November 28, 1835
Under the Refuge of Oppression column, is a notice from the American Baptist:
The Baptist General Tract Society, noting that “one of our traveling agents has been active in promoting the views of Abolitionists while engaged in our employ”, the Board resolves: that its agents shall in “no way intermeddle with that question while in the commission of this Society.”
Nov 21, 1835
Under the Refuge of Oppression section, comments from other parts of the country, including one which insists that G incites such mob action in order to gain sympathy for his cause. Comments on the Mayor’s role continue, some supportive of him.
Nov 14, 1835
Includes a long piece by “Hancock”, stating that the Mayor had in fact been a “co-operator with that ruffian mob.”, very critical of the Mayor. Also includes items for local papers, and individuals.
Nov 7, 1835
The introduction to the piece gives a summary of the some of the issues which Garrison sees raised by the mob action:
“Triumph of Mobocracy in Boston — Prostration of the Civil Power – Supression of the Liberty of Speech —Ruffianism of the Press –Public Insult to Female Benevolence and Piety – A Citizen, guiltless of crime, ignominiously dragged through the streets , and for self-preservation committed to jail, and finally obliged to leave the city to save his life — &c.&c “
At one point in his description, G tells of an abolitionist brother who, under the pressure of the crowd, vows that he will henceforth give up his non-resistance principles. Garrison says to him, “Hold, my brother! …. This is the trial of our faith, and the test of our endurance. Of what value or utility are the principles of peace and forgiveness, if we may repudiate them in the hour of peril and suffering? Do you wish to become like one of those violent and blood-thirsty men who are seeking my life? Shall we give blow for blow and array sword against sword? God forbid! …..If my life be taken, the cause of emancipation will not suffer. God reigns; his throne is undisturbed by this storm — he make the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder he will restrain – his omnipotence will at last be victorious….”
October 24, 1835
The account is told in several books, much as told here. There is an account from the Boston Daily Advocate, and one from C.C. Burleigh, and other shorter comments.
There is a copy of a handbill which had been posted about the city on Wednesday afternoon, the day of the meeting at which this all occurred.
The handbill:
THOMPSON
The Abolitionist
That infamous foreign scoundrel Thompson, will hold forth this afternoon, at the Liberator office, No. 48 (sic) Washington Street. The present is a fair opportunity for the friends of the Union to snake Thompson out! It will be a contest between the Abolitionists and the friends of the Union. A purse of $100 has been raised by a number of patriotic citizens to reward the individual who shall first lay violent hands on Thompson, so that he may be brought to the tar kettle before dark. Friends of the Union, be vigilant!
September 19, 1835
Excerpt from the Richmond Enquirer. This appears in the section of the paper, titled, Refuge of Oppression, a section which had previously been named, Slavery Record,
And contains proslavery views:
“……..Every sane man in the northern states surely requires no argument to convince him, that the project of abolition and intermixture with the whites is too revolting to all our sensibilities, and too pernicious to the very safety of the South, to be entertained for a single moment.
“What then do those madmen desire? To excite a spirit of dissatisfaction among the slaves? to shed our blood? and to cause torrents of theirs to flow in the south?
“The South, therefore appeals in the most respectful spirit to the North. Will you permit these vile fanatics to go in their audacious career? —Will you suffer your soil to be used for the purpose of planting the lever to agitate ours? We call upon you to interfere. As citizens of the same Republic; as bound to carry out in good faith the theory of the compact which binds us together, we beseech to put down these incendiaries? What would you say if your own operatives were to become discontented and rebellious !! threatening your houses with the torch and your families with the knife……”
September 12, 1835
Two Epistles appear, with warnings of danger for Garrison:
The first professes to be from a Bostonian, calls the Editor a damned rascal, warns that the paper is doomed, and those connected with it “are to be supplied with a plentiful coat of Tar and feathers”.
The other is from a Marylander, and a resident of Philadelphia…., with a kind and sympathetic tone…..”..Your life is sought after, and a reward of twenty thousand dollars has been offered by six Mississippians for your head…….Be aware of the assassin. May God protect you.”
Sept 5, 1835
Here also is a long letter from WLG to Harrison Gray Otis, responding to a speech Otis has made against abolitionists.
Sept 5, 1835
Three Selectmen of the town of Canaan deny a published statement that the citizens of the town support the school. Then follows an account of the removal of the school.
This is the story of the vote at a Town Meeting, held July 31, at which there was a vote to remove the school, and a committee appointed to discharge that duty, “the performance of which, they believe the interest of the town, the honor of the state, and the good of the whole community, (both black and white) required without delay.” Then follows the account of how three hundred people, with ninety to one hundred oxen, carried out the work “with very little noise, considering the number engaged, until the building was safely landed on the common near the Baptist meeting-house, …..” The account claims the duty to have been carried out in the “spirit of ‘75”, and in memory of those who have fought and fell struggling for liberty.
July 25, 1835
From Boston Chronicle & Reformer :
On O’Connell: “This is the not the first time this brawling demagogue has spouted forth his foul-mouthed calumnies upon our blessed land……”
Then a copy of a placard, posted in various parts of NY City, on the morning of May 13, referring to the annual meeting of the AASS: “These mischievous and deluded fanatics are again at work, endeavoring to create a civil disturbance in our country ……”