492 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

460 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

there now is to alter our sentiments. Will any sober, pru-
dent man countenance the proceedings of the people in King
streett Can any one justify their conduct? Is there any
one man, or any body of men, who sre interested to espouse
and support their conduct? Surely not. But our inquiry
mast be confined to the legality of their conduct; and here
ean be no difficulty. It was certainly illegal, unless many
witnesses are directly perjured; witnesses, who have no ap-
parent interest to falsify—witnesses, who have given their
testimony with candor and accuracy—witnesses, whose credi-
bility stands untouched—whose eredibility the counsel for
the king do not pretend to impeach, or hint a suggestion to
their disadvantage.

The conduct of the soldiera m Cornhill may well be sup-
posed to have exasperated the minds of all who beheld their
behavior. Their actiona accumulated guilt, as it flew; at
least, we may well suppose, the incensed people who related
them added new colors to the seene. The flame of resentment
imperceptibly enkindles, and a common acquaintance with
human nature will show it to be no extravagant supposition
to imagine that many a moderate man might at such a season,
with such sentiments, which I have more than once noticed,
hearing such relations and complaints—I say, do I injure
any one, in supposing, that under all these circumstances, a
very moderate person, who in ordinary matters acted with
singular discretion, should now be drawn imperceptibly
away or rather transported into measures, which in a future
moment he would condemn and lament. What more natural
supposition, than to suppose many an honest mind might at
this time fluctuate thus. The soldiers are here; we wish
them away; we did not send for them; they have cut and
wounded the peaceable inhabitants, and it may he my turn
next. At this instant of time, he has a fresh detail of inju-
ries—resentment redoubles every successive moment—huzza
for the main guard! we are in a moment before the custom-
house. No time is given for recollection. We find, from the
king’s evidence, and from our own, the cry was, ‘‘Here is a