The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06
For this National Era.
GREAT CRY AND LITTLE WOOL.

The Federal Government is a strange CON-
pound-strangely grand, strangely mean, strange
ly progressive, strangely psnurious, strangely
arstocratic, strangely democratic, strangely blus
tering and chock full of courage, strangely sneak
ing and cowardly. OFT truth Of this, the Pres
idents great, big, grandilSquent Proclamation on
the subject of the Boston mob of about bakers
dozen negroes to effect the liberation of alleged
fugitive slave, is strikingly illustrative
When Georgia persisted in exercising jurisdic-
ton over the Indian tribes within that State,
against the express provisions Of the treaties be-
tween those tribes and the United States, in def
ance of the injunction Of the Supreme Court, and
in contempt Of the laws of the United States
tried, convicted, and hung csrtsn Indians-the
nation denouncinsS that saf' boodshed II did not
even mutter Where slept the Federal thunder
when the two missionaries to the Cherokee In
dams, there under the treaty Of the United States
with that tribe there as the teachers Of letters
and the arts of civilized life tried, convict
ed and imprisoned felons, for discharging their
duties as faithful agent Of this Government to
those tribes of Indians2 And out Of that and
certain other sneaking concessions which the
United States has yielded to Georgia, that AFRO
gaut otdtc uhS huOpeCu tuo ih1Aius) SOVHkh oi-
ways has her own way"
When Lovejoy was murdered by O mob at Al
ton, in Illinois, the Federal Government slept
the State Of Illinois slept; there was no whisper
of disapprobation, no denuncistion no indictment,
no trial. Justice slept-a quiet, placid seep--her
dreams were undisturbed by riots, mobs, and muir
deri
The United States mail Is robbed by State au-
thority, because 1t contained opinions hostile to
the institution of slavery. Justice, judgment,
Federal authority, slept-it permitted it's mail to
be robbed, and did not even growl at the outrage
The Mormons were hunted from State to State
and Territory to Territory like wild beasts their
churches we're desecrated and burnt, their houses
broken open and robbed rape, arson, and murder
were acts Of daily occurrence The Federal Gov
eminent slept. There was no protection, no rest,
for the Mormons, till they left In body the
abode Of civilization, and placed desert Of a
thousand miles between themselves aud Federal
and State authorities and laws
When South Carolina imprisoned and sold as
slaves the freemen Of the State OF Massachusetts,,
accused of no crime but that Of having African
blood in their veins; and when Massachusetts,
sends her commissioner to South Carolina, to in
vestigate the facts and seek legal redress and the
commissioner is hustled out of the State by
mob, it was sill right, all as it should be. The
Federal Government was az calm and placid as a
summers sea.
When free man Is seized and with most in
decent haste, without trial, is hurried off into
slavery, there is no complaint. The Federal
commissioner is retained in office he Is not even
rebuked. II is only precedent against human
liberty, and is to be winked at because the suffer
er is black, and the decision is In favor Of the
slave power.
A rebellion breaks out in Rhode Island that
l. 49, x.t.x ~ he.
Union; q great dinner Is given to Dorr by the
msgnstes of the Democratic party In the city Of
New York; sword Is presented TO him he Is
escorted to the ship that is to convey him and his
fortunes to the o,yi war In his native 6tste- No
proclamation ensues. The Federal Government
folds its srms no rebuks Is uttered against those
who furnished men and means. IL was only re-
beliOn; IL was only treason IL did not interfere
with the slave question or the slave power. And
why should our pro-slavery Government inter-
fere7 Why should not the Government husband
all it's resources, save all It's energies, to beat
down the first dawning Of freedom among the
blscks7
But man is found in Boston, in the year Of
Grace 1881, who It is said was q slave-his body
and his soul the goods and chattels Of . Southern
master. He Is srrested-is brought up for trial
for the crime Of exercising certain constitutional
rights, such as the enjoyment Of life, liberty, ana
the pursuit Of happiness. He Is rescued from the
officers In charge, by about ds1en black men
The Federal Government wakes from its SUM
bes; the lion is reused 10 his lair, and shakes his
msne and rosrs at the top Of its Presidential
voice. The sword Of the Captain General leaps
from its scsbbsrd In the following words
OFFICIAL.
PROCLAMATION
By the President of the United States.
Whereas information has been received, thai
suudry lawless persons, principally persons OF
color, combined and confedersted together, TOT
the purpose Of opposing BY force the eIecuuon
OF the laws Of the United Ststes did ~ Boston,
In Massachusetts, on the fifteenth OF TINS month,
make violent assault on the marshal or deputy
msrshals Of the United States for the dimrict OF
Massachusetts,, In the Court house ana ala over
come the said officers and did, BY foros, rescue
from their custody person arrested az ng,nve
slave, and then and there prisoner lawfully
holden BY the said marshal or deputy marshsis OF
the United States, and other scsndaious outrsges
did commit In violation Of law.
Nov, therefore, 10 the end that the authority
Of the laws may be maintained, and those con-
cerned In violating them brought 70 immediate
sud condign punishment, have Issued this my
p.o.,.~.sIc~ rsiItn~ An all l-dinDO0od OitlkeuG