The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-08-01

70 lrlal 0lnerS were tr led IN the most lem
lent manner by the court and Attorney
General, and escaped conviction. Some
three or four who were convicted receiv-
ed sentences Of the mildest character.
For some years past our city has been
disturbed by continual riots, among the
firemen and weavers, accompanied by
most attrocious outra ges, and our public
authorities have been distinguished by a
remarkable failure to arrest and Try the
criminals, especially the fremen.
In, May last, several dwelling houses
and two churches were burned, upon no
pretext, but that persons of the same re-
ligious faith with the proprietors had ac-
ted in that rio!ous spirit, of which they
had had so many encouraging examples.
When the mob was assembled 10 burn
St. Augustine, the Mayor ordered the
military who had come for its defence to
depart; he assured the mob that there
were no persons in the church to defend
1t, and omitted to station any of his own
police there. 1t was burned as a matter
Of course.
Upon the next meeting of the Criminal
Court, Judge Parsons, in charge which
did him much credit, called the attention
Of The Grand Jury to the investigation of
these riots But the jury. conducted the
investigation with manifest partially
They neglected and refused as we are as
sured, TO examine persons who could give
them Information, but who were either
Catholics or of foreign birth and they
made presentTent in which they brave
ly attributed the mob to the attempt to ex-
clude the Bible from the public schools !;
as if such an attempt, freally made, would
be either justification or material palli-
alton of the outrages. In short the pre-
sentiment seemed 10 be palpable gloss
ing over OF the conduct of The mob.
This presentmeEt was followed by
charge from Judge Jones, TO the next
Grand Jury. in which he told them that
our riots proceeded principally from for
eigners, an assertion which we believe
untrue in reference to Philadelphia, and
which iftrue. was peculiarly inappropri-
ate to the occasion.
The opponents of the Catholics and for
eigners were highly pleased with the pre-
sentiment of the Grand Jury, and the
charge Of Judge Jones. They considered
them as proof that the official aulhor-
ties took their side in the controversy
and tits extensively believed, that the last
and greatest riot in Southwark, would not
have taken place, were it not for the en-
enlargement thus afforded.
In connection with our general subject
We may here mention, that within the
last two years, Governor Porter pardon
ed. even before sentence, several persons
who had been found guilty of mobbing
an abolition lecturer, and assauting and
breaking the windows of the house of
friend with whom he lodged. This par
don was not founded on the pretext that
the lecturer had violated auy law,-but
only that his doctrines were not acceptable
10 the mob and the Governor.
From this sketch it appears evident that
the state of intolerable anarchy 10 which
we have at last arrived, might have been
reasonably anticipated from the causes
that were in operation. That the first,
and the main cause, was the recognition,
by great portion of the people including
many Of the clergy, the professional men
the politicians and the public authorities,
of the doctrine, that the rights of men
were unequal-lhat a portion of society
might be lramplei on at pleasure by other
portions. The doctrine that black men
were by birth the righlful subjects of OPP
preston naturally led 10 the extension of
the same principle TO foreigners. The
idea that aboltionisls were entitled 10 no
protection, because their doctrines were
unpaIatable, was naturally extended to
Catholics, whose doctrines were equally
to sectarians, Almost every
class and every sect of men, are response.
BILE for the mischief; for almost every
class and sect have encouraged mob vio-
lence, when it was directed against what
they deemed the right objects. And es-
peciaIly guilty are the public authorities,
from the Governor down TO the Constable
and Watchmap, not only for having neg.
iec,ed to enforce the law, but for having
given positive encouragement by word
and deed to its violators.
We may hope that recent events will
produce such change of opinion and
feeling that an end may be put to the reign
of terror and prescription. TO acceller.
ate this happy result, it is the duty of eve
~ man to set his face resouteIy against
all manner Of religious, political aud per-
sonsl intolerance and to maintain to the
full that equality Of rights, and of claims
10 benevolence, which is alike the doctrine
Of the New Testament and OF the Declare.
lion Of Independence.
SINGULAR PHENOMENON. On We'd
nesday afternoon, a Well on the premises |
of Jacob Stephens, in Lyme, commenced
overAowing and still continues with undi'
miniShed force. 1t is estimated that the