Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-27
Mob at Washington,

| BY the following which we take from the last Ma
tona! Era, it will be seen that the city of Washing
ton the nations capitol has been made the view of q
most disgraceful procedure, From the eopement Of
some 20 slaves the old spirit of American oppression
was aroused, and in keeping with its long established
usage, it seeks retaliation by resort to violent means
the nlicton of lynch law, the destruction of proper
ty, &C., &c. But what less could we expect. The
child is like the father; partakng his disposition and
nature, and American Slavery being the vilest that
ever the sun, we Of course should look for moth
ing else than that its own children should be as vile,
as wicked and as tiendke as Itself! 1t can maintain
itself in other way. It's wickedness precludes the
possibility of its support from the adoption of OPEN
honorable, manly and just means.
Well if this spirit Of mobocracy which has for a
time been lurking in the bosom of its Legitimate pa
rent must be revealed, we are glad that it has at
length shown ITSELF and that it chose the present ia
vorabe time for doing. We trust it will not be
without its instruction to the mass of northern mind
and worth at present congregated at Washington, but
that they will hail the omen, and view it it is, viz:
q natural result of .lmerican S1auey Let the eaven
work. Slavery is digging its own grave, Though in
prospect it rides in triumph all that is good and
desirable yet we confidently trust that the result will
prove its days nearly numbered.
Thank heaven for the noble stand taken by the pro-
pretor of the Era. Exalted and worthy language
that which he uses to express his determination not to
submit or cover before the scheme of the ruthless
mob Let him be true, and exhibit the spirit and
daring Of northern man, one who never has nor
NEVER CAN wear, in any form, the yoke of such
debasing serility, and slavery will receive blow
which hitherto it has never experienced.
But to give his remarks. H.
"Last Saturday night we learn, some seventy or
eighty slaves escaped from this place. in soop or
schooner, and proceeded down the liver. The fact
was not discovered till next day, when steamboat
was despatched in pursuit The fugitivcs, together
with three white men, who navigated the craft were
caught, brought back, and imprisoned. A great deal
Of excitement the result and the cry soon arose
among the crowd, that the National Era was the cause
Of the mischief Of course, there is no truth in this
not one particle. But, excited men do not inquire
or reason. While we are writing this, at ten o'clock
at night, crowd of men and boys is collected about
the office; many stones have been THROWN but the po-
lice are striving to do their duty They may fall the
multitude may oYerpower them but we hope for the
best We canuot but think that the sober second
thought OF the rngleaders in this affair will arouse
compuncton for this violent assault against the liberty
OF the prcss-a liberty in our which even they
dare not say, has been abused
All we have to say is, we stand by the freedom of
the press, whatever the result.
Wednesday morning, 8 o'clock. The mob dispersed
last night about ~ oclock-thanks to the efficient
conduct of Captain Goddard and the rest of the po-
lice. The rumor that the Office of the National Era
concerned in the escape of the slaves in the Pearl
is utterly groundless--thS its orginators know but
they are willing to use it to nhame popular feeling
against our Press. Whatever we do, we do openly
We cherish an instructive adherence of any move
ment which would involve us in the necessity of con-
cealment, strategy, or trickery of any kind.
No! No! We understand this outrage. 1t is aim
ed at the Freedom of the Press. We own and edit
paper which is as free as the winds of heaven 1t
bows neither to slavery nor to the NIB. We stand
upon our rights as man, and as American citizen,
ana viii use these rights, in speaking and writing
freely upon any subject please, despite all threats
OF violence 1t is damnng disgrace, that at the very
moment we are rejoicing with the people of France
at their triumph over Despot who undertook to en-
stare he press, an attempt should be made to strike
down the freedom of the press in the Capital City