One of the Committee (interrupting him).—­If we could stop this movement, of the people, we would do it.  But you make us unable to do so.  We cannot tell how far it will go.  After your press is pulled down, we do not know where they will go next.  It is your duty, in such a case, to sacrifice your constitutional rights.

    Dr. Bailey.—­I presume, when they shall have
    accomplished their object—­

Mr. Radcliff (interrupting).—­We advise you to be out of the way!  The people think that your press endangers their property and their lives; and they have appointed us to tell you so, and ask you to remove it to-morrow.  If you say that you will do so, they will retire satisfied.  If you refuse, they say they will tear it down.  Here is Mr. Boyle, a gentleman of property, and one of our oldest residents.  You see that we are united.  If you hold out and occupy your position, the men, women and children of the District will universally rise up against you.

Dr. Bailey (addressing himself to his father, a venerable man of more than eighty years of age, who approached the doorway and commenced remonstrating with the committee).—­You do not understand the matter, father; these gentlemen are a committee appointed by a meeting assembled in front of the Patent Office.  You need not address remonstrances to them.  Gentlemen, you appreciate my position.  I cannot surrender my rights.  Were I to die for it, I cannot surrender my rights!  Tell those who sent you hither that my press and my house are undefended—­they must do as they see proper.  I maintain my rights, and make no resistance!

The committee then retired, and Dr. Bailey reentered his dwelling.  Meanwhile, the shouts of the mob, as they received the reports of the committee, were reechoed along the streets.  A fierce yell greeted the reaeppearance of Radcliff in front of the Patent Office.  He announced the result of the interview with the editor of the Era.  Shouts, imprecations, blasphemy, burst from the crowd.  “Down with the Era!” “Now for it!” “Gut the office!” were the exclamations heard on all sides, and the mob rushed tumultuously to Seventh-street.

But a body of the city police had been stationed to guard the building, and the mob finally contented themselves with passing a resolution to pull it down the next day at ten o’clock, if the press was not meanwhile removed.

That same afternoon, we three prisoners had been taken before three justices, who held a court within the jail for our examination.  Mr. Hall appeared as our counsel.  The examination was continued till the next day, when we were, all three of us, recommitted to jail, on a charge of stealing slaves, our bail being fixed at a thousand dollars for each slave, or seventy-six thousand dollars for each of us.