Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-05-11
mob Law In QuIncey, IIl.-Attempt 60
Break up Religious Meeting.
From the Quincy Wing and Republican,
ADriI %


From the Quincy Wing and Republican,
April 49,
Last evening large number of the
citizens of Quincy, indignant at the
outrage perpetrated upon religious lib
erty the night before, and the extraor-
binary proceeding eff Mayor Pitman in
closing mp house of worship, gather
ed at the junction of Main and. Sixth
streets. Among these were our best
citizens, of all parties and sects, anima-
ted by one feeling. The indignation
was widespread and intense, and win
not, and should not subside until the
| freedom of speech is fully guaranteed
and established in this city, and there
are none reckless enough to attempt to
prevent it. F az
The cause Of this feeling and excite
ment should be clearly understood by
all, and we recapitulate. 1t is known
that Rev. J. G. White was advertised
to deliver a lecture on Romanism In the
| building occupied by the NJ e. Church,
and under the auspices of that coDgre
cation. The character of his lecture
was stated in the publication, and
those who attended vent there under
no misapprehension. On Tuesday
night rabble-a vile, foul-mouthed,
tvillaipbus set of men, claiming to be
Catholicsl entered the hall, virtually
took possession of it, and prevented
! Mr. White from speaking The meet
ing was broken up, and the rights of
| p3aceable, law abiding citizens out
ragged. hs4
/ Now. comes the chapter of humilia-
ton and shame. Rev. Mr.. Webster,
pastor of the church which worships at
? "City Hail, I" with other respectable
citizens, called upon Mayor Pitman
and requested him TO detail sufficient
police force to maintain order at the
meeting to be held last evening. He
was made acquainted with the facts as
they are known to every one of our
] citizens. What should have been the
reply of the chief magistrate of city,
having the welfare and honor OF COM
munity In his keeping, to such de-
mand? AT least this: Gentlemen. to
the full extent of my power and auth
ority, you shall be protected. Twill be
present myself if necessary, and bring
With me force amply sufficient for any
emergency. As Mayor of Quincy it is
my determination as well as my duty,
to protect all peaceable assenblages of
whatever character. r....
But instead of this assurance, Mr..
Webster and his associates were coolly
informed that the hall would be closed
against them-a building, by the way,
which is as sacredly d. Dictated To rell-
gious worship as any church edifice in
this city. So--this dastardly, infamous
order was issued by the Mayor of Quin-
cy, and the mob spirit which prevailed
the night before triumphed by securing
the closing of the hall. In so doing,
the Mayor simply offered premium to
mobocracy and violence, and bowed his
head to the dictates of the Internal
rabble. What shall be said of such a
man? @
This action created intense excite
ment throughout the city among men
not usually given to excitement, and
last evening an immense crowd gathered
in front of the City Hail. Although
the doors were closed, and policemen
stationed thereat, two or three of the
trustees of the church entered it and
Lit it up. Again the trustees of the
church-in opposition, however, to the
protest of the ssemblage-went to
Mayor PItman and asked that the hall
be opened to them, but he again re-
fused The meeting then organized Ia
the street, and was eloquently addressed
by Gen. Beane, Rev. MIR. Andrus, DIR.
Sturgis, Gen. Prentiss and others, and
| finally adjourned to meet tonight Mt
the hall to listen to Rev. Mr.. White, on
which occasion he will have hearing,
let the consequences be what they may.
The resolutions adopted by the meet
ing condemn, in no measured terms,
the conduct Of Mayor Pitman, demand
free speech, and advocate the passage
of bill by the Legislature, to be called
IN extra session, establishing board of
police commissioners for this city. For
this purpose committee of twelve gen
tlemen are to be appointed to proceed
at once to Springfield to see the Cover
nor, and request him to embrace the
necessary measure in his call. By the
action of the city authorities the people
have been driven TO this recourse, and
the issue will be pressed to conclu-
sion.