State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-29
From the Boston Advocate.
APPLICATION OF GAG-LAW.

yesterday, before Committee, in the Re
Hall, which, if sanctioned by
the Legislature, establishes u precedent
OH the Bill of Rights, on freedom
of discussion and petition and makes the
people of Massachusetts meaner slaves than
the serfs of Russia. We never Witnessed
a deeper, though respectfully suppressed,
feeling of whitening moral Indignation,
than that which fell upon MIR Senator Lunt,
a very young man, and an inconsiderable
LAWYER who, rs chairman of the committee,
assumed tyrannical dictation, which
would have disgraced Pacha with three
tails, in his treatment OF Christian dogs, III
summoned before him for the bastnado.
The committee of whom were present,
Yesterday, Senator Lunt, Messrs. Mosely,
Lucas, and Corbett, of the House, have
had referred to them that part of Governor
Everett's address relating to abolition, and
also the resolutions from South Carolina,
insolently demanding of this sovereign
State, tho passage Of a gag-law against our
citizens. The Anti-Slayery Society pre-
sented memorial to the Legislature tesir-
| ing to be heard in full before that Commit
/ tee, which was granted, and the memorial
referred to the Committee of which Sena-
tor Lunt is Chairman. Yesterday afternoon
the Hall was filled with ladies and gentle
men to hear the abolitionists address the
committee. Among those present, were DIR
Charming, L. IL. Perkins, Francis Jackson,
George Bond, George Odiorne, Colonel
SWEET, George Blake, and many other
prominent citizens. The committee were
addressed with pungent eloquence, and in
the most rational, respectful and orderly
manner, by Rev. Mr. May, Mr. Sewall,
Professor Follen, of Harvard University,
and MIR Goodell, exhibiting the views and
acts OF the aboIitionlsts and the reasons
why no acts should be passed by the Leg
:, islature, either to stop their mouths, or CEN
sure them as citizens.
The Chairman, Mr. Lunt, exhibited a
paltry spirit ofcaptiousness throughout, and
when Professor Follen, who spoke in the
f miIdest and most gentIemanly manner,
made an alIusion to mobs where Judge
Lynch preslded-he was called to order
by the chairman. Professor +. inquired if
it was considered disrespectful to the com
mitteee to speak disrespectfulIy of mobs
Senator Lunt gravely decided that it was.
The Professor very properly declined going
on, if he could not speak of the tendency
OF any action by the Legislature to incite
mobs against the abolitionists. Mr. Mosely
of Newbury, one Of the Committee, pro.
tested against this decision of Mr. Lunt
who finally was obliged to back out and
let Mr. Follen go on. Mr. Goodell spoke
next, and alluded TO a conspiracy at the
South against the freedom of speech and
the workingmen of the North. Mr. Lun
called him to,,,order Mr. Goodell produ
! ced Governor McDuffie's Message to prove
, what he had said. Mr. Lrnt decided tha
it was disrespcctiul to allude to an officia
document of another State, in this way,
because full faith and credit must be giver
to the records ofanolher State MIR Goodel
replied that he meant to give to it JUS
what it deserved. He then alluded to MI
Senator Calhoun's gag law report in Con
gress, upon which, MIR Lunt, with immense
, dignity, said stop, sir, and decided that the
= Committee would hear no more of this
No person present, but the keen eyed Mr.
: Lunt, could see aught improper or disre
?, spectiul in the language of Mr. Goodell.-
The Aboitionists here took the ground tia
!. the Committee denied them the right to BIZ
I heard. MIR Lunt persisted.
!, Mr. May said that they came there free
men, and they would depart as freemer
|, should, when their rights were denied. Al
intense feeling was excited in the audience
$ by the unheurd of conduct of Mr. Lunt
! which 1t was difficult to repress, though NJ
i disorder broke out. Dir Gamaliel Bradford
not an abolitonist, addressed the commit
tee, most eloquently, for freedom of speech
lie said that every man would be willn!
to fall with the Aboitionists, if the freedom
Of speech was to be put down, through
. them.
h MIR George Bond (of the firm ofWhit
@ well, Bond q co., came forward and be
4 sought the committee to reconsider The
: decision. lie said he was opposed TO abo
: litlonists, had joined in the Faneuil Hal
[ meeting against them, but that such pro
f ceedings as these would make every bod,
|, who valued liberty, friends TO the aboi
v llonists. The constitution was TO be reach
4 ed through them. He had seen and hearC
e nothing which he thought the COMMITTEES
c might not have listened to without infing
: ing their dignity, and it did seem to hin
t that the Committee were rather too fastidi
: Gus.
d Here he was interrupted by the dignifieC
e Chairman who exclaimed, "Be careful
: what you say, sir. The committee will no
a submit to it," When Mr. Bond closed
i voices from the gallery said "Amen" very
= audibly.
i The committee then broke up in mucI
S admired disorder. MIR Mosey said to Nj
= Lunt,-you have been wrong from the be
= ginning; will not sit in such a committee
: entirely disapprove ofyour conduct. NJ
Lucas, we understand also dissented, an,
j. Lunt retired amidst the smothered indig
II nation of the whole assembly.
e Members of the Legislature present, q
: vowed anti -aboitionists, declared they wer
ii ready TO take the subject from this Com
l. mttee and give it TO one who would trea
e citizens with decency. AL present feI