far survived the onset. Under God, for to him alone are we
indebted for protection, we are still left to bear our testimony
to the truth. Our consciences are in this matter void of
offence. In cheerful serenity of spirit, and not in the tone of
menace or boasting, we declare our faith in the principles of
emancipation unfaltering--our zeal undiminished--our
determination to persevere unaltered. Our confidence in the
triumphant and glorious issue of the present struggle remains
firm.

'Truth smote to Earth revives again;
The eternal years of God are hers--
But error wounded, shrieks with pain,
And dies among her worshippers.'

"From this time henceforward, Pennsylvania must become the great
battle-field of opinion on the subject of slavery. The light of
that evening's sacrifice has reached already every portion of
our State. Men are every where inquiring why the sacrifice was
made? Why a mighty city was convulsed with violence? Why a noble
hall was burned by incendiaries in the view of gazing thousands?
Why the 'shelter for orphan children' was set on fire, and why
the houses of our citizens were surrounded by a ruffian mob?
They may be told now by the perpetrators of these outrages, that
all has been occasioned by the conduct of the abolitionists. But
the delusion cannot last. Truth will make its way to the abused
ear of the community; and it will be known that the scenes which
have disgraced our city, are directly attributable to the
influence of southern slavery. The spirit of free inquiry, now
fairly awakened, will never again slumber in this state. Like
the Greek fire, it will blaze with fiercer intensity for every
attempt to extinguish it."

The proceedings of the authorities and the public at large, consequent
upon this act of incendiarism and outrageous violence, were truly
characteristic. It is supposed that the destruction of the Hall was
planned beforehand, and there is some evidence to show that strangers
from the South were implicated in the conspiracy; but, as usual, the old
drama of the wolf accusing the lamb was enacted over again, and a
pretext was laid hold of, that, in the peculiar state of feeling
existing in the community, was almost deemed a justification of all that
had happened; though, in truth, it was in the last degree ridiculous. It
was asserted that colored men