Documents

December 7, 1860

The Liberator

Editor William Lloyd Garrison

Volume XXX, No. 49, page 195

Boston, Massachusetts

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This article from The Liberator highlights a poster put up around Boston about a meeting of abolitionists, their supporters, and “sympathizers of John Brown.” Abolitionists had previously met at Tremont Temple before their opponents disrupted the meeting. This poster aims to incite anti-abolitionist fervor about this newly arranged meeting to be held at the African Meeting House.

 

Questions to Consider

  1. What do you think the article means when it states the posters “appeared conspicuously in the streets of Boston?”
  2. To whom is the poster addressing, and what do you think the creator of the poster is asking of them?
  3. Based on the article, what was the reaction to this poster?

Transcription

A Poster.

Shortly after the adjournment of the meeting at Tremont Temple, five hundred posters, of which the following is a copy, appeared conspicuously in the streets of Boston:–

‘Citizens of Boston! — The sympathizers of JOHN BROWN say they will hold a meeting at Martin’s Church, in Joy Street, this Monday evening, Dec. 3d. UNION MEN, SHALL IT BE ALLOWED? LET BOSTON SPEAK!’

The language of the above poster was naturally calculated to add fuel to the flame. Orders, therefore, by the Mayor for the Second Battalion of Infantry, Major Ritchie, and the National Lancers, Captain Fellows, to hold themselves in readiness for instant duty, were promulgated. Squads of policemen consisting of fifteen officers from each of the stations were instructed to protest the public peace in and about Joy Street Church, and the entire police force of Boston had their armor on (at the several station houses,) in constant expectation of a summons for their assistance.

During the evening, thousands of persons gathered in the vicinity of the Church, discussing, vociferating, and yelling, according to their moods of mind.

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