Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 2

The Commercial Gazette of Monday affected great ¹ indignation at this simple announcement, wondering ‘that Thompson should dare to browbeat public opinion in this² way.’ Remarking on his habit of protecting himself with petticoats, it urged his being taught that a female³ surrounding would no longer shield him from the consequences of his ‘reckless and wicked conduct.’ Faneuil Hall meetings will be of no use ‘if Thompson, Garrison, and their vile associates in this city are to be permitted to hold their meetings in the broad face of day, and to continue their denunciations against the planters of the South. They must be put down if we would preserve our consistency.’ Why does Thompson persist in ‘driving [our citizens] to acts of lawless violence?’ Predicting trouble on Wednesday, the Gazette added: ‘This resistance will not come from a rabble, but from men of property and standing, who have a large interest at stake in this community, and who are determined, let the consequences be what they may, to put a stop to the impudent, bullying conduct of the foreign vagrant, Thompson, and his associates in mischief.’ The Gazette warned ladies to keep away from the tumult, and threatened that if Thompson appeared he should be lynched.

Such a menace naturally alarmed the proprietor and the lessee of Congress Hall, and, explicitly adopting the Gazette's view of the respectable character of the mob, they required heavy bonds against possible damages in⁴ case of a riot. As this hall was the only one procurable, the Society gave notice on the appointed day that the meeting would be postponed. The Courier, however, on the morning of the 14th, aggravated the criminality of⁵ the Gazette by a fresh incitement to violence, under pretence of diverting indignation from the ‘scoundrel’ and ‘vagabond’ Thompson to ‘our own citizens who associate with him.’ ‘He is paid for his services, and is ’