The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-06-14
Fidelity to the Constitution.


The domestic tranquility Of this country
has for some time past been sorelv disturbed
md the individual peace made unhappy and
he mind forced, BY tho unpleasant condition
of things present, to speculate upon the pro-
babe discontinuance Of our united capacity
rs nation. Tho exciting scenes through
which we have just passed, and the national
conyulsion produced by constitutional con-
test, were sufficient to fiji the breasts Of all
patriotic and well meaning peopleMith ap-
prehension and alarm. When the crisis came
the South met it with that determination
that invincible and unflinching resolution
which honesty of purpose and rectitude Of
intention imbues. The black wave Of aboli-
ton fanaticism, which had been gathering
force for months from filthy tributaries and
sewers Of corruption, advanced with a men
acing roar and portentious pace, that threat
ened to deluge the constitution and blot out
forever the principles of civil liberty.
This dismal flood was arrested in its mad
ening career and rolled back by the hardy
adherents of the Constitution and the Union,
and the sun of liberty cleaned again through
the darkness of the political sky. The well
grounded fears of the honest patriot were
allayed and the spirit Of sectional agitation
seemed to have been soothed into Iepose-
and the quiet which the country so much re-
quired seemed about to return. Hope is de-
lusive, and as for peace-verily it seems there
is no peace. The arena of contention is closed
but in one place to be opened in another.
Law is enacted in Congress after a furious
and openly set in defiance by fac
tions discordant and belligerent. The law of
the land is outraged, and individual rights
this is done too in open
day, and in place where the germ of hber-
ity was nourished and grown into full life,
and by people claiming monopoly of in
telligence, and of allegiance to law and or
der Boston, the s'city of Notions"-the
Athens of America-the focus of education
and intellectual light-the cradle of liberty
the law-abiding, God-fearing city of the Puri
tans-has been IN state of insurrection dur
ing the last two weeks. An infuriated des
potic mob have set the Constitution and the
laws Of the country at defiance, sub
verted social order, taken possession of the
Court House, and what for. A slave escaped
from Virginia and fled to Boston. lie wasspur-
sued, recognized by his master, and at his in
stance arrested and brought to trial. The
identity of the slave was beyond any sort of
The constitution and laws
provides that the fugitives in such cases be re-
turned to their owners. Here was then an
for those law and order men to
exhibit their patriotism, and this is the way
they done it. A mob congregated in the
streets, was addressed by abolition fanatics,
and opposition to the laws openly connselled
by Wendell Phillips, Theodore Parker and
others.
The United States Marshal, in trying to
discharge his duty, was attacked by the infu-
rated law and order men, and one of his Off
cials murdered while in the execution Of the
laws he was sworn to support. Such is the
pretext which these peace loving citizens of
Boston have for defying the law of the land
and bullying the authorities. Their prcjudices
against the South are known to be deep and
malignant. The recent triumph of constitu-
tonal right over the combined forces of abo-
and free soilers in the passage of the
Territorial bills, has infaned their jealousy
into an open rebellion, SO that the most strin-
gent measures had to be adopted by the Off
GERS to maintain the supremacy of order over
anarchy. 1t is gratifying to see with what
President Pierce sanctioned the
conduct Of the U S. Marshal who was forced
to avail himself Of the resources of the gov
by employing two companies Of
troops to aid and assist him.
The fugitive, after protracted trial, was
finally delivered to the owner, and the popu-
lar excitement had partially assuaged
EE From communication to the House,
from Secretary Davis, it appears that during