Washington sentinel., 1854-05-30
The Boston Fugitive slave Case.
From the Boston Journal Of saturda,


The Boston Fugitive Slave Case.
From the Boston journal Of Saturday.
The JUDICIAL PRocEEDINGs.-No unusual
excitement was perceptible about the court
house during yesterday, friday and the fugi
tive Burns, remained under guard. During
the forenoon, a writ was issued by Seth Webb,
ESQ.,, On an action Of tort, for the recovery of
$4,000 damages against Messrs. Charles +.
Suttle and William Brent, for, that the said
Suttle and Brent on the oath day of May inst,
well knowing the said Burns to be free citi
zen of Massachusetts, conspired together to
have the said Burns arrested and imprisoned
as slave of said Suttle, and carried to Alex
andria, Virginia." &C., &c. Lewis Hayden, a
colored man, was the complainant in the case.
The writ was served upon Messrs. Suttle and
Brent, and they gave the required bail in the
sum of $4,000 each.
Subsequently, Chief Justice Wells issued a
writ OF replevin against United States Marshal
Freeman, directing that officer to bring the
the court of common pleas, on the 7th day Of
June next but the marshal did not obey the
order.
Soon after Burns's arrival here as it now ap-
pears, he wrote letter to his brother in Alex
andria, who is also a slave Of Mr.. Suttle, stat
ing that he was at work with Coffin Pitts, in
Brattle street, cleaning old clothes. This letter
he dated in Boston, but SEMITIC Canada, where
it was post-marked and sent according to su-
prescription, to Burns brother in Alexandria.
AS is the custom at the south, when letters
are received directed to slaves, they are deliv-
cred to the owner of such slaves, who opens
them and examines their contents. This ap-
pears to have been the case with Burnss letter,
and by his own hand his place Of retreat was
discovered to his master.
The MEETING IN FANEUIL HALL.-A meet
ing was held in Faneuil Hall last evening for
the purpose of considering the matter Of the
arrest Of the fugitive slave Burns. The hall
was filled to overAowing. The meeting was
called for o'clock, but it was nearly o'clock
before it was called to order. In the interim
two noted personages entered the hall and ex-
cited considerable feeling. These were Silas
Lamson and John S. Orr, the street preachers.
Lamson took the platform and addressed the
assembly, giving his views on slavery in par
ticular and other matters in general very few
could understand what he said owing to the
noise of persons entering the hall; calls Of
louder Gabriel" &c. He was finally
taken by main force by DR.. Howe, and some
other persons, and removed from the platform
amid cries Of " free speech, put him out" &c.
The meeting was organized and addresses
delivered by number Of persons, concluding
with Rev. Theodore Parker. He delivered
most excited harangue, addressing the audience
as "fellowsubjects of Virginia" AT its CON
clusion, according to the report in the Journal,
he said:
"There were two laws-one is slavery.
There is another law, that the people, when
they are sure they are right, should determine
to go ahead, or to use the words of which had
been quoted, that which is not Just is not law
that which is not law should not be obeyedr
He alluded to the conduct of our fathers in re-
gard to the stamp act and the tea, and held
that conduct up as an example for imitation.
La the south public opinion is stronger than
law, he said, and cited the case Of Mr.. Hoars
mission to Charleston as an illustration
Another law than slavery is also finality.
That law lies in our heads, and arms, and feet.
on can put it in execution when you see fit.
am clergyman, and am man Of peace
But there is a means and an end. Liberty is |
he end, and peace is not sometimes the means
towards it. Cheers. These men who are
serving the kidnappers in Boston are towards
every one Of them, and we need but stand up
and declare that this man shall not 60 back to
prove them towards.
Mr.. Parker then proposed that when the
meeting adjourn it adjourn to meet in Court
square tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. A |
hundred voices cried out: "No, tonight "let |
US take him out," "et us 90 now" come on, .
and one man rushed trantically from the plat. |
form, crying "come on" but none seemed dis. |
posed to follow him. Mr.. Parker: "Those in
favor of going tonight will raise their hands"
About half the audience raised their hands |
Much confusion ensued, aud the persons on the |
platform seemed bewildered, and in hesitancy
how to control the excitement they had raised |
The audience we're shouting and cheering; |
voice was heard saying: The slave shall not 90 !
out, but the men who came here TO get him /
shall not stay in let us visit the slave catchers
at the Revere House tonight"
After while sufficient order was restored to
allow the chairman to put the question on the
resolutlons and they were passed unanimously;
md it was moved to adjourn. Again cries Of |
TO the courthouse and the "Revere House.
we're heard. The scene was tumultuous in the
extreme. At last Wendell Phillips again took
he platform and said
Let US remember where we are and what
We are going to do. You have said tonight
,ou will vindicate the fair fame of Boston. Let
ne tell you you WON'T do it by groaning at the
ave.catchers at the Revere House, (we'll tar
Ind feather them, in attempting the impossible
eat OF insulting slave,catcher. Ii there is a
nan here who has an arm and heart ready
o sacrifice anything for the freedom Of an o..
PRESSED man, let him do it tomorrow TCries
If "to-night."
If thought it could be done tonight I would
% first don't profess courage, but do pro.
ess this: when there is possibility of saving
slave from the hands Of those who are called
Ulcers of the law, am ready to trample any
tatute or any man under my feet to do it, and
IN ready to help any one hundred men to do it.
te urged the audience to wait until the day
ime 4; said that he knew the vaults Of the banks
. State street sympathised with them; that the
'hlgs who had been kicked once too often sym-
a'hised with them. He told them that it was
q their power SO to block up every avenue that
ne man could not be carried of. He urged
hem not to baulk the effort of tomorrow, by
polish conduct tonight giving the enemy the
larm. You that are ready to do the real work,
g not carried away by indiscretion which may !
make shipwreck of our hopes.
The zeal that won't keep till tomorrow will ,
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