North Carolina standard., 1851-02-22
THE B6sToN OUTRAGE

AuE bOSION OUIhAGE.
We present below the debate which took place in
the Senate on Tuesday last, the presentation by
Mr. Clay of the following Resolution in relation to
the recent outrage in Boston. We copy from the
Washington Republic
"The Senate took up the following resolution sinh.
mitted yesterday by Mr.. Clay:
ResOtued, That the President of the United States
be requested to lay before the Senate if not ncon-
Patlble with the public interests any information he
may possess in regard to alleged recent case of
orclbe resistance to the execution of the laws of the
United States in the city of Boston, and to commu-
ncate to the Senate, under the above condition what
means he has adopted to meet the occurrence and
WHETHER in his opinion, any additional Legislation is
necessary to meet the exgency of the case, and to
more vigorously execute existing laws.
MIR. Clay explained the object of the resolution to
be to obtain from the President any information he
may possess in regard TO the recent outrage to obtain
from him information as to what measures he has
adopted to meet the occurrence, and also whether in
his opinion any additional Legislation be necessary to
more vigorous execution of the laws of the land.
nll that Information received, he considered it
premature to enter into any extended discussion of
the subject But he could forbear saying that he
had been shocked and astounded upon reading the ac-
counts as given In the newspapers of such
renee taking place In the third city of the Union. 1t
was not alone that the laws had been resisted the Of
hcers beaten down, and driven of the courtroom
the person whom they had in custody taken from
them but this was done in open daylight by a mob
nifty thousand Inhabitants. By whom this done?
Not by people of our own race color. By ne
groes by Africans and the des cendants of Africans.
Ihe question was whether our laws and Government
were to be the laws and Government of white men
or of black men. At first he could believe the ac-
counts OF this affair, given in the papers but he
had heard 1t confirmed by high authority; by per-
son who had received letters from Boston The
Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Foote) had stated yes
terday that IN an Interview with the two highest
officers of the Government given that
the law would be maintained; since then he (Mr.
CO. had had interview with these persons, and had
received similar assurance.
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, said he had read the
accounts OF the occurrence in Boston; which
renee the Senator had condemned Before arraigning
any one, before condemnlng or commencing any one,
concerning this proceeding, he desired to have the
information and facts before him, and when he had
these before him he would not hesitate to express his
condemnation or commendation, the facts of the
case would show who was entitled to either. 1t
well known that the law, whose operations had been
resisted, was an unpopular in that section of the
country, ard that its provisions had been fully
discussed and commented upon. But the people OF
Boston were law-ablding people. They were will
ing and content to leave this law the action of the
courts to have its constitutionality decided upon
They not disposed to resist the law by violence
While the law was upon the statute book it should
be maintained and obeyed but there should also be
allowed freedom of speech, freedom of debate spon
the subject.
Mr.. Clay. Freedom of debate upon what subject
country?
Mr.. Davis, of Massachusetts, said he meant that
freedom of discussion should be allowed upon the
general merits of the law.
Mr.. Clay asked who opposed any discussion of the
merits of the law :
Mr.. Davis said that he had no aliuson to the Sem
ator Without the Senate there had been obstacles
thrown in the way of free discussion of the merits
of the law.
MIR. Clay said that Congress less than i've months
ago had passed law to carry into effect provision
of the Constitution. II was passed after full debate
by considerable majority. And to those who now
required its repeal they said, will not repeal the
have lately passed, particularly in the face
of open attempt to resist it. He hoped he had not
offended the Senator from Massachusetts, by express
ing the indignation he felt upon hearing of the
duct of those who entered the temple of JUSTICE and
seizng the sword of justice itself, waving it in tri
umph the heads of the officers and ministers of
Justice. He would this and every other occasion
speak, offend whom it may, of any gross outrage
and resistance of the law, whether by white or
black
Mr.. Davis said he felt as indignant as any one at
the occurrence. The people of Boston law
abiding people. But they also free people
and since the days of the Revolution they had main
tained the right of free discussion and inquiry into
every subject affecting them. Their remedy against
the offensive law was by argument, by reason, and
by all appeal to the balot-box.
Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, expressed the opinion
that the people of the northern States would never
allow the Fugitive Slave law to be enforced 1t was
question entirely with the people, and not with the
States The President of the United States had the
power to resist invasion, and to suppress insurection
and for this purpose the army and navy of the
United States.
The law was not executed when first attempted,
and the marshal was not removed what this but
an encouragement to violate the law He op-
posed to employing the army and navy of the United
States to enforce the laws in the States When the
States refuses to obey those laws, the question was
beyond the control of the Government, and became
involved in the sovereignty of the State. 1t con-
templated that he militia of the States sufficient
put down insurrection in their respective States
Such was the case in putting down the whisky in
surrection in Pennsylvania. The militia of that State
alone were sufficient. If Massachusetts refused to
obey the laws of the United States and to enforce
them, there was but thing for her to do,
and that was, declare the Constitution of the Uni
ted State no longer obligatory. He then alluded to
the of Governor Qultnlan who, in obedience to
the laws, had resigned his post of Governor of State
and surrendered himself to the authorities, upon a
charge of which it we'll known he could not be
guilty. Governor Quitman had offered to give a
pledge that upon the expiration of his term OF SER
vice, he would present himselffor trial. This pledge
was refused. Justice in that was hungry for Its
victim. If this mob were exposition OF the prln-
Lepes of Massachusetts, he would rather let her go
on than to vote enforce her obedience by means of
the army and navy of the United States.
Mn Foote read from the State papers to show that,
| in the case of the insurrection in Pennsylvania,
Washington had issued his requisiton tor militia up
on the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mary land
and Virginia. The militia called out were not alone
from the State where the lnsurrecton took place.
Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, meant, when he said
that there sentiment prevalent In MASSACHUSETTS,
I against the law that the law was opposed oy the
! nooDIo he did mean that therefore the law