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THE UNION ENDANGERED.

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On Saturday evening, the notorious kidnapper, Asa O. Butman, of Boston, who has covered his name with Infamy by taking the lead in the kidnapping of Shadrach, Simms, and Burns, upon the free soil of Massachusetts, came to this city and took lodings at the American House. After supper, he visited the armory of the City Guards, and other places, evidently in search of information relative to some matter connected with his line of business. Early on Sunday morning, the members of the Vigilance Committee were apprised of the presence of the kidnapper, by a member of the Boston Vigilance Committee, who happened to be stopping at the house, and who has taken an active part in the suppression of kidnapping, from the case of Shadrach down to the recent case at Bath, Me. Handbills were at once issued to warn the colored population of their danger, and the plans and purposes of the scoundrel were the chief topic of conversation through the city. It was ascertained that he had been in consultation with one of the city police, and that communications were being kept up by telegraph with other places. He had also taken council with two or three lawyers of the same stripe with himself, who had insulted the community by parading the streets with him arm and arm. - At noon, a committee of citizens waited upon the landlords of the American House, for the purpose of informing them of the character of their guest, and requesting, in the name of many citizens, that they would advise him to seek safety by removing his quarters to some other location. We understand that Mr. Tucker, the senior proprietor of the house, was absent; but Mr. Bonney, the junior partner, declined to take any action in the matter.

In the evening, an Anti-Slavery meeting, which had been previously called, was in session at the City Hall, and the presence of Mr. Butman in the city was alluded to by several speakers. An attempt was made to get up a committee to watch the American House near the close of the meeting; but it being generally understood that the whole matter was in the hands of the regular vigilance committee, it was not carried through. At the adjournment of the meeting, a large crowd assembled in the vicinity of the American House, but no demonstrations of violence were made. At a later hour in the evening, a delegation from the vigilance committee took their positions about the house, in order to watch the premises, and keep an eye on Butman’s movements. One or two members of the vigilance committee also succeeded in effecting an entrance to the house for the purpose of familiarizing themselves with the features of the noted bloodhound, and in order the better to watch his movements.

The committee kept their posts through most of the night, but no disturbance was made, with perhaps, the exception of an occasional ringing of the house bell, which brought the landlord to the door, long enough to hold a parley with the outsiders, or to interchange civilities. Towards morning, during one of these interviews between the landlord and the populace, Butman, who had not dared to retire to rest, began to get a little excited, and drew a pistol from his pocket, threatening death and destruction to his opponents. This fact was communicated to those outside, and at about three o’clock a complaint was made against Butman, before Justice Howe, for carrying concealed weapons, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on the charge. Officer Warren served the process with alacrity, and at about four o’clock, the committee of vigilance, feeling the fullest assurance that the kidnapper would be well taken care of, retired to their respective homes.

In the morning, the intelligence of the arrest spread through the city, and hundreds left their usual avocations to catch a glimpse of a man so noted in the annals of inhumanity and crime. At the usual hour of the opening of the court Butman was brought in. W. W. Rice, Esq., and Adin Thayer, Esq., appeared for the Commonwealth, and H. D. Stone, Esq., for the prisoner. After a brief hearing before Justice Green, by request of prisoner’s counsel, the case was continued for two weeks, and Mr. Butman was held to answer in the sum of one hundred dollars for his appearance. The crowd had all this time been increasing. The court room was thronged with people, and there was quite a collection outside. Inflammatory language was freely used, and shouts of derision and loud outcries, such as "bring out the kidnapper," "kill the scoundrel," &c., were not unfrequent.

Mr. Butman implored assistance from City Marshal Baker, and that gentleman, out of pity for his forlorn condition, tendered his private room as a place of refuge, in the northeast corner of the building. Considerable indignation was expressed by the crowd, against Marshal Baker, and that officer came out upon the steps to expostulate against the disturbance, but apparently without effect. Shortly after, Mr. Baker stepped out of doors on some business, leaving several policemen on duty in the entry, but he had no sooner done so, than his office door was opened by the foremost of a gang of six or seven colored men, all of whom rushed in, and one of them dealt Butman a blow upon his knowledge box, that felled him to the ground. Marshal Baker at this moment re-entered his room, and seized the assailant of Mr. Butman, and made him a prisoner.

Butman and the colored man, were then locked up in the Marshall’s Office, together and one or two citizens were placed on guard, inside, while the Marshal again came out to allay the excitement, and look after the crowd. While busily engaged in the performance of his duty, as a preserver of the public peace, a shout was heard upon the outside, and it was soon discovered that the colored assailant of Butman, had escaped by the window, having jumped a distance of some ten or twelve feet, to the sidewalk. All these occurrences served to add to the excitement, and the multitude continued to increase, and the tumult, also. In about an hour after the escape of the colored man, Geo. F. Hoar. Esq., came out of the Marshal’s Office, and standing upon the steps of the building, addressed the crowd. He said, as near as we can recollect:

