The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-11-13


number OF the True American, was Ia
ken sick with The Typhoid fever.
Whilst | lay PROSTATE with disease, ii
was told me few minutes before o.
clock, of the fourteenth day OF August
that there was TO be, held at that hour, a
meeting of the citizens at the Court
House, in Lexington, for the purpose oil
suppresSing the True American. / im>
mediately rose and dressed myself and in
opposition to the circumstances of my
family, and at the risk of my life from the
exerton, determined TO confront my en-
emies face to face, and vindicate my cause
at all hazards. Al the Court house
found about thirty individuals, Including a
few who came in after | left their names
were taken down by couple of friends s.
are now in my possession. All these men
had grown from political opponents TO
personal enemies because ofmy devotion
TO The Wing cause. except two, "a Wing"
and 'Junlus," who were influenced no
doubt by feelings Of revenge on account of
the casiga,ion which had given them in
the first number of the True American,
Tor their menace of the murderous infIcl-
ion of Lynch law. After silence OF a.
bout bali an hour, E, @ Sayre said, he
would speak out usl The same as if was
not present he was for suppressing the
True American as libelous, by legal
means. Henry Johnson, cotton planter,
and the brother of R. NJ Johnson, said he
understood this meeting was to have been
equally composed of Wings and Demo-
Gratis, and for one he would take no ac>
ton concerning this Abolition press, un-
less the Wings came up boldly and shared
the responsibility, Thos. F. Marshall.
the apostate Wing, aud late hybrid can>
didale for Congress, saIdshe understood
this to be d public meeting. and was here
by an inhalation be held the True Amer.
lean in his hand, aud would read what he
conceived to be the cause Of the public ex-
element. He then read the article writ.
len by me, and took his seat.
Up 10 this period, no Wing had made
his appearance. D NJ. Craig now made
his entrance; he was a Wing but the
supposed author Of "a Wing" as before
stated. He was in a most lachrymose
mood-avowed himself my personal friend
but at The same time his determination
TO use musket against my l(e,--he said
this was private meeting, and in this he
was DANGEROUSLY seconded by The whole
mass. During all this time lay upon q
bench, only at intervals being able to sci
up. said | was far from in!ruding my
self upon any sci of men tina, | had I'm
dcrstood this was public meeting--l
threw myself upon their magnanimry-l
acknowledged | was in the midst oil enc
mics, yet trusted | would be allowed 10
explain The article read by Mr.. Mar
shall, which from his few comments
found was utterly misconceived, and tor
turcd from lis true meaning. was
promptly refused hearing. Faint, and
with lips paTched, turned to T. F. Mar
shalt, as the most chivaric Of my enemies
ID man whom | had net but few
months before in this same Court House,
in the presence Of an impartial audience
of my countIymen, and driven to the
walIs,upon this sane subject OF the liberties
of men--a man from whom | had exlort-
ed an open avowal, 'rhat he had Quitting
his hand 10 his hearty The most profound
respect for the gentleman and his Opin-
IONS md arguments, so neto, and strong,
as 10 demand his more deliberate consider
alton" Who coldIy replied: "That he
had no more power here than |, being a
single individual" | then protested a.
gainst his construction OF my writings and
retired.
Exhausted Ivy this effort, returned
once more to my bed. But feeling the
necessity of meeting the vindictive mach
nations of my enemies, dictated a hand
bill to the people, mo. ~ which was
taken down by my wife; explaining the
offensive editorial and asking a suspension
of public opinion and action, ill my
health would allow me to be heard.+
On the morning of the 18Th of August,
George r. Trotter, Judge of the city Of
Lexington, issued legal process enjoin-
ing the True American office and a II its
appurtenances, and on demand ] yielded
up The keys to the city marshall. Az IL
O'clock, on the same day about twelve
hundred persons assembled in the Court
House yard a Chairman and Secretary
were appointed ID manifesto and resolu>
lions were reported by Il. F. Marshall,
and adopted. A committee of sixty were
appointed to take down the press and type,
and send them TO Cincinnati. The com
mittee proceeded to the True American
office, where the mayor of the city, (who
by law has the whole militia of the city
at his command James Logue, warned
them that they were doing an illegal act,
which he was bound to resist but that be
was overpowered by superior force, and
yielded up possession aud the keys. After
boxing up the press and type, and all the
furniture of the office and sending them
to Cincinnati, they reported again to the
meeting a; the Courthouse, at 3 o'clock !;