet operation
OF their own government, among the people
where the laws are to be executed, before we
attempt to magnify this into any great and Sc
rious consequences. do not think there is any
serious danger Of any manifestation of resist
ance to the law in that quarter.
Mr.. FOOTE. As the honorable senator has
| thought proper to refer to n certain occurrence
in the State in which reside, must inform him
that he IL in error as to the fact 1t is not true
that any federal Judge in the State Of Misss-
spp refused to perform his duty; that he de-
layed issuing certain process whilst our legis-
lature was in session. is true; but that he subse-
quently issued writ, and that the Governor Of
Mississippi went to the city of New Orleans in
the custody Of u marshal, and appeared in court
and there claimed speedy trial, without the
least show of violence. without the least dispo-
stion to commit disorder, is certainly most true,
as the newspapers prove, a as various letters
which have received also attest.
Now for another fact, for which fear the SEN
ator has relied too much upon madame rumor
with her hundred tongues. There never was
seen any organized body of men, marching
through the streets Of the city of New Orleans
or any Southern city, destined to the island of
Cuba, or any other foreign port. There was
some suspicion existing with regard to the con-
nection of some Southern citizens with the late
| Cardenas affair, and this government deemed it
its duty to institute scrutiny at once, and that
scrutiny has gone on and the trials are now in
progress. If that had not been done, there is
no true spirited Southern man who would not
| have deemed the government wholly unworthy
the support of every aw-abiding citizen. There
has been no opposition in any part of the South,
so far as know, to the supremacy of the laws,
and | am bound to say that in my judgment
would turn out for the purpose of aiding in
maintaining the supremacy of the law and the
Constitution.
am fearful that what said yesterday was
misunderstood by the honorable senator from
Massachusetts Mr. DAVIS certainly it was, if
he understood me as he has minated / did
not believe that the good people Of Massachu-
sets would not, when called upon, perform their
duty as good citizens. Certainly it is my opin-
ion that they would, and it has been nv opinion
constantly. l have no doubt that the people of
Massachusetts are law-abiding people, and
that they will give all proper aid to the govern
ment in maintaining the supremacy of the law
within their limits. But, Mr.. President by way
of little testimony on this subject, will state
that II did so happen, that when received C
first intelligence Of the unfortunate occurrence
in the city of Boston, was standing in one Of
the most public rooms in this city, and when ]
expressed the indignation which naturally felt
at what had taken place, as it was published in
the New York Herald Of yesterday morning, it
80 happened had just been introduced TO some
eight or ten gentlemen from Massachusetts,
whom had never seen before in my life. all of
whom concurred in this language We re-
joice, said they, that the occurrence has taken
place, for now it will give fair opportunity to
the patriotic people of our State to vindicate
themselves against the injurious aspersons
which have been cast upon our government.
There is not volunteer from our State, was
the emphatic language of these gentlemen, who
will not turn out for the support of the govern
nent and maintenance of the laws and we are
glad to show that we n law-abiding people
But single remark in reply to the honorable
senator from New Hampshire, who has made
one of his usual flourshes of rhetoric this morn
ing. The honorable senator seems to think that
it is not the duty of the President, in such case
! as the present, to employ military force. am
not one of the advisers of the President, nor do
] | know what course he intends to pursue; but
| | do mean to say that the President is sworn to
maintain the laws, and do not doubt that he
will be governed by his OATH He is more re-
sponsibe than the people of any State in this
| Union. SO Washington thought, and so he
acted; and he did cot hesitate, in case not a
great deal more serious than this, to call into ex-
ercise all the powers committed to him by the
Constitution, for the purpose of maintaining the
dignity of the law, and he did maintain it, The
honorable senator has referred TO the time when
the acts Of the confederation were still existing
us the supreme law of the United States All
the power granted by the Constitution was ex-
ercised in the tine of Shays rebellion, when
General Washington was written to by various
citizens of the State of Massachusetts and in
a book now on my table containing letters in
answer to those communications, he urges in the
most emphatic language that the military force
should be Mt once called into action for the pur-
pose of putting down violent opposition to the
law. His language was, TINT no delay should
occur in such a case. II is most honorable to
the State Of Massachusetts,, and am very glad
to have an opportunity Of saying so, that on that
occasion the,governor of the State, although the
insurgents were some four or five thousand
strong, at once put himself at the head Of all the
military force ofthe State, and put down the in
surrection. hope the present governor of the
State of Massachusetts will not hesitate to do
his duty as Governor Lincoln did HIS on n for
mer occasion. trust the President of the Uni
ted States will not hesitate to supply all the ne
cessary aid, for the purpose of enabling him to
execute his duty. The governor of Massachu-
sets at the present time, do not doubt, is will
ing to perform his duty; but do not see the
necessity of encouraging any citizens to perform
their duty in n case so startling to me, and to
those who have spoken on the present occasion