Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-11-11
From the Cincinnati Commercial, Oct. 29. ]

IHE DESTRUCTION OF AN ANTI-sLAvERY
PRrss BY \ KENTUCKY MoB-Iast evening
about seven o'clock, mob Of some thirty
men entered the printing Office of William
;. Bailey. Newport, Kentucky. and pied a
considerable quantity of type broke one of
the presses :. and carried off the "forms'' on
which the outside Of the paper was being
/ printed. There were no persons in the office
at the time of this visitation exceut Mr.
Bailey and his family His four daughters,
who set type, and Mrs. Bailey. were present,
/ and begged without avail that their proper
/ ty might be spared. The press would pro
badly have been entirely DESTROYED. but
! tll,s Sc who undertook the lob found it dirty
work, the ink soiling their hands and clothes
/ Mr.. Bailey was warned tina he must leave
/ town, and quit attemrting to publish paper
/ there, or that be would be roughly used and
| all his properly demolished
When the mob appeared they informed
| Nlr. Bailey that they proposed to abolish his
/ incendiary sheet They considered the com
munty unSite where such "a paper was toll
! Grated, and 50 forth Mr.. Bliley's paper
does not rank very high among the journals
of the day. but he and lis family have long
Srent upon il their daily labor, and earned
with it their daily bread The paper has
been, we believe, family production, Mr..
Bailey writing the articles, his daughters
setting the type, and bis sons making up
the forms ami working the press. His daugh-
terS who have made a humble livelihood in
this way, We're not, We are informed, exempt
from such iusults, last night, as foul lau-
guage addressed 10 them could convey. This
was. perhaps, the most gross and eJwardly
part of fbe Wtiiul transaction We really
do not think TIE peace and prosperity Of the
city of Newport or the State of Kentucky
would be emperilled by the continuance Of
the publication OF Mr.. Balley's paper
1t might b, much better for the town if it
were understood that all opinions and their
free expression were tolerated there. 1t is
not likely that single one of the mob owns
"a slave, though our informant declares the
men engaged 70 have been respectable in
appearance. \ suggestion being made as
to the police, 1t was remarked by one of Mr.
Bailey. dGu Lhters that most o. the police
were present, a.d if they did not positively
aii in the destruction of property, thev Ger
taInly did not attempt 10 d. their Gutv but
were passive spectators Of the lawless scene.
Ii is a question whether Mr.. Bailey can find
any protection under the law. and the thing
most likely to happen is the continued sup
preston Tor some time OF his parar By mob |
force The people and authorities of New !
port have a grave question to consider. 1t |
Is whether there is u be freedom Of ;pee,b
and of the press in their midst; whether an
industrious family, who offend against no
regulation, nor law OF the COM /
monwealth of Kentucky, shall be protected |
in their property or whether there is to be- |
Intolerance on the subject Of slavery. backed
by mob violence. Mr. Bailey may not BE
man personally calculated to excite IA very
great amount OF admiration, but he stands up
Tor "A principle, and his rights should be re
'pected. Il is certain tina, such proceedings
Is those last night will inAct far greater in
ury upon the town than upon Mr.. Bailey.