Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-04-12
ONE OF FILLMoRE's CREDENTIALS.

Some FIVE years ago a fugitive from Slavery who
had made his way to Boston was arrested, and
while awaiting the arbitrament of his fate by the
U. S. Commissioner, was suddenly released from
til, care of his jailors by an eruption of traitors
who had not the fear of Willard Fillmore before
their eyes, nor the love Of his fugitive slave
law in their hearts. President Fillmore signalizod
his devotion to slavery by fruitlessly attempting
the conviction of Elizur Wright and others for
this worthy deed and by issuing the following roc
lamaticn, a document which certainly entities him
to the gratitude of tho slave.drivers and which they
do well to reward with q presidential nomination
PROCLAMATION.
Whcrereas, information has been received that
sundry laNless persons, principally persons of
color, combined and confederated together for the
purpose of opposing by force the execution Of the
laws of the United States, did, at Boston, Massa-
chusetts, on the 18Th of this month, make a VIC.
lent assault on the Marshal, or Deputy Marshal of
the United States, for the District of Massachu-
sets, in the Court House, and did overcome the
said officers, and did, by force, take from their
custody a person arrested as a fugitive slave, and
then and there a prisoner, lawfully holden by the
Marshal or Deputy Marshal of the United States,
and other scandalous outrages did commit IN VIC
latiCn of law: Now, therefore, to the end that the
authority Of the laws may be maintained, and
those cob cerneG in violating them brought to i'm
mediate and ccudign punishment, I have issued
this my proclamation, calling on all well disposed
citizens to support .he laws of their country, and
commanding all officers civil and military, who
shall be found in the vicinity Of this outrage, to be
aiding and assisting BY all means in their power,
in quclling this and other such combinations, and
assisting the Marshal and his deputies in recap
turing the above named person. And do espec-
tally direct that prosecution be commenced against
all papqpnS php Shnl1 la ua ,,o1o ~ m SO Ives nIUprq
or abettors in this fagitious offense; and | do
further command the District Attorney of the
United States, and all other persons concerned In
the admins tration or execution of the law OF
the United States, to cause the foregoing offcnd-
ers, and all such as aided, abettod or assisted then.
or shall be found to have harbored or concealed
such fugitive, contrary to law, to be Immediately
arrested and proceeded with according to law.
Given under my hand and the seal of the United
States, this 18th day of February, 1851.
II. S. WILLARD FILLMORE.
DANIEL WEBSTER, Secretary of State.
From the following historical notices of this res
cue which we find in the Boston Telegraph, it seems
the Boston military authorities were no better
than subsequently ut the kidnapping o5 Burns,
and that Governor Gardner has small difficulty in
becoming all things to all men.
On the 18th, the Mayor and Alderman voted to
place the whole police force Of the city at the dis
posal of any United States slave catcher who might
choose to demand its aid in his vocation.
On the Goth, upon motion of Mr.. Sever, the Com
mon Council, with high satisfaction" CORDIALLY
approved" the action OF the other branch. Even
this was not enough for Henry j. Gardner, who
offered the following additiona resolve:
Resolved, That we hereby protest against the
that we, as citizens of Boston, are indif.
ferent or lukewarm in regard to the recent infringe
ment of the public peace, and that we hereby de-
clare FOR ourselves and our constituents, our re-
sponces to the recent proclamation of the Presi-
nation to support the majesty and supremacy of the
laws.
The optics that could find "maiesty" in the
fugitive slave law, can, perhaps, find patriot
ism, craftsmanship and backbone in Willard Fill
more.