The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
the officers who arrested the parties and took them
To the lookup.
Opinions OF THE BOSTON PRESS.


OPINIONS OF THE BOSTON PRESS.
(From the Boston Journal, (whig) May q
The dsgraceful scenes Of violence which trans
pired in this city last evening-the exciting meet
ing In Faneail Hall-thc lawless counsels which
there prevailed the violent attack upon the Cont
House-and last and most to be deplored, the muir
der of an officer who faithfully discharging his
duty, well calculated to lead the peaceabe and
well disposed--those who respect the laws and who
recognise the authority of a properly constituted
government--to reflect upon the nature and tenden-
cy OF the insane efforts which are making to rescue
an alleged fugitive from the custody Of the United
States authorities.
If unrestrained passion is to be allowed full sway
il awiess violenceis to go unrebuked and men high
In social position are to become the leaders OF
mob-if law Of the United States is to be tramped
under foot, and the officers of the government shot
down il the discharge Of their duty and this with.
out rebuke, then indeed will blot rest upon the
fair fame of our city, and Boston will be degraded in
the estimation Of the whole Union.
We take q more hopeful view of the present ex-
element We know that the great majority of our
citizens are we'll disposed. They will uphold the
constitution and support the laws They will sustain
the authorities in the firm and decided stand which
they have taken to put down mob violence and will
aid in the preservation of order. The law will tri-
umph over the passions OF an Infatuated mob. Of
this we have an evidence in the promptness and
with which the city authorities have met the
crisis, and in the readiness with which the citizen
soldiery-who are with the people and Of them
have responded to the call Of duty.
The selfconsttuted friends of the alleged fugi-
tive, have certainly taken very injudicous course,
and one which has tended to embarrass any pro-
perly directed efforts to rescue the unfortunate man
from return to slavery. They did not wait to try
to trampie upon the fugitive slave law they forgot
that infammatory appeals and mob violence, in
stead of increasing the sympathy which every one
felt for the unfortunate prisoner, would only arouse
mination among the lawabiding portion Of the com
munity to sustain the authorities In enforcing the
laws. The cause Of Burns has thereby suffered,
and the man who might now have been free by the
is still confined in the Court House, under the guard
Of United States troops, and in actual bodily fear
lest ndiscreet friends should endanger his life
ather than see him returned to slavery.
We are glad that the excited and violent leaders
Of the mob have been allowed time fort pas
sOns to cool, and for reflection upon their unwise
course. The real friends of the alleged fugitive can
now devise some means to secure his freedom with
out transgressing the laws. There Is evidently
disposition on the part Of the Commissioner to ex-
tend to Burns all the favor which is consistent with
his duties, and with proper administration Of the
law. we have no fear, with the able able counsel who who
be summarly disposed Of, and if the worst fears Of
the friends Of Burns should be reazed-if he should
be remanded by the Commissioner to the custody
of his claimant-his rescue from slavery may yet be
effected without resorting TO violent MEANS which
under any circumstances are unjustihable.
In the holy hours Of the Sabbath, by the quiet Of
the domestic reside let those who have been instru
mental in melting to deeds of violence and blood,
shed reflect upon the deplorable consequences Of
their rashness, and upon the duty which they owe
their country, as republican citizens-to the State,
whose fair fame should be above all price-and to
the city, upon the maintenance of the peace and
der Of which their own personal security so init
mately depends. Let them consider well how they
best serve the cause Of the poor fugitive, whose
rescue by violent means they cannot hope to effect,
rather than in what manner they can most strongly
on ans
law. Above ALL let them consider whether the
deep, earnest and abiding feeling which exists at
the North in favor of human freedom may not be
made more available in its opposition to the slave
sels should mark the course Of those who claim to
be its peculiar champions
From the Boston Transcript, May 27.l
The streets Of our usually quiet city. present
strange aspect to-day. Many Of our citizens are
called from their peaceful avocations to take up
arms in defence of the laws and to prevent anarchy
and bloodshed. Patriotic and sober-minded men
to set their lips firmly together, and Skeep down
some rebellious swellings of the heart" They are
called upon by their fealty to law to suppress the
Unborn sentiments of their humanity, and to keep
their plighted faith with those who have Just vio
lated o solemn compact! Many men who have never
before given much attention to the subject now ask
themselves-What is our duty in this emergency?
How far is the example of violating compacts to be
followed
No man, we think, familiar with public sentiment
here, can deny that. the recent course pursued by
the almost united South has alenated them from the
conviction that the time has fully come when those
who remove the keystone from the arch must not
complain if they suffer damage from the fau Of the
ruins. They have not needed the voice Of earnest
our citizens, protesting in the name Of honor and
justice against the abrogaton Of compromises, and
Affirming that q deliberate breach Of the plighted
faith of the nation would tend to weaken the claims
<<f ~ l.
affection Of the people. We have done much for
our engagements, our promises, our contracts. But
i would seem that, not content with this, we are
called upon to make new sacrifices, and to renew
edly suppress the rights Of conscience, of religion,
and of that law whose corner stone is justice, and
whose attributes reflect the character of the Infinite.
Having thus stated the case in general terms, we
would add, that to our view, there can be but one
answer to the above queries Dstasteful as are the
dutos enjoined, and repulsve as Is the task impos
ed, we are nevertheless required by just regard
for the cause Of freedom itself, to join in no unaw
full proceeding, or to c0untenance any measures
which will not stand the test of the calmest reason,
and be justified by our maturest reflection. There
is day coming after to-day-in that coming day,
to days heats and passions win have past but its
records will remain. Let every man so conduct at
pleasure and honor.
A few years ago. the advocates Of freedom were
mobbed in our streets, their persons were treated
with indignities and their property was destroyed.
become not rioters Folly has its martyrs as well
as wisdom. Let us all trust to that benign and be-
neficent spirit Of freedom, justice and humanity
In this country opinion is stronger than kings; and
we may reasonably hope that our country. now the
asylum for the oppressed Of the Old World, will at
no distant day become indeed the land Of the free.
Oppression shall not always reign,
There comes brighter day.
From the Boston Traveller, (ree soil whig) May 27l
In relation to the statement made by Mr. +. W.
Bird, of Walpoe, in Faneuil Hall last evening-that
the IrdrelT had refused to correct an error in its
report of the circumstances connected with the ar.
rest of the fugitive Burns-we have only to say
Had Mr.. Bird or any other person, applied to the
editors or reporters of the Traveller for correction
OF an error in report with proof that there was
an error the correction would have been cheerfuily
made. But instead OF doing this, man, who
proves to have been Mr.. Bird brought to our count
ing room, at about two o'clock an advertisement,
for which he was charged the usual price for inser
ton. After paying for 1t, began TRADE of profane
abuse of the Boston papers, saying it was damned
shame that such an item could not be got into a