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mark a second time, for when later in the evening it began a serenade more expressive than musical before the entrance to the little chapel on Chatham street the members of the society “folded their tents like the Arabs and as silently stole away.”
The Abolitionists accomplished their design and eluded their enemies at the same time.
But the significance of the riotous demonstration went not unobserved by them and their newly arrived leader.
It was plain from that night that if the spirit of Abolitionism had risen, the spirit of persecution had risen also.
A somewhat similar reception saluted the reformer in Boston.
An inflammatory handbill announced to his townsmen his arrival.
“The true American has returned, alias William Lloyd Garrison, the ‘Negro Champion,’ from his disgraceful mission to the British metropolis,” etc., etc., and wound up its artful list of lies with the malignant suggestion that “He is now in your power-do not let him escape you, but go this evening, armed with plenty of tar and feathers and administer to him justice at his abode at No. 9 Merchant's Hall, Congress street.”
In obedience to this summons, a reception committee in the shape of “a dense mob, breathing threatenings which forboded a storm,” did pay their respects to the “true American” in front of his abode at the Liberator office.
Fortunately the storm passed over without breaking that evening on the devoted head of the “Negro champion.”
But the meaning of the riotous demonstration it was impossible to miss.
Like the mob in New York it clearly indicated that the country was on the outer edge of an area of violent disturbances on the subject of slavery.
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