The daily union., 1854-12-19
THE BALL OPENED.-AR. BANKS OF MASsACHU-
SETTS uNEIIRIS THE KNOW NOTHING FLAG

know nothngism is party based upon the preu
dice and that it stand investigation the opportuni
y presented in the House yesterday while Mr. Banks
making speech in support of that party n reply
the bold and searching criticism of Mr. Barry of Missssp
pi. Mr.. Banks is of fine popular talents, is well
read, and always speaks to attentive audiences but
his argument of yesterday fell below respectability He
seemed himself TO be ashamed doubtful of his cause
Adrot he is in debate he almost constantly
tradicng himself and he only too glad to seek refuge
in vague generaes. We could not confess, apprec
his distinction that secrecy essential element in
free government while it especially abhorrent in
American diplomacy We could not why it right
advocate the of American labor in Massachusetts,
against the arrogance and power of associated capital and
why per contra, it right to deny to the emigrant
those rights which dignity labor these shores and make
the poor the full equals of the rich tM baotboxes
is his philanthropy be governed by degrees of lat
tude2 The argument of Mr. Banks against the Pope of
Rome and the Catholics who believe in the Pope
singular piece Of reasoning and only exceed by
his attempt TO discriminate 5eoeen Cnhole and Roman
Catholic lie admitted in reply to Mr.. Barrys question,
that he believed there very few American Catholics
who do repudiae and act upon their reputation,
all the temporal power of the Pope and yet because the
that power therefore the Catholics controlled by the
Pope in politics &ci But we have room for no further
comment
Mr. Keitt of South Carolina, will reply to Mr. Banks
to-day.
A CONSTITUTIONAL GRAND JURY IN MAssACHU-
SETS.
The United States attorney for Massachusetts, it
his manifest duty do under the constitution and laws OF
the Union and the very clear and able charge of Judge
Curtis has presented the grand jury Of the circuit
the persons active in melting to and participating in
the acts of violence and resistance to the officers of the
United States which took place at Boston, in the riot for
the of the fugitive slave Antony Burns the 26th OF
May last which resulted in the murder of James Batch
elder of the assistants of the MARSHAL in executing the
legal process with which he charged It will be reco
ected that nammatory meeting was. held in Faneuil
Hail. Boston, the evening of the 26th OF May at which
speeches made melting the mob to rescue the fugitive
and resist officers having him in custody That meeting
directly followed by attack on the marshals office in
the and for these alleged acts of melting and
participating in the riot the grand jury have returned in
dicments into the circuit against Rev. Theodore
Parker Wendell Phillips Rev. Thomas W. Higginson, for
incing resistance the laws, and eight ten
other persons for committing of violence to obsruct
the United States officers and the parties held for trial
before the circuit court in March The offence of in
citing TO resistance provided followed by actual
sstance comes under the provision the crime Of
actual resistance.
This is no provision of law growing ont Of the act
Of 1850 for the rendition of fgves from service la
bor but it nearly old the constitution having been
passed April l7oO 1t declares that if any person shall
auyo of
6cer of the United States in serving attempting to
any warrant legal process whatsoever shall assault
beat or wound any officer other person duly author
lied in serving executing any such warrant process
such person SHALL on conviction, be imprisoned not
ceeding twelve mon tbs and fined exceeding three hun
dred dollars.
In the awless spirit of anarchy by which this act
of violence was melted at the time by portion of the
press the grand jury of Massac huses been assaed
for their independent performance of duty devoved
them by their oaths under the constitution and the laws
the land 1t unnecessary vndicate upright jurors
where against such reckless assaults because the conscious
ness of having discharged high duty carries with it its
own vindication and the where that duty is
performed in obedience to law and good government
against the preudces and private feelings of juror The
Massachusetts, grand jurors will only have that
sciOusness but the respect OF all men IN all communities
who prefer in the administration of justice the rule of law
the tyranny of mob who hold as good citizens
that law until repealed be enforced without riot and
resistance life and property longer safe insocety
Every good citizen feel much higher confidence in
protection of law under its administration by the grand
jury of Massachusetts, than under the proceedings of
grand jury in Maine which, regardless of law and evidence
refused to find bills of indictment against persons known
to have committed gross outrage upon the person of
Roman Catholic clergyman at Ellsworth.
THE DE KALB CASE.--A DISCLAIMER
In preparing the article in Sundays Washington Union
on the debate in the House of Representatives upon the
claim of Baron De Kab it far very far from in
enon to leave any impression that those who opposed