Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-07-11
VOL. XXXTV.

COlHp pteu Ihe Olc WHICH OCCdSlOneu Jne SUD-
ject of this sketch. Mr.. May was at that
time thirty-eight years old, in full SYM
pathy with Mr.. Garrison. and his warm
friend. He has the honor of being the
first Unitarian minister, who came out
openly against slavery; and he was more
than once made to feel that his brother
clergymen, as well as the laity, considered
him without the pale of Christian fellow
ship, on account of the course he pursued.
He figures in histories of the slavery ques-
lion as n leading spirit, and had battled
against determined resistance and even
violence, before he came to Montpelier
He was five times mobbed in Vermont
The Legislature was in session, occupy
ing the old State House-the new one be-
ing then well along towards completion.
Permission to use the Representatives Hall
for the purpose of lecture by Mr.. May,
was obtained, without much opposition,
from the Assembly. When the evening
came, the hall was comfortably filled with
ladies and gentlemen, notwithstanding
some slight demonstrations of dispeasure
were made in the yard of the Capitol.
During the discourse eggs and stones were
thrown through the window before which
the speaker was standing. lie only paused
to say, as they passed by: " Ah, we are
contending with greater evils than these. "
Chauncey L. Knapp, who was then editor
of the Slate Journal, and leader of his
party, arose and called upon the county
sheriff. who was present, to arrest those
outside, who were disturbing the meeting.
But that functionary did not interfere.
At the request of some of the citizens,
Mr.. May consented to speak again, the
next evening, from the pulpit of the Con-
gregational church. This was the Old
Brick Church. fronting on Main street,
and occupying Il portion of the ground now
covered by Bethany church, more mo,
dern and stately edifce. 1t was torn down
in 1866 to be replaced by the latter, and
was selected as being the largest available
hall in town. But our citizens did not
choose to hear another discussion of the
"incendiary" and fanatical doctrines,
as they were stigmatized. They had pa
tiently suffered their views and feelings to
be arraigned and condemned, for one
evening, without much opposition, for Mr..
May was non-conciliatory and aggressive
speaker. But their mobocratic spirit was
up-they could not allow repetition of
the scene in silence. The honor of the
town demanded that something should be
done to avert such a calamity and disgrace
as II quiet sufferance of such proceedings
would bring upon its good name. So
thought the malcontents; and their num-
bers included Il majority of the substantial
men of the town.
Accordingly placards were posted next
morning admonishing The people gen
orally, and ladies in particular, not to at
tend the anti-slavery meeting proposed to
be held that evening, us the person who is
advertised to speak will certainly be pre-.
vented, By UioIence If necessary" The
more moderately dissenting counseled
aggression by means of abstinence; they
hoped people would neither attend nor re-
sort to force, and in order to divert atten-
ton Il meeting was planned 10 be holden
at the same hour at the State House. In the
afternoon the lecturer received the follow
ing letter:
MONTPELIER, Oct 23d. 1886
MIR; MAY-Sir:-We, the undersigned, are requested
by large number OF the inhabitants of the town also
many members of the legislature to inform you that
By leaving town without any further attempt to hold
forth the absurd doctrine of anti slavery you vii
coufcr favor and save them the trouble Of using any
TIMOTHY HUBBARD,
HUGH GOURLEY,
j. T. MARSTON,
GGE9' & 3 pEteiL4 y; HihLf'
MOSES T. HALE.
But, rs he had accepted an invitation to
deliver another lecture, he determined tc
do so, if possible. Accordingly. just be.
fore the hour appointed, he proceeded tc
the church and took his seat in the pulpit.
Prayer WAS offered by Rev. Mr.. Hurlburt
and the speaker opened his discourse. lie
had hardly uttered a sentence, when Capt
Timothy Hubbard rose, with q crowd o.
supporters about him, and ordered him tc
desist. Mr. May replied, us this the respec
paid to liberty OF speech by the free peo
pie of Vermont Let any one Of youl
number step forward and give reasons, i
he can, why his fellow citizens. who wish
should not be permitted to hear the lee
ture have been invited here to deliver
cannot show those reasons to be falla
cious, false, will yield to your demand
But for the sake of one Of our essenlia
rights, the liberty of speech, I shall pro
ceed, if can" No one responded, how
ever, and instead of mitigating, this fai
and open-minded offer only increased thei
Indignation; probably because it showed
too plainly, that there really was no ex
cuse for their hostile demonstrations
AS soon us he attempted to go on, cries o
Down with him." Throw him over,
"Choke him." filled the air. The lade
were requested to retire, and preparation
seem to have been made for an over
whelming resistance to the friend:
of the meeting. G. l., Knapp earn
estly demonstrated, and importune,
his felow-citizens to consider the rights o
others. and not continue to disgrac
themselves, the town and the state" Blu
of no avail, And, when Mr.. May attempt
ted II third time to proceed, the rioter
made rush for the pulpit with shouts an
manifestations of violence. At this crisis
Col. J. 2. Miller, lawyer, still well re
membered by many of our townsmen, an
then well known as Il man Of great per
sonal courage and prowess, planted him
self in front of the leaders, crying in
voice of thunder, "Mr. Hubbard, if yo
do not stop this outrage now will knoc
you down. This had the intended effect
the pugnacious spirit was checked; ant