The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-04
EXCITEMENT IN BALTIMORE.

rstions for the Pacific railroad. FRANKLIN.
EXCITEMENT IN BALTIMORE.
On Sunday afternoon, the cath ult., blind
preacher, named John Mitchell, who has been
in the habit of preaching in the markets of
that city for years, was interrupted in his dis
course at the Richmond market, by a number
of city policemen, who stated that they had
orders to prevent the meeting Officer Cord.
shell seized the preacher by the arm, and
threatened to take him to the station house,
unless he desisted Some of the citizens pres
emit demonstrated at this effort to suppress
religious meeting; whereupon Gordshell, it is
said, drew revolver upon the crowd, and
threatened to fire. In the mean time the
preacher was led to the portico of the Meth
odist Episcopal (Strawbridge) Church, where
he finished bis discourse A large number of
persons who witnessed the affair, called on
Mayor Hollins and obtained hearing on the
following morning. A committee appointed
at public meeting of the citizens waited upon
the Mayor, who informed them that he consid-
cred the blind preachers remarks inhamma-
tory, with a tendency to create riot and accord
ingly he had authorized the police to stop such
proceedings. The following inerrogatories
were put to his honor by the committee:
LIST. Should portion Of the citizens of this
city hold public temperance meeting in any
of the market-places, and the speaker were to
use language in the discussion of his subject
which should conflict with the interests of a
certain class, the liquor dealers, and riot
should ensue, who would you hold responsible
for the riot, and who would be arrested His
Honor answered promptly, the speaker would
be held responsible, and he be arrested
"2d. Should minister of the gospel preach
in his own church, and utter sen fences distaste-
full to persons outside, and they the outsiders,
create riot in consequence, who would be
held responsible for the riot His Honor an
swered the minister; and he would be taken
out of his pulpit, if he used language that
should give offence to any
"9d. Should minister of the gospel, in the
discharge Of his ministerial functions in preach
ing what he believed to be the truth, use lam
guage which should give offence, though not
intended, and persons, taking exception thereto
should create riot, who would you hold re.
sponsible for the riot His Honor again an.
swered, the minister
"4th. Will your Honor please to inform us
who is to be the judge of the import of the Ian
guagc used! His honor answered the minis
ter, Of course; and added-If however, the
language used by the minister should create a
riot, then he would be held responsible for it.
Signed, Rob. T. Smith, H. C. Smith.
h. Rowles, John H. Miller,
John G. Wimot ]. S. Speightz.
.-s Vim. Paul, 49,
The meeting denounced the conduct of the
Mayor, as giving official countenance to mob
laws" and advised the arrest of the parties
who disturbed the meeting under the laws OF
Maryland for the protection of religious meet
ings. The'aAfair has created considerable feel
ing.
LArER.--In reply to a note addressed to him
by the committee of citizens Mayor Holm,
replied as follows;
1t is my duty, and shall endeaycr, to the
best of my ability, whenever the occasion shall
arise requiring my interposition, to protect
each and every citizen in the enjoyment and
exercise of freedom Of discussion provided,
that in the exercise of that right he or they
shall not disturb The good order, peace, and safe
ty Of the State Each citizen will readily per.
ceive that the law has defined the inestimable
privilege within limits consistent with the pub
lie peace.n
This was read to an adjourned meeting of
the citizens of Baltimore, who deemed II salts
factory, and the disturbance thus ended.