The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-08-14
A Refreshing Retrospect.
From the Chicago Post.

Some nine years ago we commenced an
editorial life in this city. Within three
DAYS after we witnessed a mob in.tigated
bv three daily morning republican papers
of Chicago. We never bad A very high
appreciation Of mobs. never thought anv
person engaging in them above the level
Of ruffian, and our observation upon that
occasion confirmed, and that very strong
", our previous notions as to mobs gener-
ally.
Within less han eight months thereaf-
ter we saw another mob in Chicago, a
mob nsfigated by one Of The republican
papers of this city. That was serious
affair-blood WIS shed and lie was taken.
| On both occasions we denounced the in
stigators and tie actors in those mobs; we
did not hesitate TO array our press and po-
litical influence on the side of law and or
der, and in support even of the public au-
thorties who were politically opposed to
us. We did this because we thought it
was right. AID also because it was the doc
thine Of the democratic party that no man
could forcisly resist the laws without be
coming fake to the whole principle and
theory Of the American constitution ana
government.
We remember very distinctly that in
those days certain citizens of Missouri
came to Chicago to recover certain slaves
that had escaped from them and fled to
this city. They came with their papers
and authority duly prepared as required
by law They found their property and
arrested the negroes, aud we regret to say
that the peace and quiet of the city we're
disturbed on Sabbath day by a furious
mob, who not only rescued the slaves and
sent them to Canada in defiance of law,
but set upon and beat The Missourans.-
We denounced that mob. while every re-
publican paper in this city justified and
applauded it, and one of them, edited by
the two individuals who are now senior
editors of the Tribune, declared with great
emphasis that that law Of Congress could
never be enforced in this city, and that
persons coming here to avail themselves Of
its guarantees might come prepared to take
the consequences the hands of the
people. No prosecution of the rioters was
ever attempted, but the Missourians, we
believe, were indicted in state court for
tempting TO execute law Of the United
States !
A few years previous to these occurren-
ces here in Chicago, an attempt was made
to execute an act of congress in the city
honest beyond all possible dispute. Bat
The law was not permitted to be executed
without a mob. BOSTON for DAYS was a
scene of violent contention. The law Of
fcers had to call in the assistance of the
military and naval authorities. The gov
| ernor OF Massachusetts, refused the aid Of
the state troops even If the latter would
have served. No attempt was made to
arrest the rioters on the contrary the ri
oters were encouraged in the press, in the
pulpit, and by the community generally.
| The judicial officers trying the case had 10
sit within court room guarded by Uni
! ted States marshals ard United States
troops, and there, upon the steps Of the
court room, in the city of Boston, one of
the defenders and supporters of the law
was killed by shot fired by !elon hand
| When the commissioner remanded the es-
capped negro to the custody of his owner,
the legislature of Massachusetts voted an
address to the governor to dismiss him
from some state office lie then held. y
executing the law the n4""- ,o.., -
In VeS'- a., and as i, lcc boston Larbor
Wild The rra,ronal colors at its masthead
,..,e New York Tribune thus shouted
"Tear down the Haunting lie,
Half-mast the starry flag;
Insult no sunny sky
With hates polluted rag.
DESTROY IT YE WHO CAN,
DEEP sINK 1T IN THE WAVES,
1t hears f,llow-ma
To groan with fellow slaves"
/ This is the way that federal laws, passel
IN obedience to the commands Of the con
stitutiop, were supported by our republi-
can friends who have latterly become hor
fitled at the idea Of mob resisting III,
authority Of the United States. But tina
does not end the chapter. In Wisconsin
one Booth was arrested for forcibIy resist
ing the officers of the United States in ex
ecuting an act of congress. He was dis
charged from custody by the suprem
court of that state, and every republican
paper IN the United States app!audrd no
only Booths heroism but the inIepend-
ence of the state judiciary in overriding
federal law. Booth was subsequently in
! dicled, tried and convicted before the Uni
ted States court, and sent to prison tn
| supreme court Of Wisconsin again inter
I cred, reviewed and rereyScd The 5u9gmen
o. the Jederas court, and again the republi
can press of the United States sang pecan
to the wise and patriotic court of Wiscon
sin. HE case was taken to the suprem
court of the United States, and the actioI
of til Wisconsin court, in taking jurisdic
tion of cases tried before the federal court
was set aside; Booth was again arrested
by the United States officer. and placed i,
prison. 1t was proposed that the Wiscon
sin cour. should take further action an,
reverse the decision of the supreme cour
of the United States, and collision be
tween the federal and state authorities wa
for long time imminent The Chicag,
Tribune was rampant in urging that Wis
consln should repudiate the action of tn
federal courts, and asserted that in al