This monstrous violation of the constitution of the United States, it must not be forgotten, was committed, not by a gang of drunkards, or by those who are ignorant of their duties and obligations; neither was it perpetrated in the heat of passion, but coolly and deliberately by a committee of sixty individuals, some men of note. If no men of character had been engaged in it, it would have been comparatively of little moment; but as the case is, the example for all men to violate the law, which had before been set has gained greater influence. At such an indignity, committed in almost any country in Europe, "ten times ten thousand swords would have leaped from their scabbards."

But this is not all; it is well known that the sentiment, that we are subject to higher obligations than those which we owe to the laws, has become so prevalent, that no man who is an abolitionist can travel in the southern states, on his lawful business, without endangering his personal safety.* Nay, the safety of our own citizens, of the non-slaveholding states, is endangered by HIRED RUFFIANS who have been employed to transport them to a distant state, to be condemned and put to death for no crime but for exercising the inalienable rights of man. The following advertisement will speak for itself;

TO THE EDITORS OF THE CHARLESTON COURIER,

Beaufort, (S. C.) Aug. 13, 1835. "GENTLEMEN,-I am directed by the society of which I am the corresponding secretary, to request * See Appendix, No. VI.

you to publish, for a few times, the following resolve:

"At a meeting held this day, Saturday, the 15th August, Judge LYNCH presiding, it was resolved by a large majority, that the sum of two thousand dollars will be paid by this society to whomsoever will deliver to the respective chairmen of these societies, in Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort, Savannah, Augusta, or Darien, the bodies of either of the four well-known incendiaries among the northern abolitionists, or that of their late visiter."*

The four individuals referred to are the editors of anti-slavery publications; and the above advertisement is a fair specimen of the mode of argument which is employed to refute their doctrines. O Reason! whither art thou fled, when brutal force, malignant hate, and dire revenge, usurp thy sway?

In the southern states, it cannot be denied, the public mind is highly excited against the abolitionists; and while we cannot too much condemn the violent and unwise conduct of some of the southern people, we should take care, and trace this excitement to its true source.

It must not be supposed, that so much concern is manifested about the movements of the abolitionists, without some political end in view. It is among the friends of Mr. Van Buren that the most violent opposition to the abolitionists exists; and although the leading men of his party declaim against uniting

* This advertisement was published in the southern papers. Many others of a similar character have appeared in the public journals of the south with approbation.

the question with politics, yet opposition to the abolitionists (until after the election) is already an article in their creed. This will be seen by referring to the resolutions adopted by their conventions, as well as the uniform course of most of the leading partizans. Now it is plain to be seen, that the design of all these movements is to quiet the fears of the south, and gain their support; because the course which the party have recently pursued is utterly at variance with the fundamental principles of democracy. Some of these leading partizans are capable of any deception and fraud, which will subserve their views.

Will the southern people be so foolish as to suppose, that the same course of measures respecting the question of slavery, which are now adopted for the purpose of promoting Van Buren's success, are to be carried out after his election? If they are, they will be sadly disappointed. His speech at the Herkimer Convention, as well as his uniform declarations heretofore made, will undeceive them on this subject, if they are now deceived.

It is high time that the inhabitants of the north and the south understood the deception that is attempted to be practised upon them. If it should be said that these political movements are sustained. by some whigs, the answer is, that every instrument which can be of any service will be used.*

* The author would not be understood as being opposed to Mr. Van Buren's election. He intends only to protest against the base deception which is practised toward the south, and against sacrificing the liberties of the whole nation to promote his success. Con

II.

AFTER having said thus much respecting the cause of the excitement upon the subject of slavery, and the origin of the propensity to violence that now prevails, one important feature of the Lynch Law system ought not to be passed over in silence.

All who have been conversant with the subject must have observed that in most cases of late, the law breaking, or proceedings of Judge Lynch has been carried on in the most systematic manner, with all possible regularity and solemnity. The proceedings is on this wise. A meeting of citizens is called, at which care is sometimes taken to have a large number of boys and drunkards, enough to constitute a clever mob who are ready to set up a roar of laughter, cheering, hissing, or yelling at the signal of their leader; when this class attend, every thing is carried by them, and nobody observes whether the voices come from the rabble, or from respectable citizens: of course the proceedings are ascribed to respectable citizens. The most inflammatory speeches are then made, and the rabble understand well that their duty is to act according to the spirit of the speeches, and not according to the letter of the re

quest is purchased at too dear a rate when we have to give up every thing valuable in life to obtain it.

solutions, because these being matters of record must necessarily be more temperate. It must before have been observed that the officers of Judge Lynch never act in discharge of those inferior obligations which we owe to the constitution and the laws, but only of the higher obligations which we owe to society.

After the public mind has been excited to the highest pitch and the rabble have become phrensied with rage and desperation, so that they are ready to rush madly upon whatever design the chief mover has in view, in order that the design of violating the laws of the land and the rights of citizens, may be ac complished in the most genteel and unsuspicious manner, a committee consisting of a large number of citizens, (some drawn unconsciously into the snare) is appointed who advance with professions of pacific intentions, either preceded or followed by the rabble to the spot where the violence is to be committed, and after having communicated their message, if the rabble do not yet seem disposed to second their views with a sufficient degree of fury and madness, another inflammatory speech is offered by some one of the committee, generally by the chief mover, in which the rabble are taught in this wise; "Fellow citizens, (order! order!) we are the peaceable citizens assembled here to show our indignation at the vile and unpardonable insult which has been offered us (by some notorious drunkard and rioter; "yes, we are the peaceable citizens.") These occasions will find a law for themselves," I hope there will be no violence used, but if there