State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-08-02
From the Herald Of Freedom
LYNCH LAW CONDEMNED, OR
MOBOCRACY DOWN AND LAW
UP IN VERMONT

Mir KIMBALL: 1t will be recollected
by the readers of the Herald of Freedom,
that gave some account last November OF
mob in this place while was delivering
lecture on the shocking abomination" OF
this land, slavery.
The three principal mobocrats were ar
rested shortly after their valiant attempt,
last fall, to "stop" the lecturer in the exer-
else of his inalienable rights. They were
taken before Justice James Abbot, assisted
by Esq. Tucker. These Justices under
stood their duty quite as well as Mr. JUS
tce Leavitt and his associates, of Pittsfield
notoriety; and understanding their duty,
they had the honesty and the courage to do
it, and bound over the mobocrats, not in
deed 10 the "house of correction" but TO
appear before the Court of Common Pleas,
for the County of Orange, held at Chelsea
in December. At that time the Grand Ju-
ny found u true bill against them ALL AS
they were not ready for trial, it was post
poned till June.
When these riolators of human rights
came to court, they manifested desire to
settle without trial. BY the consent of the
parties and tie Judge, Collamer, they con-
cluded TO ackno wledge judgment, pay costs,
and by agreement, fine of one cent Shortly
after this arrangement, some of their sup
posed advisers arrived, and they concluded
10 stand trial.
The testimony was heard against them;
only a part of the witnesses testifying, as
the Judge informed the States Attorney
that it was unnecessary unless there was
some testimony to invalidate what was al
ready given.
The defendants employed three lawyers.
One of them, in his defence of his CLIENTS,
advocated the doctrine of the Post Master
General last year, the substance of which
was, ave owe obligation to the laws, but n
higher one TO the communities in which
we live, and if the former be perverted to
DESTROY the latter, it is PATRIOTISM to
disregard them" While the Lawyer was
presenting this doctrine to the Jury. and
ampliiying it by dwelling upon the patriotism
of his clients, -"Stop," said the Judge, "we
can't have such doctrine delivered TO a Jury
we sit here, not to violate law, but to ere
cute it," The lawyer made several attempts
to drag out his doctrine before the Jury by
varying his language hut the Judge as
often called him 10 order. The lawyer also
undertook to set up the plea, that the meet
ing disturbed was not a religious one. The
even if it was a caucus or any political
meeting, -whatever might he the object I;
though it were to plot the dissolution Of The
Union, no mob is to be allowed to break it
up,-the law is open in such cases, and the
law is only to he rcsorted to.
The above is not pretended to he the
precise words used, but the sense only
The Judge, it is said, delivered most able
and interesting charge to the Jury, in which
he took an extended view of the Mobocra-
cy and Lynching business of the present
day. He did himself am told, much hon
or in the eyes of all law-loving men.
The Charge has been requested for pub
LEGATION, and a hope is entertained that you
will be favored with it to lay before your
readers. The Jury were out but short
time, and returned verdict against the
mobocrats TO pay fine and cost; the whole
amounting to one hundred and seventy dol
lars.
The poor men, not being prepared with
cash to settle on the spot, had the alternative
TO get bondsnen or go to Jail. One of the
men, who is supposed to have advised
them to stand trial after they were disposed
to settle, cleared out, through fear that he
might be called upon for his name to make