Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-06
Distinguished Rioters.

Three persons are now ON trial in Boston be-
fore the United States circuit court for partici'
patton IN the Burns riot Their names are Wen
dell Phillips, Thomas W. Higginson, and Theodore
Parker--the first, a lawyer; the other two, eler-
gymen. Phillips and Higginson are both gradu-
ates Of Harvard University, and Parker is gradu-
ate Of the Divinity School attached to the same
institution. Phillips is member OF family dis
tinguished for more than a century in Massachu-
sets, for virtue, intelligence, benevolence, and
wealth. Hgginson is a son OF the late Stephen
Higginson for many years wealthy merchant
and renowned for his philanthropy and who WILDE
remembered by the graduates % Harvard Uniyer-
sity, during the Presidency of DR., Kirkland, as
the dgnihed and courteous Steward of that ancient
institution. Under the shadow almost of its ven
cradle walls was this son of his born--withn them
he was educated, and from his earliest infancy to
the period Of his departure from the Divinity
School to take charge Of parish in the city oil
Worcester, he was in habits OF daily intercourse
with the most refined and cultivated society Of the
State. The Channings. the Jacksons, the Ter
kinses the Cabots, the Farrars, the Eliots, and
others Of the same class were relatives and init
mate friends OF his family. His early environment
was therefore of the most favorable character
| No Young man in the State ever entered upon
the active duties Of le trained under better infiu-
ences for the guidance Of his future career. But,
1 in an evil hour he became an Aboltionist--a fol-
lower of Parker and Garrison--a preacher OF sedi-
tion instead Of christianity; Of fraterna hate ana
discord, instead of brotherly love- On the arrest
of Burns, he deserts his pastoral charge, and hur-
ries to Boston at the head of a band OF fanatical
rioters He encourages them TO resist the officers
of the United States government; the military arr
called out; the riot is suppressed; the law is wind
Gated. After laborious investigation by the autor'
ties, this young clergyman is discovered to-'Ave
been one of the rngleaders Of the mob, am Is IN
dicted for the crime in connection with hbincnus'
the Rev. Theodore Parker and Mr.. We,deh Phii-
lips. A melancholy result, indeed, of he effects
i of Abotionism upon person so carefully nurtureo'
SO respectfully connected, so rgdly secluded IN ms
youth from all that could contemplate or degrade.
Obedience to the laws has, until recently, ever
been distinguishing feature in the character 81
n the people Of Massachusetts,. Even in the widest
i excitement of the Revolution, their forbearance
toward the officers Of the British Government and
the oyasts who defended Its usurpations, was
universally remarked. When citizens of Boston
were murdered in cold blood by British soldiers,
4 John Adams and Josiah Quincy volunteered to de-
4 fend the officer who gave the order by which the
murders were committed, and procured his ac-
4 quittaL
The Winslows, the Hutchinsons, the divers, the
Chambers, and other noted loyalists were allowed
to depart in peace from the borders of the province
Though their property was, for the most part con-
fkcated; their persons we're unmolested. Beyond
this transportation of bevy of obnoxious tories In
coal cart from Boston. to Dedham, where they
we're tipped out on the common, the persons OF the
most violent supporters of Lord North we're as sa-
cred in Massachusetts, as they would have been In
Windsor Castle, or st. Stephens Chapel. Therebels
of those days were neither radicals nor anarchists
they contended to the last for rights, which sksy
derived from the common laws of England; by
which taxation without representation was pro-
hibited. When the violation of this principle OF
law was persisted in in spite of their earnest re-
monstrance they took up arms. The whole world
knows the result.
The Massachusetts, rebels of l776 took up arms
in defence of law The Massachusetts, rebels Of
1865 take up arms to suJpert law which their
own statesmen--Ames, Dexter, and Webster
aided in enactng and the constutionality of which
their own judges - Story, Shaw, Curtis, and
Sprague-have affirmed A wide difference In
deed between the rebels Of 1915 and the rebels Of
1885. The comparison might be pushed indef-
niteiy but we forbear to insult the memories Of
James Otis, and Josiah Quincy and Elbridge
Gerry, and the Adanses, and their compatriots,
4 nv With tha trba d nd
ated creatures who in os day render the atmos-
phere of Boston absolutely fetid with the efiuvia
Of their baseness