Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-06-09
The Boston Fugitive Slave Case--Burns Remnnded
| tn n

The Boston Fugitive Slave case-Burns Remanded
to his owner 80
On Friday last Commissioner Loring pronounced
his decision in the case of Burns fugitive slave
claimed by Col. Suttle, of Virginia. as his property
Bv this decision the slave remanded to his own
er. The Commissioner affirmed the constltutlonall-
ty of the law under which Burns claimed, and
also the perfect conformity of the proceedings in the
case to the requirements of the law. 1t had been
proved by the records that Burns the servant of
Col. Suttle, and had escaped. The identity OF the
individual was proved by Mr.. Brent. Indeed this
was evident from the testimony of Burns himself
1t was therefore clear that Burns was legally and
rightfully the property OF Mr. Suttle ana mat ne
was entitled his erthcate, in which case 1t would
be given and the fugitive remanded TO his lawful
owner
Between two and three o'clock, Burns was escort.
ed to the wharf where he put board the steam
err John Taylor and conveyed to the revenue cutter
Morris, lying in the stream, which was Immediately
lowed to sea. He goes direct to Norfolk. Burns
himself appeared in good spirits-laughed at the ex-
element, and seemed glad to go back to old Vlr-
gnia.
There was an evident disposition for riot, had
not the arrangements made by the authorizes been
such as to render any attempt at violence totally
hopeless. The number of the people IN the STR eets
in the neghborhood of the Court House, is estimated
at 10000.
Cannon belonging TO the United States were placed
fully charged in the Court House square, so adjust
ed as to sweep down the opposition The entire
fist brigade of Massachusetts Militia, including the
Lancers and Dragons, were parade, besides Uni
ted States troops, and The Marshalls Guard, armed
with swords and pistols The fugitive was escorted
to the wharf by the Marshalls armed guard, number
ing 200 men-three companies of u S. troops, incu
ding the artillery detachment, with 9.pounder and
field piece, and the first brigade of Massachusetts
Militia, making in all 1000 troops, well as
$50 citizens, said to be the Bay State Club each arm
ed with cutlass and revolver.
At the corner of State and Washington streets.
quantity of snuff, cowbage, and bottle of vitriol
were thrown among the troops. In the vicinity OF
the Custom House, a truckman attempted to drive
his through the military line, when OF his
horses, a valuable animal, killed by bayonet
stab The crowd cried ''shame' and made rush,
when the commander of the company ordered the
troops to fire. Col. Boyd, of the Staff however,
countermanded the order. Several arrests made.
! and three four were badly hurt.
Several stores belonging to Abolitioniss were
closed and Grape hung on the door. coffin was
suspended from the building at the corner of Wash
! ington and State streets. Application made to
the Mayor for permission toll the BELLS which
refused.
So ends this case, and ends, for the present, the
excitement in Boston. The promptude and stern
determination of President Pierce to enforce the law,
at any cost, has oiled the abolition incendares and
prevented of another 'Shadrach rescue,
when fugitive similarly arrested fOrcbly taken
away from the public authorities in Boston and sent
off 10 Canada. The Shadrach case in 1851 no doubt
encouraged these abolitonists to presume upon the
weakness or nefhciency of the authorities, and I'M
questionably has not been without its effect in bring
ing about the recent attempted resistance to law
But they have found their mistake in dealing with
the present administration. Under the present rule
the law must and will be enforced.
/ The fugitive-sIave law is the supreme law OF the
land it is in direct pursuance OF an express provls-
ion of the Constitution of the United States, to which
Massachusetts is party, and yet to carry into effect
so plain and positive law, in sing case, requires
the presence of force sufficient to hold twenty thou
sand rioters in check, and at expense exceeding
twenty-fod the value of the property in dispute
! What practical advantage is this law what pro-
lection is it to property what value to the lndlvd-
ual Shareholder, the the slave. holding community
There may be, and we believe there are, good men
and true in Massachusetts,. We have seen that there
are such in the city of Boston but that fact
does prevent both city and State from being so
far delivered to abolition lawlessness as to rem
der it impossible to enforce plain law for the recov-
cry of negro, value say one thousand dollars at a
less expense than perhaps twenty thousand dollars
This is practical notification. There is difference
between obedience to law and obedience to the power
of the United States. The mob in Boston did not
yield to the ldw-t yielded to force that it did not
dare resist Let that force be absent and it would
trample on the law tomorrow.
How would Bostonian or a New Yorker like to
spend twenty thousand dollars TO collect one due him
in Virginia or North Carolina? He would be apt to
think u ii shackling. dishonest set These fugitive
negro pretty much the same, and our North
en brethren nothing to brag of, generally speak