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assaults.
Before this conclusion was known, a placard in the streets (December 2), declaring that agitation of the slavery question would ‘endanger the safety of the1 Union,’ asked: ‘Do you wish instruction from an Englishman?’
and invited a rally at the hall that evening, to convince Southerners that their rights would not be interfered with by their Northern brethren.
The mob found the premises empty, but took possession, and adopted resolutions, framed by three of the foremost citizens of Lowell,2 embodying the sense of the placard, though condescending to ‘deplore the existence of slavery’ as a ‘blot on the reputation of our otherwise free country.’
In Boston, after this, no other hall could be found for Mr. Thompson but that of the New England Anti-Slavery3 Society, though some churches, particularly the Methodist, were yet open to him. Meantime, after having enjoyed the hospitality of Freedom's Cottage4 for several weeks, he took permanent lodgings in Roxbury not far away, where the premature confinement of his wife gave him time to reflect on the superior patriotism of Lowell, Augusta, and Concord, as contrasted with the un-American cordiality manifested towards him at Portland, Brunswick, Providence, and elsewhere.
Kindred thoughts were also suggested by the press abuse of himself as reproduced in the Liberator's new department, ‘The Refuge of Oppression,’5 and by the consequent notoriety which for the moment eclipsed that of his friend and host.
2 Including John P. Robinson and Thomas (afterwards Judge) Hopkinson, leading lawyers. From the latter's office Wendell Phillips had lately gone to be admitted to the bar at Concord. Mass. (Crowley's Lowell, p. 119).
4 ‘The cottage in the wood, where, on a bleak winter's night, we huddled round a log fire and talked over our plans for the future’ (Ms. fragment, 185–, Geo. Thompson to W. L. G.)
5 A natural development of the original ‘Slavery Record’ of the first volume; ‘into which we propose to copy some of the choicest specimens of anti-abolition morality, decency, logic and humanity—generally without note or comment’ (Lib. 4.3). A year later: ‘It has already opened the eyes of many to see how cruelly abolitionists are calumniated by their enemies; and it proves that we are ready to let both sides of the controversy be seen in our columns’ (Lib. 5.3).
The Century Company. , 1885-1889.
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