Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-01-24

that business. He then produced letter which
he said he had received from the Attorney Gener-
al Of that State, and read to me parTo9s1itr in
! which the writer urged the avoidance OF a resort
to lyllcting, saying that it would disgrace the city,
and adding, that he did not know on whom he
could call with more propriety than on the sheriff
to prevent this process. After reading this part of
the letter. he said that it was unnecessary to read
the rest; that he should endeayor at the hazard of
his life to defend me, but he added that he doubt
ed whether he could do it. He repeated several
times and with good earnestness that the citizens
regarded my mission as great insult from Massa-
chuselts; that they were in state of great excite
ment, aud that, az a friend, he would advise me,
as the only means of safety to leave the city as
soon rs possible. gave him substantially the
same answer as above stated, and after one of the
aldermen had offered to give me receipt for the
papers, if desired it, which told him was I'M
necessary, they left me, saying the papers should
be returned by nine o'clock the next morning.
On Tuesday morning ! waited at my lodgings
until about ten O'Clock, and not hearing from the
sheriff. walked out, and soon met him on horse
back, coming as he said, to return my papers -
! After delivering them to me, he repeated the re-
j.. marks he had made on the preceding evening, on
the danger incurred by remaining in the city,
After stating in strong terms, and in an earnest
manner, the excited state Of the city, and my dan
ger, he said, What do you eXpecti You can
never get verdict, and if you should, the Mar
shall would need all the troops in the United States
to enforce the Judgment" | answered that that
was not my business; that my business was, if |
could, to procure Judgment. We then separat-
| ed, and returned soon to my lodgings.
In the course of the forenoon, four or five gen
tlemen called on me as friends, prolessing-and |
have no doubt truIy-to disapprove the threat.
ened violence Of the citizens but confirming what
the sheriff had told me respecting the commotion
/ in thn oit tIhoV ipfo Of bo rio
plans in agitation Of riding the city of my pres
ence. The mdest and most lenicnt measure
which they mentioned was, that should lie taken
on board of one of the New York packets, and
sent to New York | told them if that was the
manner in which was to be disposed of, should
prefer being sent by the Wilmington boat and the
/ land route, by which had come to the city but
that could not voluntarily leave the city until |
had performed the business upon which | was
sent. Their statements did not materially differ
in anything else, from those made by the sheriff.
! In the evening of the same day. a gentleman to
whom had received a letter of Introduction from
friend in Boston, called on me, aud said that the
sheriff had offered, if would leave the city, that
he would, to use his eXPresson agree on case, to
be submitted to the Circuit Court of the United
States first and then carried to the Supreme
Court for final decision. | told him that would
do it; that had no desire to remain in the city af-
ter my business should be accomplished, and the
sheriff having before informed me that he hadlhen
nolctzen of Massachusetts in his custody, OBJ
served that if we could agree on statement of
facts, it would very much expedite my departure.
had procured in Boston Il number Of the names
Of coOred seamen, who had been taken out of
Massachusetts vessels at Charleston, and there
imprisoned under the law in question, in the name
of either of two Of whom felt authorised to com
mcncc a suit. 1t was agreed between my inform
er and me, that should meet number Of gentle
men at the sheriff's Office, the next morning at 8
O'Clock, for the purpose of attemptng'tO make this
arrangement. At about O'Clock the next morn
| ing, which was Wednesday, accordingly went to
! the sherif's office, Lut found neither the Sheriff
nor any other of the gentlemen, there. was in
formed by one Of the sherf1's clerks, that he had
stepped out on some business, but would probably
return in few minutes. | waited probably halt
or three quarters of an hour, and he not returning
| was about to leave the office, and the clerk said
| if would name an hour when | would be there
he would inform the sheriff, and he probably
would then meet me- named twelve O'Clock
and at that time returned to the Office, and there
! found the sheriff. On stating TO him the arrange
mcnt which was made on the preceding evening
he said that the gentlemen had represented cor
recty his proposal, but that on farther reflection
and consultation he must retract the offer that
he might by that course thwart the purposes Of
the State; and beside that he had not been long
in office, and he did not know that there was a.
ny case which would properly present the qucs-
ton to be tried, but however that might be- he
could not execute the agreement At this meet
ing he informed me that Governor Hammond
had given some assurances at Columbia, which
removed all personal objections to me, but repeat
ed, in substance, what he had before said Of the
insult by Massachusetts, in sending any person
there on such business, and their determination
TO rid themselves of me by some means.
On leaving the 8beir's office, I was going tC
a house more distant from my lodgings than the
office. When had proceeded not more thar
one or two rods from the door, man decent,
dressed, and ofmiddle age, with cane Or cluI
grasped firmly in his hand, came up to me anc
said, els your name IIoar" answered eyes
He then said, "You had better be travelling ant
the sooner the better for you, can tell you; i
you stay here until tomorrow morning you will
not like, Pm thinking" He did not strike, no
offer to strike, but his manner was even more in
solent than his language. | made no reply, bu
walked on tothe place for which had started
On my return by the Office, short time after,
did not see this man. Anumber of young mel
assembled on the opposite corner of the street
by whom passed without any moestation.
About two or halfpast two o'clock on the same
day, DR. Whitredge, to whom had been intro
duced by letter roma friend fhis in Boston
with whom had conversed several times, an,
who when the excitement first commenced, hat
said he did not think the citizens would proceed
to acts ofviolence called on me at my lodgings
This gentleman, not yet an old man, had beer
in the army during nearly the whole of the late
war with England and for some time after its clos
now as was informed, at the head of his pro
fession as physician in the city and sustaining
as high and pure character as any man il
Charleston. | mention his character and stand
ing to show the ground of confidence in him. HI
requested meto 90 where we might be by ourseve
and seemed anxious lest we should be overheard