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have no doubt he acted honestly, in the hope that
this course might pacify the mob, and tend to pre
vent further outrage. For such an error of judg
ment, it seems to me most uncharitable to charge
him with being leagued with the mob.
The Mayor has been very much blamed for not
taking the course for suppressing the riot which is
directed by a recent statute.* I know not what his
motive was for this neglect of duty. I certainly
shall not attempt to it. justify Yet, taking the whole
of his conduct on the occasion into view, and know
ing that he was, in fact, using exertion to oppose
and disperse the mob, it seems to be absurd to con
tend that he could feel any sympathy with a lawless
rabble, who were endeavoring to prostrate his au
thority.
In the imaginary dialogue, Hancock most unfairly
represents the Mayor as having betrayed Mr. Garri
son s escape from the building, and thus induced the
crowd to pursue him. The charge is wholly ground
less.
When Sheriff Parkman stated to the multitude
that he could not find Mr. Garrison in the building,
it was supposed by those who saw Mr. Garrison
escape out of the window that he was already safe
from pursuit. The communication was made for
the purpose of dispersing the crowd. No inti
mation, I am confident, was given by the Mayor
or Sheriff Parkman that Mr. Garrison had escaped
from the building. The conduct of the Mayor after
Mr. Garrison was brought to his office seems to
* See page 62. ED.