Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-12-07


ion Of Boston, and would even create
mob, is to pronounce The severcst libel
on this city. Ii is 10 assert, that pracc-
full citizens cannot meet here III safety
to strengthen and pledge themselves
against violence and in defence Of the
dearest and most sacred rights. And
has it come to this? Has Boston fallen
80 low? May not its citizens he trusted
TO come together to express the great
principles OF liberty, for which their fa-
ihers died? Are our fellow citizens to
be murdered in the act of defending their
property and of asserting the right of free
discussion; and is it unsafe in this me-
tropolis, once the refuge Of liberty, to,
express adherence ofthe deed? IL such
be our degradation, we ought TO know
the awful truth; and those among US who
retain a portion Of tho spirit of our an
cestors, should set themselves to work 10
recover their degenerate posterity. But
! do not believe in this degeneracy.-,
The people of Boston may be trusted,
There is moral soundness in this COM,
munity on the great points involved in,
the petition which has been rejected
There is among US deep adherence Of
the spirit of violence which is spre aiding
through our land; and from this city
fought to 60 forth voice to awaken The
whole country to its danger,to the grow
ing peril of the substitution Of lawlcss
force for the authority Of the laws This,
in truth, was the great object of those
who proposed the meeting, to bring out
n loud, general expression Of opinion and
feeling, which would awe the spirit Of
mobs and would especially secure the
press from violence. Instead of this
what is Boston now doing? Into what
scale is this city now thrown? Boston
now says to Alton, go on; destroy the
press; put down the liberty Of speech;
and still more murder the citizen who
asserts it; and no united voice shall here
be lifted up against ou, lest like vio-
lence should break forth among our
selves.
1t is this view Of the rejection Of the
petition which deeply moves me. That
petition, bearing my name, should be
denied, would not excite a moments
thought or feeling. But that this city,
. which l have been proud to sall my
home, should be so exhibited to the
world, and should exert this disastrous
influence OF the country, this cannot
meet with Indifference
earnestly hope that my fellow citi-
zens will demand the public meeting
which has been refused, with voice
! which cannot be denied; but unless so
! called, ] do not desire that it should be
held. If not demanded by acclamation,
it would very possibly become lot
/ A government, which announces its ex-
! pectation of Il mob does virtually, though
unintenllonally, summon mob, and
would then cast all The blame Of it on The
crash men" who might become its VIC
tins.
But is there no part ef our country,
where voice Of power shall be lifted up
in defence of rights incomparably more
precious than the temporary interests
which have often crowded Faneuil Hall
to suffice alton? Is the whole country to
sleep' An event has occurred, which
ought to thrill the hearts of this people
as the heart Of one man. A martyr has
fallen among US to the freedom Of the
press. A citizen has been murdered in
defence of the right of free discussion. -
do not ask whether he was christian
or unbelever, whether he was abolition
. ist or colonisationist He has been a,ur-
dered in exercising, what hold to be
, the dearest right Of the citizen. Nor is
10 ncf nC ialo 10 sc, 4 thn
consummation Of long series Of assaults
. on public order, on freedom, on the
, majesty Of the laws. ask, is there mol
y u spot in the country whence a voice OF
a moral reprobation, of patriotic remon-
d. strancc, of solemn warning shall 60 forth
s 10 awaken the slumbering community p
[ There are indeed, in various places,
) meetings Of Anti. Slavery Societies, to
] express their sorrow for fallen brother.
But in these take no part. What
desired was, that the citizens of Boston,
of all parties, should join as one man in
, putting down the reign Of terror by the
force of opinion, and in spreading a
shield over our menaced liberties. felt,
' that the very fact that the majority of the
r people here, are opposed to the peculia,
e opinions OF our murdered fellow citizen
r would give increased authority to oul
1 condemnation of this ferocious deed.
i The principles, on which have acted
j. in this affair, are such as have governed
# my whole life. This is not the first time
5, IN which j have come forward to dcfcnc
: the freedom of opinion, the freedom o.
G speech, the freedom of the press. No
Q a few of my fellow citizens will bea