New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-14

of the United states were IHo"'IuuN" ~
from rescue a miserable slave; when the orn-
tally and violence underlying The whoie 'o"'"-
crp policy was we'll ard ntly Vpfcd by the
Marshal's guard Of iny rufians. dcSperadoeS ana
criminals, who were gathered from the Sums ana
saloons and gambling-hes 10 protect the lhVad-
ing slave-huntcrc and to uphold the authority ol
the United States No hostile army occupying
a conquered country could have behaved more
lawessly or will, greater insolencc than dld ule
militia and Federal troops toward thc c''iHcuS
of Boston upon TINS humiliatinS OCCASION pht
neither then nor subsequently does TINS cohdnco
appear TO have been resented. In solemn silence
the majority looked on and saw their city, STATE
and country disgraced But they had the conso-
lation of rejecting that they KEPT their trade
with the South.
Richard Henry Dana played mans part
throughout these stormy scenes, and for reward
he was brutally assaulted by some OF the ruiiians
who had formed the Marshal's guard III the An
thony Burns rendition. Knocked down IN the
street and severely bruised. Mr.. Dana would
probably have been unable to secure Justice upon
his assailant but for an accident. The scoundrel
who attacked him was arrested and bellrd by
sort of boss among the roughs. The man
jumped his haIl, and this clragcu tie "bosi, who
vowed forthwith TO have him convicted. and took
PROMPT steps TO secure his arrest Mr.. Adams
gives full account of this strange and picturesque
episode and in note he states that the Boston
Portuguese "b)Ss' Of TIE roughs was no other
than Louis Berel VINO was sent TO the pcnicLtary
for shooting at and wounding Surveyor Hcattie in
this city, in the year 1887. At the time of the
Burns case Berel went under the name OF Luigi
Varclh, and he had several aliases between that
affair and his entry TO the New-lork Custom
House. Mr. Dana had the satisfaction Of seeing
HuXford, his assailant, convicted and sentenced
heavily. and il moi until many years had
passed that ne learned the of the conviction.
At the trial IIuXlorl had been positively identified
by two young men whose testimony could not be
shaken. Ii appeared dftcrward that these ire
proachable witnesses were in the employ of Va
rclli. and that their statements were carefully
concoctcd pcriurieS. Neither man had really seen
the assault.
Dana's connection with tie Fugitive Slave
Cases must always he the most significant and
honorable feature in his career, though at the
time the position he took intensified the bitterness,
Of the feeling against him. The opportunity was
here afforded him to show his forensic power
conspcuously, and he gained much reputation
with the bar, which appreciated the skill and
adroitncsS Of his proceedings. Actual success IN
the defence was ont of the question, seeing that
all the judges and commissioners were strongly
preposscSSed in favor Of the Fugitive Slave Law,
and that many Of them did not hesitate 10 put
obstacles in the way of the defence. e Snub the
counsel. and 10 make hagrlntly sided and
unrightcous rulings But Dana and those who
stood with him upheld the principles in is,u"
gallantly. and the effect upon public opinion. If
not Immediately apparent. was none the less
positive and stimulating Dana had been Free
Soiler during the brief existence Of that party,
and when the Republican party arose he Ioncd II
almost Of necessity Durine the rebellion he WAS
United States District-AttOrncy for the District
of Massachusetts, and in that Office distinguished
himself by his handling Of certain important
prize cases which had caused much pcrplcNlty
10 the Government. II is interesting 10 not" how.
from being al first dlstrustful Of Lincoln. a. "a
sort of wild Western man, with no antccedcn's.
and above all, dignity. Dana gradually cam"
10 have the strongest confidence IN the President,
and supported his measures enthusiastically. Vet
he was not above inconsistency. his courS"
relative 10 Reconstruction shows. Before The end
Of the rebellion he was inclined to favor the most
lcnicnt and generous treatment Of tn" sc""lcd
States to allow them 10 return 10 their allegiance
as though they had never violated II. Bat when
the Reconstruction measures came before CongIc,,
he turned about and supported them vigorously.
and Mr.. Adams is evidently much amused by h,s
old friends efforts 10 make his divers positions
accord
Danas latter years were bnrdcnci with a pro-
tractrd and vcXatious litigation growing out Of
lis editing Of Whcatons International Law.
former editor Of the work. william Irach
Lawrence brought suit under peculiar cfcum-
stances. for infringement Of copyright. alleging
that Dana had used his tI.awrcnccsI notes Nr
Adams relates the controversy at length, and il -
too complicated 10 be cpit0mzrd Ultimately the
matter was referred 70 a Master. whose report
given here in full in appendix completely
| cXonerated Dana from the charge Of plagiarism
| preferred against him. The suit, however. had
| dragged through several years. and al one stage
Of it judicial ruling seemed ~ indorsc Lawrence :
accusation TO the injury Of the defendant rcputa
| ton with thOsc-and there were many-whO did
not understand the actual merits of the case or
| who had neither time nor inclination 10 read
| long reports concerning it. Mr.. Adams makes
it quite clear that Dana was not guilty Of any
| form Of plagiarism, and that his only fault was
| neglect TO read certain letter which would have
| instructed him As 10 the claim made by Lawrence
| in time 10 avoid the litigation.
! Much Of the matter in these volumes is auto
| Geographic, Danas letters and journals having
| been freely used by his biocraphcr. Most read
| crs will take particular interest in the lively de
scriptions Of his European experiences, for he was
exceptionally fortunate in the acquantanccs he
| made being enabled IL see English social life
| under its pleasantest aspects. meeting large
number Of distinguished and famous people. and
seeing the sights generally under the happiesi
conditions. At home lie overwOrked himself al
his profession, yet did not make money. He al
ways longcd TO he in politics. and served term
in the Massachusetts Legislature, where. while
his intellectual eminencr put him al the front
the hau2htiness and GOODNESS of his manners pre-
vented him from acquiring influence In ls1t
General Grant nominated Dana for the Enplsi
! Mission, and instantly his old enemy, Lawrence
posted to Washington with General Butler anc
| lObbrd iiercly against the nomination Mr.. Adam
thinks that Dana might have successfully en-
councrcd the combination against him had he moi
been too fastdous He refused 10 90 before III,
Senate Committee to defend himself against tht
. charges brought by Lawrence ~ was the old ac