should be, Fellow citizens, we are not responsible; we came here as peaceable citizens, upon the heads of those who have insulted us be all the blame; They have been so foolhardy as to brave public opinion, and they must take the consequences: (by the rabble, "yez, squire's spressed our minds zackly; they must take the consequences, they are responsible, hoop! hoop! hussle um out! hussle um out! damn um ! down with the hypocrites and fanatics! tear um! string um !") At this stage of the proceedings the air resounds with continued yells, and the authority of the committee themselves feigning an effort to be heard, crying "order! order! we are the peaceable citizens," is completely nullified.

After the Lynching is finished, the committee return to the meeting that appointed them, followed by their constituents, "the peaceable citizens," and report their doings; the chairman congratulates the meeting upon the accomplishment of their object in a peaceable manner, with as little violence as was to be epxected, considering the excited stateof the public mind, and although some little disorder ensued after arriving at the place of action, which the committee were unable to prevent, yet the committee do not hold themselves or their reputations responsible for any mischief that was committed; the infatuated wretches who had been thus signally dealt with, had brought this mischief upon themselves, and the preservation of their lives and their persons from further injury, they owed solely to the interference and exertions of the committee in their behalf;" (by the mob from all quarters, "yez, dam um! they'd orter be

thankful that they got off so well, three cheers for the committee !") Here the mob set up a stamping and yelling which makes the earth itself tremble beneath them. Whereupon the meeting after conferring certain discretionary powers upon its officers adjourns, and while the "committee" retire to their homes and are industriously engaged in preparing communications for the public journals in order to forestall public opinion, the "peaceable citizens" assemble together in small squads at the groceries in different parts of the city, where orders are sometimes given, by some higher in the scale of being than they, that intoxicating liquors shall be dealt out to them in large quantities without money and without price. Here plans are concerted by the leading ones who themselves take the precaution to keep sufficiently sober for the transaction of business, for a nightly session of the Terrific Tribunal, and it not unfrequently happens that a terrible scene of devastation and bloodshed follows the footsteps of its officers. When matters have progressed thus far, the pacific intentions of these "peaceable citizens," are seriously distrusted, and an appeal is made to another class of citizens less peaceable, less patriotic, less virtuous, but who have property and character to preserve; sometimes the chief movers of the "patriotic and peaceable committee" offer their assistance to protect the lives and property which their conduct has placed in jeopardy, but this is usually rejected with disdain, and here the proceedings end.

Sometimes a few of the principal officers of Judge

Lynch are called to an account by Judge Law, but their bond of indemnity is brought into requisition and their fines are instantly discharged, even in case the latter judge should be so fortunate as to find that his chief officers have not superseded their functions by an appointment under the former.

If the people happen to suspect the honourable the committee of any participation in the proceedings, their sins are laid upon the heads of the "scapegoats," which immediately run away into the wilderness, and are seen no more, until a similar occa sion calls them forth from their hiding-places.

We have seen the principal features which distinguish the calm, peaceable, and deliberate system of law-breaking of the present day, and by taking care to keep them in view hereafter, we shall be enabled to detect the fallacious pretences with which it is too frequently excused or palliated, and to discover its authors from beneath the cloaks with which they are covered. But it must not be forgotten that it has been reduced to a complete system; that its perpetrators have acquired great tact, and that their designs are usually involved in a degree of mystery, which will require the utmost vigilance of the friends of order to develope them.

It would be strange indeed if the abettors of violence should act openly, especially those who desire to preserve an influence in the community; and it would be equally strange if a considerate mind should judge a man to be honest, because he is covered with a mask. He would look at causes, and their necessary consequences. In judging of a man's

character in this respect, he will carefully observe whether he has avoided the very first appearance of evil; whether he has always been seen in the company of the peaceable and the orderly, and has firmly and manfully refused in any manner to participate in proceedings which are calculated to excite the fury of the mob; and whether he has stood up and boldly and fearlessly condemned every attempt to infringe in the least degree the constitutional or legal rights of his fellows.

"Birds of a feather flock together," is an old adage, applicable to men as well as to other animals. Whom do the mob follow to the place of violence? to whose voice do they most attentively listen? Mark that man, and if he addresses the populace, consider the tendency of his language and conduct, and not his professions of pacific and honest intentions. See who are associated with him. The mob are wise in this respect, and they always have old, practised leaders, notable only for their crimes, to instruct and lead them forward, according to the designs of the chief movers; they imbibe the spirit of inflammatory speeches, act accordingly, and know full well that the peaceable professions, which must necessarily accompany them, are to be disregarded. They remember that the speaker has a character to preserve by his false professions. Let the people be as wise as the mob, and they will easily discover who are the chief movers of riots,

III.

ONE other violation of the laws of our country, and of the constitutional rights of our fellow-citizens, will be adverted to: it is, perhaps, more alarming in its features than any which the friends of our system of government have heretofore been called upon to witness, and the more dangerous in its tendency, on account of the characters engaged in it, and the specious disguises under which the most diligent efforts have been employed to justify or extenuate it.

Allusion is here had to the forcible breaking up of the State Convention assembled at Utica, October 21st, 1835, the seizure of their papers, and the assaults upon its members, committed upon them after they were dispersed, at their lodgings, and while travelling upon their lawful business upon the public highway.

With regard to the sentiments of the Convention, the author does not deem it his duty to speak. It is sufficient that they were there lawfully assembled, to deliberate upon a subject in which, as lovers of their country and its constitution, they felt a deep interest. In this respect, it is believed, all but vile slanderers will accede to them honest and laudable intentions, and as pure and patriotic motives, as ac