The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-18


Boston, on Thursday night the following letter from the
President OF the United States read by Mr. Brinley
NAsHs0Tos, June 9, 1851.
President Of the Common Council Of The CITY Of Boston
Sra. When I had the pleasure OF meeting you and
your associates OF the committee from Boston in New
York. and you did me the honor OF inviting me 10 visit
your city, and kindly teLdered behalf OF the
council, its Inequalities, fondly hoped that should
be able during the present month 10 accept your invita-
what deem my public duty 10 indulge in this gra,6ca
ton and therefore, while am profoundly grateful for
the distinguished honor implied by the invitation | feel
reluctantly compelled TO decline it.
My personal acquaintance IN your city is but slight !;
but slight has been, has left many pleasant recol
ectons and should have been extremely happy have
wed and extended II al this time. have long enter
tanned high respect for the intelligence and patriotism OF
the great of your citizens; and recent events have
not impaired that rs,ect You have been. and trust
will ever be, w.lovng and law abiding people.
know that your devotion TO this great principle has had
test in your recent efforts execute the law for
The return Of fugitive slaves Slavery, in any form, is
repugnanl to your feelings and education, and the fug
live naturally and inevitably exces your deepest sympa.
ihies Nothing but sern sense OF duty, founded upon
a rational solemn conviction that constitutional and le
gal Obligation must be obeyel al any and every sacrifice
coud have insured the execution oil law in like
this But for myself, never doubted that the law would
ultimately triumph. Good faith is The foundation Of all
morality and all social security The free States had
pledged themselves by the constitution to The per.
torrance OF this duty The slave States had rgh,
to insist, and did insist upon lis performance There
was, then, no alternative but 10 break faith,
forfeit word OF honor, and thereby lrampe the
constitution Of our couGry in the dust, and run the
hazards OF a civil or else TO admit the oblIga-
ton like honest, true hearted men, and do all in our
power comply with il, still hoping and trusting that
IN due time some mode would be devised by those who
have the constitutional power osbolsh slavery and who
most deeply interested ~ its final extinction TO get
rid OF the evil, without destroying the fae fabric OF
freedom that mortal hands have raised and in its
ruins exungushng the last hope OF humanity for self.
IA uyrTn n has
cost Boston too much TO be given up or hazarded for
slight or trivial causes Some Of the patriots Of the
oullon sh lnger among You, AMI The monumental pillar
Of your grateful recollection Of the heroes who ell nj
Bunker Hill would to be mockery, IL their sons
could soon otget tina, this constitution the hearts
blood OF their sites.
Tha, your citizens have acted wisely and pa,riocaly
in sustaining the law, canno, doubt Their conduct
has been governed by The highest sense of moral and no.
llcal obligation and for thIs noble example, feel con
strained the Chief Magistrate, whose especial duty il
Is to that the laws are faithfully executed to return
and should have been mos, happy have done this in
person. were Il consistent with my official engagements
| to leave this city.
With many thanks TO you. and through you TO the Oil
zens OF Boston, for this kind invitation have the honor
Willard FILLMORE.
Letter from Mr. Observation-Disclosures Of an error.
| The Hon. John NJ Bolts has communicated the fol.
lowing letter from Mr. Webster for publication in the
Richmond papers -
WASHINGTON, June 4, 1881.
nv DEAR SIR When arrived a, New York my atten.
ton called TO paragraph in 'h~ ..rap.e ,ecor,
VI my =. ,u,,so. Under the circumstances, II IL
wond erfu thar the accomplished reporter performed the
service a, well as he did hut mistake occurred Of some
importance which he corrected "a soon as 1t met hs eye
Toward The end Of the speech am represented as having
said tsGenemen regret exceedingly that slavery ey-
i'll. in the southern States, and M1i Congress has
power over IT, This is 50 entirely Ia opposition 10 The
whole dsit OF my remarks. that u might have been
hoped that all would have regarded II ml-prin' or