He was of the opinion that the Abolitionists were guilty of an offence against Massachusetts which might be "prosecuted as a misdemeanor at common law." He evidently did not consider that in the then present state of political parties and of public opinion any repressive legislation upon the subject could be got through the legislature, and hence the immense utility of the old machinery of the common law, as an instrument for putting down the agitation.

But in order to get this machinery into operation, careful preparation was necessary.

Proof must not be wanting as to the dangerous and unpatriotic character and tendency of the movement to be repressed.

There should be the most authoritative utterance upon this point to warrant the effective intervention of the Courts and Grand Juries of the commonwealth in the prosecution of the Abolitionists, as disturbers of the peace.

Ergo the Governor's deliverance in his annual message against them.