The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-06-29
4oIltital
(From the Portsmouth Times
Fl 4 M 1 Y C1A Y
ON VIOLATIONS OF THE
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.

| Immediately after the passage of the Fug
tive Slave Act, and in the fall of the year 1856
some disturbances, growing out of attemp
to enforce that law, occurred at Boston. a
the second session of the Thirty First Congress
in answer to specific resolution of the Senate
Mr.. Fillmore sent a message to that body, set
ting forth in detail the facts respecting the "for
cible resistance to the execution of the laws 0
the United States in Boston," After it wa
follows: (See Colton's sSpeeches of Henrv
Clay" Vol. II, page COS, ct seg.) 2 q E'F :
l have listened with great satisfaction to thu
reading of this message of the President IT.
general tone and firm resolution announce tha
| he will carry into execution the laws of Tho
| United States. 1t ought to be, and [ trust viii
be, satisfactory to every impartial and candle
man in the whole community. There is only
one regret, if were to express any, that feel
1 think the Marshal of Massachusetts, ought tc
be dismissed, and have very little doubt al
though not authorized to say anything upon
the subject, that the President is subiectine
his conduct to that scrutiny which will enable
him to come to satisfactory conclusion to
the point of duty whether he should or should
not dismiss him.
I avail myself of the occasion to express the
high degree of satisfaction which 1 have felt
in seeing the general and faithful execution of
this law. 1t has been executed in Indiana un-
der circumstances of really great embarrass-
ment, doubt, and difficulty. 1t has been exc
cuted in Ohio in repeated instances-in Gin
cinnat. 1t has been executed in the State of
PENNSYLVANIA at the seat of government of the
State, and at the great commercial metropolis
of the State. 1t has been executed at the
great metropolis of the Union-New York;
believe upon more than one occasion. 1t has
been executed everywhere except in the city,
of Boston, and there has been failure there,
upon two occasions to execute the law.
I confess, SIR, that achen l heard of tie first
fcri2qre, I WAS MOST ANXIOUS TO HEAR OF
THE CASE OF ANOTHER ARREST OF FUGITIVE
be again made, and II might be satisfactorily
,rhether the Id1c could or could not
be e.cecuted an Boston, Therefore with pro-
found surprise and regret l heard of the recent
occurrence, in which the law had been again
treated with contempt, and the Court House of
the county violated by lawless force. Sir,
stated upon former occasion, that the mob
consisted chiefly, as it is now stated Ly the
President of blacks. But when adverted to |
hat fact, had in my mind those, wherever
hey may be, in high or low Places who inves-
.igated, melted or stimulated to these deeds of
those poor black deluded mortals. So
~ THEY ARE THE PERSONS WHO OUGHT TO
BE REACHED; THEY ARE THE PERSONS WHO
OUGHT TO RECEIVE CoNDIGN PUNIsHMENT and
trust if there be any incompetency in existing
avs to punish those who advised, and stimula-
ed, and instigatcd those unfortunate blacks to
hese deeds of lawless enormity, that the de-
ect will be supplied, and the REALLY GULL
" PARTY WHO LURKs BEHIND, putting for
Tard these wretches, wilbe brought to justice