ght
never to be opposed or impeded--is mischievous, and
subversive of the first principles of social order, and
tends to anarchy and bloodshed.

"Resolved, That men, who directly or indirectly instigate or
encourage those who are or may be the subjects of legal
process, to offer violent resistance to the officers of the
law, deserve the reprehension of an indignant community, and
the severest punishment which its laws have provided for
their offence; and that we have entire confidence that any
combination or attempt to fix such a blot upon the fair fame
of our State or city, will be promptly rebuked and punished,
by an independent and impartial judiciary, and by firm and
enlightened juries.

"Resolved, That we will at all times, in all places, and
under all circumstances, so far as our acts or influence may
extend, sustain the Federal Union, uphold its Constitution,
and enforce the duty of obedience to the laws."

A singular preparation for a Thanksgiving day in Boston! But on that
festival, Gentlemen, three Unitarian ministers thanked God that the
fugitive slave bill would be kept in all the land!

Several speeches were made at the meeting, some by Whigs, some by
Democrats, for it was a "Union meeting," where Herod and Pilate were
made friends. Gentlemen, I must depart a little from the severity of
this defence and indulge you with some of the remarks of my
distinguished opponent, Hon. Attorney Hallett: then he was merely a
lawyer, and fugitive slave bill Commissioner, appointed "to take bail,
affidavits," and colored men,--he was only an expectant Attorney. His
speech was a forerunner of the "Indictment" which has brought us
together. Hearken to the words of Mr. Hallett in his "preparatory
lecture:"--

"We can now say that there is no law of the United States
which cannot be executed in Massachusetts. If there was any
doubt before, _there can be no doubt now_; and if there be
any wild enough hereafter to resort to a fancied 'Higher
Law' to put down law [that is, the fugitive slave bill],
they will find in your determined will a stronger law to
sustain _all the laws of the United States_." "The
threatened nullification comes from Massachusetts upon a law
[the fugitive slave bill] which the whole South insist is
_vital to the protection of their property and industry_
[much