The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
The Boston saturnaIln.

OF last W, elk Boston. Dispassionate men
endeavoring to dive st the n. civ of local bias,
ana poise the scales ( Justice between the "two
their perceptions aided, and the + vision improv-
Cd by.a few moments calm reflection on the
narrative Of riot end violence which has filed
the Bos ton press since Friday. 1t throws a
world Of light on the charactcr.of the opponents
OF the Nebraska bill II let's US know, In the
plainest possible manner that neither laws nor
constitution will bind them against their inn
pulses; and that they who have clamored 80
loudly about the supposed violation Of a so
called compact, made thirty years ago, are
ready to-day, az they have been at any time
during the last ten or fifteen years, to tramp!e
under foot any law however sacred, any com
pact however solemn. 1t shows Us that these
law-abiding men of Massachusetts, as they were
once called, in truth and in fact abide no laws
but those which suit their own fancy and conve-
nlence; that their obedience to the supreme
authority OF this country is conditioned upon
the important provso, that that autho-
Iity shall in all ways act rs they please
and direct. They proclaim no direct trea-
son. They seek no dsunion, or dssolu-
ton of their partnership with their sister
States. They derive far too solid benefits there
from TO be quit Of it on any terms. But they
claim and exercise the right Of enjoying the ad-
vantages of The Union without single one of
its drawbacks. They will have free trade with
the South, and enrich themselves upon its slave
grown cotton and tohacco but they viii not,
in return, suffer the emphatic covenant Of the
constitution, since reafirmad by the fugitive
slave law, to be executed in honor and good faith
in Massachusetts, The solid m2n Of Boston viii
not listen to Theodore Parker when he calls for
blood ana dsunion; but the same solid men will
permit the United States Marshal to be deferred
from discharging his duty, and viii connve at
the breaking open of court houses, the murder
mob Of aboltionists
A prominent leader Of the free soil party has
said that a consciousness OF strength had pro
duced Indifference in the Northern mind, while
a like consciousness Of weakness instilled fear
into that Of the South. This Boston riot-with its
shameful incidents, the breaking open Of court
house, the dethronement Of the civic authorities,
the murder Of an inoiiensive man, and all for
no practical purpose-does not look very like
the calm composure of conscious strength. To
our fancy it wears an aspect more resembling
the foolish spite Of baflled children. Webolieve
there is great deal OF Indifference in the public
mind in the North on the subject of the move
cf ba ,lo1: 10 a n
they are regarded ~ the masses with more
curiosity than interest. But so far frem
arising from any confidence in the sec
tional strength of the North as opposed TO
that of the South, this indifference is clearly
due to the very opposite cause-a general
clifton party. They arc not yet regarded as
dangerous enough to be seriously guarded
against Men hear of them with contempt, and
let them rave in silence.
This may be carried to dangerous extreme.
1t was undoubtedly enough, when the Hon.
Horace Greeley proposed the destruction Of
the Capitol by fire, to give publicity to the no
ton in order to explode it and it is possible
that Boston will be sufficiently punished for her
lawessness OF Friday if the facts are thorough
ly disseminated throughout the land. But the
next scene in the drama may Cal, Tor seycrer
penalties than declaration OF iniamy. Fngi-
tive slaves are daily escaping TO the North.
and violence or fraud is rendering the con.
stitution deal letter. Some act of open re-
sistance may at any time bring the question to
an abrupt issue. 1t will then be for the people
of Boston and their associates to decide
whether the system under which this con-
federacy has hitherto grown up shall be aban-
doned or not. If the people Of or faction in
any State are going to obey certain laws and
infringe others rs they please, we shall need to
employ the same measures OF coercion az are
necessary in monarchical countries When it
comes to be question between a sacrifice OF
liberty or anarchy, every one will prefer tho
former. Let Boston look to it.
Ihc Know. Noti,ings-A Neyy Phase of Native
Americnnism-IIlssory OF the Native Amcrf-
can Party.
The organization Of secret association, in
various parts Of the United States, under the
title of "KnowNoihings,'' their mysterious
movements and surprising success at several
recent local elections, have attracted much Of
The attention OF that portion of the public who