Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-21

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General again took up the Compromise measures
saying that the North got the kernel and the Soutf
the she'll He repeated what Mr. Aver had stat
ed before, ''that the present Fugitive Slave law
about which so mnch noise Is made ,,cas in no par
ticutar different tlon' The la,s of 1893, under
which we had lived nearly sixty years"
Here Mr.. Foss said, that without interruptine
the speaker, he wished to make an inquiry: 81
in particular different, why was it necessary tc
pass the present law 90
General P. replied that the old law could moi
be executed because its execution depended on the
State courts. He also said something which was
not fully understood about the law Of 1898. as has
ed partly on the common law.
He was then aked, ''Was either the law of 90,
or the present law. founded in any degree upon
the common law
Gen. Piercc.-"I ean'tgo into disquisition up
on the common law" a
The inquiry was then made, 'Do you regard
the features; Of the Fugitive Slave law as consis
tent with common law"
Gen. Pierce--WeN, If must ans,.er, No, do
Slare Lao. 1 ans,oered no. Ihare the most re-
boiling feeling al The giving up of a Stare the
Fugitive SMre Lau Is opposed 10 humanity
Here some one inquired, isiinoi opposed to rigkt9'1
Yes it is opposedto moral right. But our fathers
made the compact, and we must fulfill it. say
nothing of the humanity oft, nothing of the right
of it.
Gen. P. then gave vivid description of the
scenes that would occur if the law was disregard
ed. First body of twenty armed men would
cross the Pennsylvania line to recover the fugitive
slaves; twenty would meet them to defend the
slaves. Then five hundred woald come, to be
met by an equal number; and before three months
would pass an army Of 100000 would be in the
field and the South would be as likely to plant
their banner at Philadelphia, as the North theirs
at Charleston.
At length the General commenced upon his re-
lations to Mr.. Atwood He stated that he had
little to do with politics. and his friends had often
blamed him at Concord because be took so little
interest in them. He omitted, however, to state
that he wrote to the Rev. ID. F. Richardson on
political matters last winter-that he was in the
habit of appearing before the legislative committees
as the agent of the Concord and other railroad cor
porations, and even went before the House at the
last session in behalf the Northern Railroad com
pany-and that he is receiving large fees from cor
porations on account of the political influence which
he has as leader Of the Central Regency. He said
that it was strong friendship for Mr.. Atwood which
drew him into the affair of last winter He had
been active in getting Mr.. Atwood appointed State
Treasurer, O signed his bonds and procured 9th
ers to do the same He went at some length into
an explanation of his relations to Mr.. Atwood, in
which he represented himself to have been the
most harmless and christian like man in the world
and Mr.. Atwood any thing but an honest man.
..IVhen Mr.. Atwood" said be, stalks about my
being engaged in politics, and connected with the
clique, and managing and planning for them, he
says trhat he kno,rs 10 be false" Ee alluded to
Mr.. Atwood's ungratefnl course, and declared that
he took very little interest in the matter of Mr..
Atwood's being sent for to to Concord having,
when consulted merely advised Perkins Gale ID
90 after him He said that he wrote part and
Mr.. Atwood part Of the second letter-that he
advised Mr.. Atwood 10 write just what his judy
ment and conscience approved Of, let the c0nsequcn
ces be what they might. Drank Pierce talking
about c0aScieRce!) lie then went into violent
on of tn elitor of the Manchester Demo
crat, Mr.. Atwood, and his opponents in general,
which from his excited state OF mind, was entitled
to about as much consideration as the frantic dec
larations of one in passion; and finally closed
with pathetic appeal to orr people 10 sustain the
glorious Union.
This msoting, though great efforts had been
made, and large number of persons collected from
other towns utterly failed to accomplish the object
aimed at by the leader of the Concord Regency.
Only three or four attempts were made to get up
an applause for the speaker, and each attempt fail
ed of reaching any thing like enthusiasm. 1t
heardy need be added that these indications were
made chiefly by persons from Manchester, Nash
ua, and the party leaders from one or two other
towns Yet it was most evident that the speaker
labored hard for this, and went through his usu-
al routine of making grimaces, pointing with his
finger, shaking his fists, addressing f'atering COM
plinents to individuals present, together with oc
casionsl spells of deeply pious feeling, ard strong
regard for religion and the init ated were prompt
to respond, while the mas OF the audience would
not come up to the mark. 1t is common remark
here that manifest dissatisfaction was evident
from the elongated faces Of whose who had labored
to get it up.
1t was generally understood, both by the Hun
kers and the friends of Mr.. Atwood, that an effort
would be made to send forth an expression from
this meeting to the people CT the State. There is
no doubt that resolutions were prepared and put
in the hands Of some one Of the leading Hunkers
in this town, to be presented to the meeting if the
indications were favorable. Every one who un-
dersands the tact and policy of the leading spirit
on this OCCASION knows that he, Of all Others felt
that it was important that the voice of New Bos
ton should 90 forth from this meeting speaking in
loud and unmistakeable tones in favor of himself
and his party, and in opposition to Mr. Atwood;
and vet, in view of all these facts, his friends dared
not hazard an expression ofopnon, lest the citizens
Of New Boston should, as they would have done,
have insisted that the considers be exclude
from voting. The whole gist ofthe meeting there
fore failed. Notwithstanding the Hunker new
paper assertions to the contrary, New Boston Is
lust where she wasiast March-strong in her sup,
port of John Atwood, and utterly opposed to the
dictation and intrigues Of the Concord Regency
AN OLD-F AsHioNED DEMOCRAT.
TIE WILL OF HENEr CLAy.-A dispatch
from Louisville, on the 10Th, says
The will of Henry Clay was presented in court
on Monday last, and admitted to record. 1t is drawn
up by his own hand, and telrs date OF July III,
l. 81. 1t rela es almost entirely to the disposition
of his estate among the members Of his 1amily-
The only exception being that which relates TO his
slaves It provides that all the children ofhis slaves
born after the LIST OF January, 1850, are to be lib
Grated and sent to Liberia. The males at the age
%; and the females at the age of 25-three years
of their earnings prior to emancipation to be reserv
ed for their benefit for the purpose Of fitting them
out; prior to their removal they are to be taught
10 read and write and cypher. Slaves in being
before. 1859, are Boqueathed to his family
Ashland is left to MIS- Clay, for her sole use and
benefit during her life, and at her death is TO be
sold, and The proceeds divided amongst his chill
dren. The following are the only specifics devised
outside of his family To DIR. ID. w. Dudley,
the gold snuff-box presented to him by DIR. Hunt,
late of Washington to Henry S. Duncan, ring
containing niece of Siashiunton's coffin, and to
Mr.. w. r. Mercer, u snuif-box said to have be-
lonqed to Peter the Great
Mrs Clay was appointed exeeutriS, and the