CONTENTS. Introduction-Inquiry into the origin of popular violence-Exe- cution of a number of American citizens, without trial-Seizure of the U. S. mail at Charleston, S. C., and the burning of its contents by the 'populace-The Post master at Charleston refuses to deliver certain papers to the persons entitled to them, and asks for instruc- tions from the Postmaster General-The Postmaster General does not condemn the act-Extract from the Evening Post in relation to Mr. Kendall's conduct-Mr. Gouverneur, Postmaster at New-York, refuses to forward certain papers according to the requirement of the law, and asks for instructions from Postmaster General- The latter approves the course Mr. Gouverneur has adopted—Re- marks upon the character and tendency of Mr. Kendall's conduct and sentiments-Extract from the Hartford Times in relation there- to-Mr. Kendall's new doctrines become popular with certain classes-Violence and insubordination ensues-The mob in Bait- more discharge their higher obligations-Amos Dresser's narrative Practice of the court of his honour, Judge Lynch-Law-break- History of the Anti-Slavery Convention-Preliminary sugges- of the Hon. Samuel Beardsley-The enforcement of the "pruden- 54 Sentiments of Thomas Jefferson on the subject of slavery, and its abolition-Effects of slavery upon the liberties of the nation-Ex- tract from a foreign paper-Tendency of the measures of the agita. tors-Their effect upon the union-Remarks upon the new doctrines and policy-The last advice of Washington-Remarks upon the liberty of speech and the press-How we are to avoid the dangerous crisis which the country is approaching, and maintain the authority Establishment of a censorship of the press-Copy of the letter of the Postmaster General to the Postmaster at Charleston-Notes Creation of ten thousand censors of the press-Copy of the letter of the Postmaster General to Samuel L. Gouverneur, Postmaster Official report of the meeting of the agitators, held at the court- house, on the 21st Oct., for the purpose of organizing, in opposition to the public authorities, and breaking up the Anti-Slavery Conven- A collection of extracts from various public documents, showing the tone of the south-Extracts from the federal and state constitu- THE ENEMIES OF THE CONSTITUTION DISCOVERED. I. IF, twelve months ago, some ardent friend of his country, endowed with the prophetic gift, or seeing the inevitable tendency of public measures, had foretold that the time was at hand when American citizens, before the eyes of the whole nation, should be seized and put to an infamous death without being allowed the privilege of a legal trial,—if he had also foretold, that the mail of the United States, the great depository of the public secrets, one of the most important safeguards of our liberties, would be wrested from the custody of the constitutional authorities, plundered, and its contents committed to the flames, in violation of the public faith most solemnly pledged for its protection,—that the Postmaster at the commercial metropolis of the nation would arrogate to himself the power of a censor, and, in violation of the laws of the land, and of the most sacred duties of his office, which he had sworn to perform, should detain in his custody publications committed to the charge of the depart |