The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-17
Bookselling a. Mobile

a. A
lille bookseller, who was driven from 'n"'
,lacs by the howl of mob, has Publisher
an aecoun. of the AMIR. tapPears 'na'
NJ. ubole ofEsn.e consisted Of having in his
store two sopic. of Frelcrick Douglass Mem
oirs, one copy of the Autographs OF frec-
dom {, and ono Of the "Rey to Uncle Toms
cabin" These were all of those books no
had ever had, and they had been in the store
from one to three years. IL appears also
that there was plot to have these purcha-
sed in order to entrap him into trouble
.Rey. Mr.. Hawthorne" Of Mobile, being
the principal cOpspiratOr. In connection
with Mr.. Strickland's statement is the ioi'
lowing affidavit Of Mr.. +. Z. BabcOck, prin-
eipal clerk and salesman of the firm
al was in the employ ofstriekland x Co..
booksellers, Mobile, from Nov. o, 1851, to
July 10, 1856. in the capacity OF salesman.
During the period, but more especially dn-
ring the last twelve months of my service,
generally wrote all the orders for books !;
and, when they arrived, it was my special
duty to open them, compare them with the
invoices. and mark the cost price in them.
In the fall of 1856, several friends Of the
house called and wished to procure copy
os Fred. Douglass Bondage and Freedom
then Just announced. Tho question was
canvassed as to the prOpriety OF ordering a
few copies. Mr.. Strickland was appealed
to. and replied we might order two copies,
which was done. When they arrived, |
placed one Of them on Mr.. Strickland's desk
and drew his attention to it. 1t laid there
several days, and was eventually placed with
the other copy on the shelves, With books oil
a similar size, in the rear of the store. No
other copies of the work were ordered or re-
cciycd during my stay with tho firm.
When VIC took inventory of stock in june
1856, the same two copies which were or
dercd as above, were then in the store, and
were by mo written in the inventory bloster;
and from that blottcr copied into the inven-
tory book by Mr.. Strickland. My position
and duties in the house were such as to rem
der impossible the introduction OF any new
books without my knowledge. Ny constant
employment in the book department oil their
business necessarily rendered me more ia
miliar with that class Of their stock than
either of my employers, or any clerk IN the
house.
l took complete list of their book stock
in 1855, and also in 1856; and do positive
" state that the only books in their posses
sion OF an iuccnLiary character during the
whole period of my stay with them, was one
copy of Autographs Of Freedom, the two
copies of FRED. DorCl.,s' book, ordered in
the Fall of 1855, and Ons copy Of the Ktyio
Uncle TOMS Calm; all orwhich books were
to tho best of my knowledge and belief IN
their store when I Loft their employ ON the
10Th Of July, 1856.
My thorough knowledge of books, and
general intimacy with all books Published IN
the United States, enables me TO say that i
know no other books than those above men
toned Of an incendiary or abolition eharae-
ter were in their stock during my services.
FRANKLIN G. BABCOCK.
Sworn to before me, this Goth day Of Au-
gust, 1856.
FERNANDO wOoD, Mayor Of the City of
New York"
The "Key to Unela Toms Cabin was
not sold, nor was il referred to in the inyes-
ti.ation. The following arc tho eircum-
stances connected with the sale of the two
copies of Douglass book, as stated by Strick-
land
~ New Orleans gentleman dropped into
tho store, wanting something to rad as he
went up river. In looking over tho stock,
he finds this copy Of Douglas, and remarks
20 my partner, DO they allow you to keep
such stuff in your bookstores hcrc?' His re-
ply was, Not exactly, though people here
claim the right to rad pretty much what
they please The gentleman replied, that
such book, would not be allowed in New
Orleans. As was not present, | do not
profess to give the literal word, used, but !
believe give the spirit Of the remarks. lie
bought some other book and leGt, anu my
partner replaced the book in the back part
Of our store. This gentleman travelled up
tho river with Rev. Mr.. Hawthorne Of Mo-
bile, and told HIM he had seen such and such
book at Strickland's store. Rev. Mr..
Hawthorne tells Col. Jones, whilst ON visit
TO his house the same thing. The Colonel
requests him, IL such ], the case, to buy one
and send !, W him. When Re, Mr.. Haw-
thornc returns to the city, he sends his SON
in-law, Mr.. Cragin, TO buy the books. lie
buys tTo, (all ne haIe) takes ono himself,
and orders the other to DO charged and sent
10 Col. Jones. was not present at the
time OF the purchase"
Tn. sale OF the Autograph, Of Freedom,
charged sgaias, Mr.. Strickland, j, also thus
explained by hiu clerk, Mr.. Philip:
IA youns gentleman, who is clerk in Mr..
S,lomsn's ei.rr store, STOPPED in front OF
the store, accompanied by g friend, and said
to him, Som. in, want to bay some Sab
bath School books, aud want you to help
~ a