The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-24
The Entente nj NIoh,Ie.

The Emeute at Mobile.
We have further intelligence from Mobile il
relation to the recent action of the Vigilanc
Committee, in the case of Messrs. Strickland 4
Epson, the booksellers, which viii be found il
another place in our columns. 1t appears tina
the publication which was found in the possession
of slave, was the well known work of Frederick
Douglass entitled, MY Bondage and Freedom,
and that it was for sale, and had been sole
by them to some considerable extent. The pub
fishers, on being called before the Committee fol
an explanation, made exculpatory statements
which, by an examination of their own books
| appeared to be false and dreading the conse
| quences of their misconduct, and alarmed at the
remarks which were made to them by some Of
their acquaintance, they suddenly disappeared
| from the city. The Committee Of Vigilance
throughout the transaction behaved with pru-
dence and moderation being rather committee
Of inquiry in aid Of the existing laws, than in
tending to take the law into their own hands.
Whatever threats may have been uttered by
other individuals, they were calm and deliberate
in their action.
II must be remembered that the statutes of
Alabama, with regard to interference with the
slaves arc stringent and precise, and have been
adopted in accordance with the social and do
mestc institutions Of that State. They have
thus far been efficient to preserve tranquility and
no one has doubted their legality In the face
of this, attempts have recently been made to
create an agitation among the slaves by the in
PRODUCTION Of the work Of Frederick Douglass-if
not worse, an nsprrection; and this, too, at mo-
ment when the slavery question las been un-
usually prominent throughout the country and
threatens the very existence of the Union The
citizens of Mobile very properly took cognizance
Of the efforts thus surreptitiously made to dis
turb their quiet, and the most respectable and
influential mo ornons thona doomed II necessary
promptly to interfere. Nor was this without
cause. The book which was found to be in the
possession of the slaves, is OF an incendiary
character. Its contents are Of nature to dis
turb and excite them. II is spun out into every
orm and filed with every incident likely to
loduce strong impression on the minds of the
negroes, and il was obtained from the publishers
FIVE chapters, and an appendix, full Of infamma-
tory matter, and has been published with mis-
hievous intention.
The childhood Of the author, his removal from
home, his survey Of the slave plantation. the
treatment Of slaves the habits and manners of
the slaveowners and their overseers, bis person
al experience, its vicissitudes, his punishments,
his plots, his apprenticeship, his running away
and his relations with American and English
abolitionists, are narrated with as much coloring
as possible, and the work has been scattered
abroad without stint TO produce its designed
effect. II aims at immediate emancipation at
any cost, and instruction at any hazard. The
crushed worm" says Douglass, may yet turn
under the heel of the oppressor Those sable
arms that for the last two centuries have been
engaged in cultivating and adjoining the fair
fields Of our country, may yet become the lnstru-
ments of terror, desolaton, and death through
out our borders Let the STAKEHOLDER, continues
he. be made to feel that at every step he takes
with the hellish purpose" Of reducing brother
man TO slavery, "he is running the risk Of hav
ing his hot brains dashed out by an Invisible
hand' We might quote at length many more
such passages from the work, showing Its fiendish
aim and tendency, but they would occupy too
much space.
II Is this work, however, which is sought TO be
disseminated secretly among the slaves Of the
South. If they should be led away by its
appeals. bloody insunection would be
inevitable. II is to guard against so great a
calamity that the people Of Mobile have
taken measures TO trace out its inception.
Unless checked in time the scheme might make
dangerous progress. and self-preservaton de-
mands that il should be at once arrested. In
their proceedings, thus far, the Committee Of
vigilance have not como into conflict with the
laws. and the Mayor Of Mobile has behaved with
dignity and moderation. Ii is quite natural they
should take notice Of the danger which was thus
secretly threatening them from abroad. We
learn that the booksellers who were engaged IN
the dissemination OF the work are not Americans
We have difficulties enough to encounter in the
settlement OF this vcxcd question Of slavery. No
| Frederick Douglass, nor his denunciations, nor
| his Misrepresentation nor the murders and mas
sacres ne WOuiu luSthy. VIII cNer DflnR ~ W y
satisfactory adjustment and those agents and
those publishers who seek 10 introduce his ideas
into the Southern States are engaged in crimi-
nal undertaking which il is proper in the Com
mittee Of Vigilance to trace out, expose and
| overthrow. This system Of agitation on the
part of the abolitionists. the speeches and
writings Of such men as Garrison. Phillips
| Parker and Douglass-their assaults on the con.
sttution. on religion and the fathers Of the coun.
try. for years past-has had q tendency 70
produce an nsurrectionary spirit In the slaves Of
| the South. il not 90 lead to an immediate
outl reak.
II would be well IL The book shops Of Other
4 cities in the South were also examined to see l
| thcc arc not similar works upon their shelves