"Fellow Citizens: It is some ten years ago, that my father and sister were driven out of Charleston South Carolina, by an infuriated mob of slaveholders, because, in obedience to a commission issued by the authority of the State of Massachusetts, he had gone thither to test, in the courts of the United States, the validity of those laws under which they imprison our citizens, for no crime but the color of their skins; and none of you I think will accuse me of having any great sympathy for slaveholders. It is gratifying to see such a feeling of indignation manifested against an individual whose acts have rendered him so odious in your eyes; but yet I trust none of you have come here to do him any personal violence .- Even in Charleston, low and degraded as the majority of its citizens are, some persons were found to sustain the majesty of the law; and to their interference, my father and sister owed the preservation of their lives. Let it not be said of us, citizens of Worcester, that we have less respect for law and order than was manifested by them. Let us remember that the cause we all have so much at heart, cannot but suffer, if we engage in acts of violence against this obnoxious and odious individual, who, whatever may have been his past course, assures me that he came here with no intention of molesting a slave. Believing that your sentiments upon this subject are in unison with mine, I have ventured to assure Mr. Butman, in your behalf, that he may depart from the city unmolested and in peace; and I have offered to accompany him to the depot, so that he may leave by the earliest train."

Mr. Hoar’s remarks were warmly applauded by some, but others shook their heads, and there was talk of tar and feathers, and the colored men growled their dissatisfaction, in smothered words of indignation and hate.

Shortly after the delivery of this brief harangue, Mr. Hoar re-entered the building, and immediately came out again with Mr. Butman upon his arm. The crowd upon the steps gave way, but the two had no sooner descended to the side-walk, than a rush was made by a portion of the crowd, for the kidnapper. - Finding that there was need of a larger escort in order to protect the prisoner, Rev. Mr. Higginson introduced himself to the chop-fallen fugitive, and with the remark that he would stand by him to protect him, he took his other arm in his own. Several blows were aimed at the head of Mr. Butman, which were warded off by his escort, and just at this juncture, finding that there would probably be some warm work, Messrs. Martin Stowell, Stephen S. Foster and others came to the rescue, and the retreat was continued, about six hundred people following in pursuit. All along on the route repeated efforts were made by the colored men, and others, to take Butman out of the hands of his escort, but, they made a desperate defence, and assisted by a few of the Worcester Policemen and other citizens, they were enabled by dint of great exertions to keep the crowd partially at bay. Occasionally, however, an egg would break about the face and head of the fugitive, and just at the corner of Trumbull and Front Sts., a powerful negro succeeded in planting a tremendous blow behind Butman’s left ear, which made him stagger like a drunken man. There was a momentary halt at this juncture, and a desperate struggle ensued, for the custody of the prisoner, which resulted in the triumph of the kidnapper’s abolition friends, and again the cortege passed on. The excitement was all this time increasing, and by the time the crowd had reached the depot of the Western R. R., more than a thousand persons were assembled. It was then ascertained, that the cars had gone, and here was an unexpected dilemma. Various propositions were made for the disposal of the kidnapper. Some said, "kill him," and put him out of his misery, while others counselled a ride on a rail, or on a special engine out of the city.

Finally, as the case seemed a desperate one, and as the struggle seemed to be rather unequal, it was decided to store Mr. Butman in the depot privy; and by dint of great exertions, he was got into that depository, and the door was closed upon him and his escort, a strong guard being placed without. Stephen S. Foster presently came forth and stated to the multitude, that Mr. Butman had solemnly promised that he would leave, and never come to Worcester again, if he could be left alone now. He said that such a promise was a victory won for freedom, and he hoped no one would mar the triumph by any farther acts of violence. Mr. Hoar and other citizens also stated that Mr. Butman had made the pledge to them, as stated by Mr. Foster, in their presence; and these declarations seemed partially to appease the excited multitude. Still, as there was a strong disposition manifested to do him further violence, it was thought prudent to remove him from the privy, and the City Marshall procured a wagon to be brought around to the back door for the purpose. - As soon as the door was opened, another rush was made by a band of infuriated negroes, upon Mr. Butman, and he received another severe blow upon his head, and one or two kicks behind him; but he was finally got into the wagon. The horse proved to be a skittish one, and would not start; and as delays were getting to be dangerous, a hack was procured by order of the Marshal, and into it, the poor, abject, debased, degraded, and trembling white fugitive was hustled, and Rev. Mr. Higginson took a seat by his side.

The driver applied the braid to his horses, and soon the veteran was beyond the reach of his pursuers, a stone from an unknown hand thrown through the window of the coach, being the parting salutation. All accounts agree in describing Butman during these scenes, as the most complete impersonation of cowardice and fear they ever beheld. He freely admitted that he was indebted for his life to the abolitionists of Worcester, and as his own personal friends in the city deserted him at the first appearance of danger, there can be little doubt that he owes his preservation to their heroic and disinterested exertions in his behalf.

The City Marshal and police did their duty manfully, but, so great was the disparity of numbers, that they would have been quite overborne and powerless, but for the moral influence of those men, who periled their own lives to shield the kidnapper from the righteous indignation of the people, he had dared to insult, by his loathsome presence. We trust, that Butman will keep his word "never to return to Worcester again." If he has no regard for his word, as some say, we hope bodily fear will prompt him to keep his distance, and in the meantime, if Frank Pierce, or Ben Hallett have any business with our citizens, that requires the presence of an officer, to serve subpoenas and writs, we will hope that they will secure the services of a more respectable emissary, than Asa O. Butman.