value to
our cause is beyond our power to estimate.

The pro-slavery spirit which always pervaded our city, and which
sometimes manifested itself in the violence of mobs, never
seriously disturbed our fair excepting in one instance. In the
year 1859 our whole Southern country quaked with mortal fear in
the presence of John Brown's great deed for Freedom. The coward
North trembled in its turn lest its Southern trade should be
imperilled, and in all its cities there went up a frantic cry
that the Union must be saved and the Abolitionists suppressed.
The usual time for holding our fair was at hand. Before it was
opened a daily newspaper of this city informed its readers that
notwithstanding the rebuke which the Abolitionists had received
from a recent meeting of Union-savers, they had audaciously
announced their intention of holding another fair, the avowed
purpose of which was the dissemination of anti-slavery
principles. The indignant journalist asked if Philadelphia would
suffer such a fair to be held. This was doubtless intended as a
summons to a mob, and a most deadly mob responded to the call. It
did not expend its violence upon our fair, but against an
assembly in National Hall, gathered to listen to a lecture by
George W. Curtis, upon the Present Aspect of the Country.

The High Constable, Mayor, and Sheriff were the agents employed
by the slave power to take and hold possession of Concert Hall,
and in its behalf, if not in its name, to eject us and our
property. The work was commenced by the Mayor, who sent the High
Constable with an order that our flag should be removed from the
street. Its offensiveness consisted in the fact that it presented
to the view of all passers-by a picture of the Liberty Bell in
Independence Hall, inscribed with the words, "Proclaim liberty
throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof." The
next step was an attempt to induce the lessee to eject us from
the hall. On his refusal to violate his contract with us, the
trustees obtained legal authority to dispossess us on the plea
that the hall had been rented for a purpose which tended to
excite popular commotion. The sheriff entered, took possession,
and informed the managers that our property must be removed
within three hours. Then were the do