The Abolitionists at Rochester.
The Rochester Union gives a spicy account of the agitation Convention, called by the Abolitionists, at Corinthian Hall, in that city, on Friday evening last.
We give a portion of the report:
‘
By half-past 7 there were nearly 300 persons in the hall, and, at a guess, they might be thus analyzed: Abolitionists, 30--about half and half male and female; indifferent spectators, 100; different spectators, 300--the latter controlling the meeting.
’
Susan B. Anthony,
Rev. Mr. May,
Aaron M. Powell, and
Elizabeth C. Stanton, came upon the platform, and were received with applause and hisses.
Miss Anthony introduced
Mrs. Stanton, and the latter came forward to the pedestal on the platform, and began to read an address in a rather subdued tone.
She said something about a riot at
St. James Hall,
Buffalo, when the audience, or a large portion, burst out in applause, and as often as she attempted to renew her discourse, this species of applause was repeated, and beyond these efforts all was comparatively quiet.
After standing before the audience for five or ten minutes,
Mrs. Stanton sat down and gave up the effort.
Sheriff Smith then declared to the audience that it was wrong to disturb the meeting, and expressed his intention to preserve order, if possible.
His remarks were received with applause, like all that was said by the speakers on the platform.
Rev. Mr May undertook to speak, and he was served in the same manner that
Mrs. Stanton had been — applauded into silence.
Finally
Mr. May gave up and took his seat.
The indomitable
Susan then essayed to speak, but was no more fortunate than those who had gone before her.
Aaron M. Powell walked forward to the very front of the rostrum and pitched his speech on a pretty high key, as if he intended to talk down the noise which he evidently expected to hear as soon as he opened his lips — It was of no use; he went the way of all the rest in a minute.
Confusion silenced him — By this time the audience began to be somewhat excited.
Men were talking in various parts of the hall — some offering resolutions and others endeavoring to be heard.
It was of no use. Friend and foe of agitation were alike silenced by the clamor that reigned.
Mr. May arose and invited anybody who had anything to say in defence of the
Fugitive Slave law to say it.
R. L
Swift replied that it was a law of the land, and the people were bound to obey it.
Mr. May made an effort to read a series of resolutions, which he had in his hand.
At the first attempt to read he was greeted with hisses, but a number who appeared to be opposed to the meeting, called out for silence, that the resolutions might be heard and then voted down.
These calls were in vain.
The reading was continued amidst confusion, and the audience could only here and there catch a sentence.
Enough was heard, however, to show that the resolutions were of an incendiary abolition character, and calculated to arouse the feelings of those who had disturbed the meeting so far. When one was read denunciatory of
Governor Morgan, for recommending conciliatory action towards sister States, a call was made for three cheers for the
Governor, and it was heartily responded to by the audience.
Chief of Police Warner, after consultation with the folks on the platform, announced that he had been requested to adjourn the meeting to Saturday at 2 P. M.
The audience began to withdraw.
There was, however, considerable loud talk, and some persons went to the platform and attempted to organize a meeting, but the gas was turned down, and this movement quickly stopped.
Susan B. Anthony & Co. were not allowed to hold an Abolition meeting, but they got some $40 in ten cent bits for admission.
Everybody who went in paid a dime, and many left smiling and thought they had received an equivalent for their money.