Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-10
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE LATE SCENES AT BOSTON.

THE LATE SCENES AT BOSTON
True men of all Wings, Democrats, or
by whatever other designation they prefer to be
known-alI intelligent citizens, in word, who con-
slider the supremacy of the laws to be that principle
in government without which no good government
can exist cannot fail to have been highly grat6ed
by the event of the struggle between public duty
and personal feeling which has just attended the
execution in the city of Boston of the law Of the
United States providing for the reclamation of fug
tive slaves
The excitement manifested on this occasion, at
moment when the public mind was already disturb
ed by the news of the passage of the Nebraska act
though that act in reality had no immediate con-
nexion with the actual occurrence--was yet greatly
exaggerated, not only by the complication of the
two matters in the popular mind, but by the pre-
sence in the city of organized societies as well as
individuals deeply pledged to resist to extremity in
all cases, the execution Of the law in question. That
the termination of the popular fermentation thus
produced was attended, notwithstanding the threat
ening appearances at one time, with no more blood
shed than that involved in the loss of single lfe
is a matter for very sincere congratulation.
Upon the action of the public authorities, Judi
cial and Corporate, throughout this emergency, too
much praise cannot be bestowed On no occasion
within our recollection have frmness and discretion
been more signally and happily united in enforcing
the sanctions of law; and in case, too, in which
individuals were impeled by considerations Of pub
lie duty, unmingled with any sordd motive, and
undeterred by the evidences Of feeling or by yet
more potent influences.
Now that it is all over, and no prejudice to the
just authority of the laws, to any interest in
volved in the matter be done by the publication
consider altogether due to those political friends
in Massachusetts, with whom it has always been our
pride heretofore to act to lay before our readers the
following very plain and ineligible exposition Of
the principles upon which they have acted on the
late occasion, and upon which, it is yet graft
flying to learn, that, unmoved by what has passed,
it is their intention hereafter steadily to abide.
FROM THE BOSTON COURIER OF JUNE 8.
Yesterday decision given and carried into effect
upon the Of Burns the fugitive slave from Virginia
He delivered to his MASTER and dispatched board
vessel for his home.
We are gratifed to be able to state that popular
violence attended this Of executing unpopular law
1t disagreeable duty still it duty. There
only choice between the pain of performing it and
much greater evil. The citizens Of Boston have mani
tested their regard for the laws their strong sense of
public duty and their power of dgnifed selfrestrain in
which should eptte them to the respect of the
whole country 1t is they have those among them
who enemies to good order and the peace Of
the country, but their numbers Insignificant, and
their courage to do mischief is nothing except when they
have the darkness of night to cover them.
The Aboitonist ncendiaries may congratulate them
selves in having done than commit useless
murder They have stained their hands with blood and
gained nothing by except the clear manifestation Of the
fact that the people of Boston will not sanction riot and
bloodshed and violation of law. -
But, although there is at this moment DISPOSE
ton in the people Of this city to counenance any direct
violation Of the of the United States than there was
year ago. it must be admitted at the time that de-
gree Of reaction against the fugitive slave law has
created in the public mind by the transactions
Congress. Petitions for the repeal of the law have al
ready received signatures in abundance in this city The
motives readily understands the good effects
not clear We ready believe that the sgners Of
these petitions Of honest impulses but it appears
that the step exhibits Of hasty petuance than
of the calm and dignfed prudence demanded by SO i'm
porant proceeding. We unable to discern any be-
nefcia consequences likely to result from it, whether it
be intended for practical effect only manifesto Of
temper and feeling Does any man of common informa-
ton seriously believe that the law will be repealed? We
think not and moreover, admitting that the repeal
possible hereis still the substance of that law remaining
in the Constitutonto say nothing of the law Of 1892
signed by George Washington and John Adams On the
other hand if the call for this repeal be designed merely
to show resentment at recent proceedings of the
South it strikes utter superauy in this charac
ter the whole country already know the policy preva
leHt in this quarter Such petition sent to Congress is
only blow struck in the air 1t may agitation,
but it will remove no part of the existing evil
But Nebraska! What do we say to that? We say that
forty Nebraska bills cannot absove it from fidelity to
the laws Of the country. The Nebraska bill is aront
to the people of the free States Of the
part Of the South and far disgrace the people
that quarter; but the South gains nothing by it and sa
very gains nothing have think there will
be slave in the United States by the operation of
this bill. No man in the South asked for it, thought
of asking for any thing Of the kind till evil hour the
frebrand into the Senate Of the United States
The evaporation caused in the free States by
Nebraska bill will trust, be allowed subside with
out endangerng the peace of the country When we are
thoroughly convinced that the North and the South oan
longer live together in consistent with the
general welfare shall be ready to advise peaceabe
eparation. But far from believing that such
time is at hand The Union is too precious, the Const