CONTENTS.

Introduction-Inquiry into the origin of popular violence-Exe-

cution of a number of American citizens, without trial-Seizure of

the U. S. mail at Charleston, S. C., and the burning of its contents

by the 'populace-The Post master at Charleston refuses to deliver

certain papers to the persons entitled to them, and asks for instruc-

tions from the Postmaster General-The Postmaster General does

not condemn the act-Extract from the Evening Post in relation to

Mr. Kendall's conduct-Mr. Gouverneur, Postmaster at New-York,

refuses to forward certain papers according to the requirement of

the law, and asks for instructions from Postmaster General-

The latter approves the course Mr. Gouverneur has adopted—Re-

marks upon the character and tendency of Mr. Kendall's conduct

and sentiments-Extract from the Hartford Times in relation there-

to-Mr. Kendall's new doctrines become popular with certain

classes-Violence and insubordination ensues-The mob in Bait-

more discharge their higher obligations-Amos Dresser's narrative

-Origin of the excitement against the abolitionists.

II.

Page 9

Practice of the court of his honour, Judge Lynch-Law-break-

ing reduced to a system-How to detect the chief movers of

riots,
48

III.

History of the Anti-Slavery Convention-Preliminary sugges-
tions-Expressions of public sen iments against the abolitionists in
various parts of the United States. The abolitionists are so "fool-
hardy" as to think for themselves-It is determined by certain po-
litical aspirants, for the success of their cause, to put the abolitionists
down at all hazards, "forcibly if necessary"-A State Convention
is appointed to be held at Utica-The citizens hold a meeting at the
City Hall, to show their aversion to the assemblage of said Conven-
tion in Utica-Discovery of the "prudential restrictions"-Speech

of the Hon. Samuel Beardsley-The enforcement of the "pruden-
tial restrictions" becomes a party measure-The Common Council
grant to the Anti-Slavery Convention the privilege of holding their
meeting in the court-room-A great effort is made to inflame the
public mind against this act of the council-An indignation meeting
is assembled at the court-room-Great display of patriotism among
the drunkards-The Mayor and City Attorney attend the meeting
"Satan cometh also"-The act of the Common Council is nulli-
fied-The agitators determine to "go revolution"—Language and
conduct of A. G. Dauby and Hon. Samuel Beardsley-The friends
of order are clamoured down-The agitators determine upon forci.
ble resistance, and adjourn to meet at the same place on the 21st
Oct. at 9 o'clock-These subjects become the topic of general con-
versation-A conservative meeting is assembled at the court-room,
on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20th, for the purpose of discountenancing
violence-The agitators, with their forces, gathered together from
various parts of the country, appeared at the meeting-The meet-
ing is organized and resolutions are reported-The agitators raise a
tumult, and interrupt the proceedings-Meeting of the agitators on
the 21st-Assemblage, organization, and proceedings of the Conven-
tion-The agitators determine to accomplish their design by means
of a pack of twenty-five-Their appointment, duties, and descrip-
tion-They run about the streets hunting for the Convention-Ar-
rive at the National Hotel-Timor appears at the door and cries
Stuboy, but declines leading the pack from "feelings of delicacy”—
The pack find their way to the place where the Convention are as-
sembled, and are joined by several hundreds more ravenous than
themselves-The whole canine squadron enters with great fierceness
into the church-The old sportsman cries Get out, until we secure
the game-Speech of Hon. Samuel Beardsley before the mob in the
church-Reply to his speech by Thomas Jefferson-Extract from
the Oneida Standard and Democrat-Proceedings of the agitators
during the day and following night; assaulting strangers at the ho-
tels, and peaceable citizens in the street-Destruction of the type in
the office of the Standard and Democrat-An assault is meditated
upon the houses of Messrs. Kellogg and Stewart-It is prevented
-The members of the Convention are assaulted while going to Pe-
terboro'-A view of the conduct of the committee of twenty-five-
The people desire to know "what apology can be made" for their
conduct-The tendency of these proceedings-Character of the
Convention,

54

IV.

Sentiments of Thomas Jefferson on the subject of slavery, and its

abolition-Effects of slavery upon the liberties of the nation-Ex-

tract from a foreign paper-Tendency of the measures of the agita.

tors-Their effect upon the union-Remarks upon the new doctrines

and policy-The last advice of Washington-Remarks upon the

liberty of speech and the press-How we are to avoid the dangerous

crisis which the country is approaching, and maintain the authority

of the constitution and supremacy of the laws,

104

APPENDIX.

No. I.

Establishment of a censorship of the press-Copy of the letter of

the Postmaster General to the Postmaster at Charleston-Notes

and remarks thereon,

Page 123

No. II.

Creation of ten thousand censors of the press-Copy of the letter

of the Postmaster General to Samuel L. Gouverneur, Postmaster

at the city of New-York-Notes and remarks thereon,

125

No. III.

Official report of the proceedings of the meeting of the citizens

of Utica, assembled on the 17th Oct. to take in consideration the

vote of the Common Council, granting to the Anti-Slavery Con-

vention the privilege of meeting in the court-room, accompanied

with notes and remarks,

135

No. IV.

Official report of the proceedings of the Consevrative meeting of

the citizens of Utica, convened on the evening of the 20th Oct. 139

No. V.

Official report of the meeting of the agitators, held at the court-

house, on the 21st Oct., for the purpose of organizing, in opposition

to the public authorities, and breaking up the Anti-Slavery Conven-

tion-Notes and remarks thereon,

141

No. VI.

A collection of extracts from various public documents, showing

the tone of the south-Extracts from the federal and state constitu-

tions-Extracts from the writings of Thomas Jefferson,

No. VII.

146

The real sentiments of the abolitionists-Official statement of the

officers of the American Anti-Slavery Society,

153

No. VIII.

Speech of Gerrit Smith, Esq., in the meeting of the New-York

Anti-Slavery Society, held at Peterboro', Oct. 22, 1835,

157

No. IX.

Speech of Alvan Stewart, Esq., delivered before the Anti-Slavery

Convention, held at Utica, Oct. 21, 1835,

166

No. X.

The names of FIVE HUNDRED WITNESSES, by whom the facts

stated in this book can be verified,

175

THE ENEMIES

OF THE

CONSTITUTION DISCOVERED.

I.

IF, twelve months ago, some ardent friend of his country, endowed with the prophetic gift, or seeing the inevitable tendency of public measures, had foretold that the time was at hand when American citizens, before the eyes of the whole nation, should be seized and put to an infamous death without being allowed the privilege of a legal trial,—if he had also foretold, that the mail of the United States, the great depository of the public secrets, one of the most important safeguards of our liberties, would be wrested from the custody of the constitutional authorities, plundered, and its contents committed to the flames, in violation of the public faith most solemnly pledged for its protection,—that the Postmaster at the commercial metropolis of the nation would arrogate to himself the power of a censor, and, in violation of the laws of the land, and of the most sacred duties of his office, which he had sworn to perform, should detain in his custody publications committed to the charge of the depart