New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-29
FROM BOSTON,.

the main topics before it, The fate of the Liberty
Law is as yet uncertain. The Wing and Dem
ocratic presses camor for its repeal. The
Wings and Democrats in the Legislature wilt
doubtless mostly vote for its repeal. So, perhaps,
will few of the Republicans who came from the
Wing ranks last year, and have not wholly got rid
of old prejudices But the know-NothiDgs who
compose the majority, are in quandary on the
subject. Gardner desires the repeal OF the
law in order to lay up political capital
for himself at home and abroad. He de-
sres to conciiate our Massachusetts, Hunk
ers. and hopes to obtain the National Know Moth
ing nomination for Vice-President. But though
his influence over the Legislature is considerable
II is not without limit. The most intelligent OF
the Know Nothings are fully aware OF the perlls
of their position and will hesitate long before IN.
curing the risk of sacrificing themselves and
their party to CRAFTY Gardeners selfish ambition,
and to gain the cold appreciation OF their enemies,
Wings and Democrats They remember the over
whelming majority by which the Legislature OF
last YEAR composed almost wholly OF Know Moth
ipps. enacted the law They remember the salts.
faction with which it was received by the people OF
the State and the effect which it had in the last cleo
ton. when il was constantly appealed to as an evil
dence of what the American party had done for
Freedom. Shall they, with these recollections
fresh in their minds, be inundated by the clamOr
ola few newspapers, the organs OF their bitter
enemies? Shall they retrace their steps take the
back track and confess themselves In the wrong
before a single case has occurred under the law
before it has had trial of any sort What harm
has the law done A few bunker editors in this
State whose sympathies are altogether on the side
of Slavery, have raised an Outcry which has been
echoed by ignorant and malignant voices at the
South Of those who cry out not one has given,
or probably can give, an ineligible account of
the law. They whine about g." nulllfcatlon
and "ciyil war"-that is all. Both Vermont and
| Connecticut have similar laws, and yet the Union
holds and the peace of the country has not been
disturbed. The palpable effect OF the law is to
| keep away slave hunters; to prevent repetition
of the scenes which attended the rendition of Sims
| and Burns While this law is our statute-boOk,
slavehunters will not readily venture TO seize their
prev in Massachusetts,. If they do seize it, they
will be compelled to prove their title in strictly
legal manner They will not be allowed to carry
| off an inhabitant of the State in defiance OF law
| and evidence as was done in the case OF Burns
| That is the sum and substance of the grlev-
| ance of which our Huakers complain so loudly
Their complaints are evidently prompted by
| two mOtives-sympathy with the slayehunters and
| a secret desire to see the American party of Mas
sachusetts cut its own throat. The Wing and
Democratic politicians know very well that the
repeal of the Liberty Law would drive from the
Know. Nothing party thousands of Anti-Slayery
men who adhered to it last FALL because it seemed
70 them. on the whole, sufficiently true to Free
dom. But many of the Know Nothing leaders are
shrewd enough to see this also. Their true policy
is obviously to wait until the law has had fair
trial at least until case has occurred under 1t.
II does not become the dignity of Massachusetts
TO allow her legislation to be influenced by idle
| and ignorant clamOr. She has enacted a law for
| the protection of her citizens against intOlerable
outrage. Let US see how the law works If 1t
works WELL let it stand. If it works i'll, then IS
the time to repeal it, But if it should be repealed,
and another man should be carried from our soil
into slavery the party that repealed Will go down
more rapidly than ever party fell before.
The law of last year, by which Jurors had re-
| stored to them their immemOral right to judge OF
the law as well of the facts in criminal cases. 10
under discussion in the Senate. Parties are curl
ously complicated upon this question. Some OF
| the Republican Senator's fresh from the wing
party favor the alteration or repeal OF the law,
much to the chsgrin of their Free-Soil brethren,
with whom. az with the Democrats it has always
| been fayOrite measure; and who therefore do
not scruple TO charge the aforesaid Senators with
being only half converted from old fogyism. MIR.
RAYMOND, a Know. Nothing Senator who came
from the Democratic party, opposes the law Inc
| X. n. President Ofthe Senate, Mr.. Baker, VINO IS
| generally admitted TO be the ablest man OF his
party, and is certainly its best orator, zealousy
defends the law. The Boston Post, usually so hos
rile to everything liberal or really Democratic,
also uphOlds the law. further complication,
which is really at the bottom OF much oil the move
ment for repeal, arises from the tact that the
| Temperance men suppose that the law Is faV0ra-
bic to liquor sellers, by making it difficult TO get
convictions from Juries. | have no grounds Tor
! any conjecture as to the fate of the law.
| Yesterday there was a smart discussion III the
| House on the financial condition Of the State be-
tween General Deyereux and Mr.. Charles Hale.
| General Deyereux was formerly Wing, and
gentleman of consideration IN society. he lost
ca ste by some dubious transactions while Adutant
| General of the State few years since aad has
consequently thrown himself into Know Nothing
| ism in which can safely say he no more believes
than | do. though no man talks louder about the
glorious principles of Americanism OR enunciates
! with more junction. the unimpeachable truism that
Americans should rule America" He is the
| Know. Nothing leader in the House, and on
Wednesday made long speech in reply to some
articles in The Daily Adreriser, in which the IL
nancial management of our X. \. Administration
| had been severely handled.
Mr.. Hale is the actual editor Of The Adrsrttser,
! his father, Nathan Hale, having retired from the
direct management of the paper. He ia, believe,
the youngest member Of the House. He has tai
ent and energy and possesses in a high degree the
/ valuable qualities of industry and application Al
though no orator, he made very forclble and tn
umphant speech, in which he demonstrated that
the finances Of the State had been managed during
the pact year in a very loose and extravagaht man
ner aud that the present Legislature was going Oh
in the same needless way.
Gen. 1Deyereux replied. and / cannot give you
better account of his argument than oy copying
in full the summary which Ih bee-'ne ~ W.
official organ-giyes OF II: NJ MI. ~ Newton.
0The debate was continued by MI fike OF Ne". .or
and closed by Gen. Deyereua: Sho tbs American