[Marshall] Texas Republican, January 14, 1860
On the 5th inst., an abolitionist was arrested at Jefferson by the name of Fory R. Arnold. He had been heard to say that “he was born upon freesoil—that he was proud of it, and that he was an abolitionist and expected to be one as long as he lived.” He had also been tampering with slaves. The citizens of Jefferson passed the following resolutions:
“Resolved, That we as a committee appointed to investigate the conduct of Fory R. Arnold, have unanimously concluded that the words and expressions used by him are of such a character as to deserve immediate action on the part of a southern community.
“Resolved, That we therefore require the said Fory R. Arnold to leave this country within 24 hours in search of a region more congenial to his abominable sentiments.
Resolved, That the day has at length arrived when the south must take decided action, and use the most cogent means to put a stop to every thing that has the least tendency to abolitionism.
“Therefore, we recommend to the legislature to repeal the laws authorising peddling, and affix a penalty for the violation of the same.
“Whereas this meeting is informed that the postmaster-general has declared that in States where incendiary publications are inhibited, postmasters may refuse to distribute such documents and destroy the same, that they be requested to do it.”