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a Mr "Giles Hale," white, of course, say, that he had the greatest enmity for, and utterly despised it; and when he saw it brought out he could hardly restrain his aversion.

I earnestly hope, that in the approaching, frequent public meetings, no serious disturbances may occur; but the levity on the part of the Civil Authorities, leaves such a contingency not improbable. There seems to be no one here who believes it his duty to preserve order at each meeting. Drunken men may get up and address, and harangue a crowd, as best they might; shouted and hooted at by them; unmolested by any Officer of the Law. This occurred at the meeting of the 24th, before made mention of a Drunken white man, formerly a negro trader, who had no connection whatever with the meeting, assumed to address, particularly the Colored people, in opposition to the Union League; and even ventured as far as to advise that no one should go near the polls to vote at the coming election. Of course this man was hooted and shouted at; principally by the whites. One called out at him that he was a "damned liar;" others offered to pay some of the Colored people to pull him down and whip him; &c, and although there was at least one Justice of the Peace present, whom I saw, nothing was done. Had a riot occurred under such circumstances, the Colored people would naturally have been blamed for the whole of it, where, in reality, the fault lay elsewhere. It is doubtful, in my mind, if a "conservative" should attempt to address a Republican meeting, and a magistrate were called on to remove him, whether he would believe that he "had the right to do it." Being present at such meetings, where the

Transcription Notes:
unsure of one word after "...pull him down and whip him;" ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-17 15:20:49