Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-03-31
ErTERFR0M DANIEL WEBSTER,
ON THR
LATE SLAVE RESCUEiN BOSTON
The Presidents Views.

the following letter has been received
from Hon. Daniel Webster, in reply 10
the resolutions Of the City Government,
relative TO the late rescue in this city.
J w AsHlNoToN. March 10, 1851.
Hon. dohnP. Bigelow, Mayor Of Boston:
SIR-The President has had the pleas.
ure 10 receive your letter of the twenty
sixth Of February, enclosing the official
copies Of the order and resolves lately
adopted by the two branches Of the Gov.
ernment OF the city of Boston. .t
I,affords him great satisfaction 10 per.
ceiye that such measures have been taken
by the authorities Of Boston, as 10 give as
surancs that no other outrage similar to
thai which was, he pIesumes, the immed:-
ate cause Of their adoption, will be permit
ted 10 take place in your city.
From his earliest youth he has been &C.
csstomed TO regard with the greatest res.
pect and veneration, the city OF Boston and
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
He has been led tonight 10 believe TIM,
their inhabitants. above all others, were the
friends of order and good goyernment-in-
,elligent enough TO appreciate the advanta.
ges Of free Institutions, OF their own choice,
and capable Of the great political problem
oi the compatibility of freedom with order
und liberty, distinguished Hom liceniious.
ness. ana of self government, the farthest
removed from the danger ofanarchy; that
they were especially deyot lo the union
OF the States and the Constitution, which
established and still maintains that Union,
and thai their patriotism never fails to
counsel them 10 falfl their obligations un.
der The Constitution, justly nnd fully, and
In the very spirit in which such obliga.
lions were entered into by their renowned
ancestors,
Entertaining these sentiments it was dit
ficult for the President 10 credi. the ac-
counts which were received of the outrage
TN all law. perpe,rated in l,oston on the
18th of February last. That prisoner 10
lawful custody, within the walls Of The
Court House, in the centre Of the city, and
in full sight Of the officers and all the mu-
nicipal authorities, had been ut noonday
forcibly arrested 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 sort Of triumph, and
enabled 10 escape altogether, without an
attempt on the part of any of the anthori-s
ties or any Of the citizens to preserve or
der and maintain the law, or TO pursue and
ie.ake The fugitive, was a stalemen. tina,
seemed to him 100 improbable 30 be true.
Il was with a feeling Of great relief tha.
he received such explanation of this strange
occurrence as showed it TO have been an
entire surprise upon the citizens and upon
the authorities. An act OF successful to.
sneriiy on the part OF very inconsiderable
number of ofpersons. which only needed to
have been apprehended the shortest time
beforehand, 10 have been prevented.
The President is confident that the great
,nnjority Of the cilizecs of Boston are en-.
tfe.y 10y To theC onst tltion, ,thnt theyyiew
al, such outrages and all attempts, whether
by writing or speaking, TO incite The igno-
rant nud unlhinking to such acts Of yio-
lance. and that they are ready 10 discharge
thed uies incumbent on them by the Con.
siitulion and laws Of the United States,
faithfully and fearlessly, under all circum-
siances, whenever called upenaby the prop
er authorities. 7..ss 81,
The occurrence of, the 10Th Of February
is certainly greatly TO be- regretted, as ii
gives occasion 10 those, not unwilling to
s-ize upon i, 10 question The disposition oil
.ar fellow citizens 10 comply with their
constitutional obligations in good faith, and
TIE his,ofy OF such nm outrage is spread
i'r and mide. reaches where an explaLa-
tion may never follow, and creates an Ill
ieeimg towards those whose only eonnee,
ton With il Is that they were residents Of
the place IN which it was perpetra.ed.
Ru, il, as the President doubts not ii
Will, event shall arouse the attention oil
all good citizens 70 slaie OF the dangers
10 oe aPpfehehoeo from lhe ihcoica'ion OF
sucil doctrines as nave oeen sPreaa ABROAD
IN the country, teaaihg 10 snake the an.