The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-24
From the Boston Commonwealth.
That Proclamation.


What we could not have believed has turned out
to bo true That Dogberry proclamation of Fill
more ia published by authority in the Washington
Republic. We had before no very moderate detes
tation Of the treachery of Daniel Webster, but we
could not believe that Secretary of State he
would prepare and sign document SO contempt-
bic in ITSELF entirely uncalled for, and 30 insult
ing to Massachusetts. Mr.. Webster very well
knows that ever since the frat of fugitive
slave in Boston, in 1894, there has been public
feeling here adverse to the execution of this exc
cradle law. He knows that of our million OF people
there is not who feels moral obligation to exc
cute that law. and but small minority who feel a
political one. He knows that there is nothing here
to rely upon to carry out his profiigate bargain
with the Shareholders for political power, but the
feeble remains of superstitious veneration for the
forms Of law, distinguished from the subs lance
of justice, and still smaller quantity of mercenary
rascahty. And yet he knows very well that the
good people of assachusets-Fr Free sellers, Demo-
Gratis, and Wings, who are resolved not to yield
obedience to this pratical law--have no design of
going into physical conflict with the officers OF
The law They planted t themselves on the ground
Daily -idperfise) they will stay there.
And MIR. Webster is too old a man, with too
large brain, to take even Pat Riley's magnifed
statement Of the rescue on Saturday as any dis
proof of the above assertion. The full extent of the
case laid before the President with the hct haste
of the thunderbolt only this The slave catcher
having, with the utmost secrecy, stolen upon his
prey and slipped into the courtroom, with pri-
vacy which precluded all prudent preparation, the
fact attracted fortuitous crowd of two or three
hundred sympathizers with the black man. them
selves chiefly black, to the court house. The mar
shal having come to the strange determination to
make Jail of the courtroom, and cleared it for
that purpose, the crowd pushed in and the alleged
fugitive walked out The whole proceedings occu-
pied less than four hours And yet because this
paltry trick which the United States officials
sorted to to evade the public feeling was not sue
cessful, have instant proclamation Of the Su-
preme Federal authority against "confederacy"
,t,n o~fn IN cicf fha lay
MORE tho law is q dead letter, without any confed.
eracy.
MIR. Webster is quite welcome to insult his dcvo-
ted friends the Curtses and others, by whipping
up their alacrity to chase Shadrack, and ordering
them to catch him on their peril, when they have
gone distracted at losing him 1t is cruel but they
deserve it. But let him not insult the masses Of
Massachusetts by pretending that combinations
and confederacies necessary here to resist law
which Massachusetts, as a whole, spurns with inef-
fable loathiDg and contempt. 1t is quite proba-
bic that with the right breed of dog for
shal-one free from all humane Newfoundland ten
denotes on the one side, and cowardly, corpulent,
kitchen tendencies ON the other-a case two of
extradition might be realized; for, we have said
there is determination organization to resist
the law physically. But let not poor old Shadrack
less Daniel rejoice too much in any such victories.
They will bring time when proclamations will be
worse wasted than even now Massac husetts will
rock the old cradle again, and all the loafer regi
nlents this side of pandemonum will not be able
to strangle the baby. Daniel knows well enough
himself that United States troops might as well be
marched to Boston to suppress the multiplication
table as to support the Fugitive Slave law.
There ia only one attitude in which the Fugitive
Slave law can place itself to attain any sort of sue
and that ia the attitude of thief II it shows
itself openly, with fife, drum, and colors flying, it
will be swamped in spontaneous contempt, pouring
down upon its plumes IN fragrant liquids from
chamber windows, and meeting it straight in the
face, in the expectoration OF the people generally
Such callithumpian rogue's march as would
quicken the pace of those unfortunate and mis-
guided troops out Of Yankcedom it would be worth
something TO hear.
The explanation of this mystery-ofthis prompt
itude Of proclamation, unprecedented in history
or that of any other government-of this msekness
of Boston Whiggery under palpable insults
exactly hit by the New York Euening Post; it
a grand Websterian coup de main, overwhelm-
ing mastersroks Of policy, to tell the election
OF Charles Sumner next w ednesday. Look out for
more OF the same sort. We should not be surprised
to hear by telegraph next Tuesday night that
South Carolina and Mississippi have actually se-
coded, and Florida has put on her boots and spurs
and got one foot in the stir up-of agitation. But
the country is safe.