The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-24

order and good government; Intelligent enough 10
appreciate the advantages of FREQ institutions Of
their own choice and capable of understanding and
resolving that great political problem of the
patibility of freedom with order, of liberty dstin
guishcd from RIGHTEOUSNESS, and Of self govern
ment the farthest removed from the dangers of an
archy; that they were especially devoted to the
Union of the States, and to the Constitution which
established and still maintains that Union; and that
their patriotism would never fail 10 counsel them
to fulfil all their obligations under the Constitution,
Justly and fully and in the very spirit in which
such obligations entered into by their
nowned ancestors.
Entertaining these sentiments, ii difficult
for the President to credit the accounts which
received of the outrage all law, perpetratcd in
Boston on the 10Th of February last
That prisoner in lawful custody, within the
walls of the court house. in the centre of the city,
and in full sight of the offices of all the municipal
authorities had been, at MONDAY, forcbly rescued
by mob Of one or two hundred persons, from the
officers of the law, carried out Of the building and
through the public streets, in a sort Of triumph,
and enabled to escape altogether, without at
tempt the part of the authorities, any Of the
citizens to preserve order and maintain the law,
or to pursue and retake the fugitive, n state
ment that seemed to him too improbable to be true.
| II was with feeling Of great relief that he re-
| ceived such explanations OF this strange occur
| renee showed it to have been an act Of entire
surprise upon the citizens and upon the authori-
ties-an act of successful temerity the part OF
very uncomfortable number of persons, which
only needed to have been apprehended the shortest
time beforehand to have been prevented.
| The President is confident that the great ma
orty of the citizens of Boston entirely loyal
the Constitution; that they view with just indigna-
ton all such outrages, and all attempts, whether
by writing speaking, to incite the ignorant and
unthinking to such acts of violence; and that they
| are ready to discharge the duties incumbent on
them by the Constitution and laws of the United
stances, whenever called upon by the proper au-
| thorities.
The occurrence of the 18th February is certainly
greatly TO be regretted it gives occasion to those
not unwilling to seze upon it, to question the dis
position of your ow-citizens to comply with
their constitutional obligations in good faith; and
the history of such outrage is spread far and
wide, reaches where explanation of it may
never follow and creates i'll feelings towards those
whose only connexion with it is that they were
residents of the place in which it was perpctrated
| But if, as the President doubts not it will, THU
event shall the attention Of all good citizens
| to sense Of the dangers to be apprehcndcd from
| the inculcation of such doctrines have been
spread abroad in the country, tending to shake the
authority of all law, to unsette society, and to alb
solve men from all civil and moral obligations
and shall put them on their guard against the
further diffusion of such porncious sentiments, il
may, in the end, be productive OF happy results
and certainly, the almost unanimous expression OF
indignation which it called forth among your citi-
zens balances, to some extent, the ill effect flow
ing from it.
The President does not doubt that the people OF
Massachusetts, perfectly well understand the differ
ence between the freest discussion of political
measures, and opposition to legal cnactments al
ready made and established. He is quite that
they regard the law Of the land not as sentiment,
or an opinion, but rule of conduct prescribed
by the general authority, and which all bound
to obey, the risk Of the penalties attached TO its
violation.
The President directs me to tender you his thanks
for the transmission If the resolutions.
remain, Mr. Mayor, with great respect, your
obedent servant, DAN'L WEBSTER.
On motion of Mr.. Sever, the letter was laid
on the table, and five hundred copies ordered
to be printed.