His violent behavior to William Goodell, who was paying his respects to the Southern documents lying on the table of the committee, terminated the second hearing.

These documents Mr.
Goodell described as fetters for Northern freemen, and boldly interrogated the chairman in respect of them thus: "Mr.Chairman, are you prepared to attempt putting them on ?" But the chairman was in no mood to listen to the question.

His insolence reached a climax as he exclaimed passionately to Mr.Goodell, "Stop, sir! Sit down, sir! The committee will hear no more of this." But the temper of the Abolitionists had risen also, as had also risen the temper of the great audience of citizens who were present at the hearing which was had in the hall of the House of Representatives.

"Freemen we came," retorted Goodell, "and as freemen we shall go away." Scarcely had these words died upon the ears when there rose sharply from the auditory, the stern protest "Let us go quickly, lest we be made slaves." The attempt to suppress the Abolitionists was a failure.

It but stimulated the agitation and deepened the popular interest in the subject.