Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/71

which was treason, and its end would be," he added, after a momentary pause, "the gallows." The judge then retired, unmolested, through armed files. Soon after, the Court was opened at the United States Arms Tavern, and immediately adjourned to the next day. Orders were then dispatched to the colonels in the brigade to call out their regiments, and march without a moment's delay, to sustain the judicial tribunals: but that right arm on which the government rests for defence was paralyzed: in this hour of its utmost need, the militia shared in the disaffection, and the officers reported, that it was out of their power to muster their companies, because they generally favored those movements of the people directed against the highest civil institutions of the State, and tending to the subversion of social order.

In the afternoon of Tuesday, a petition was presented from Athol, requesting that no judgments should be rendered in civil actions, except where debts would be lost by delay, and no trials had unless with the consent of the parties; a course corresponding with the views entertained by the Court. Soon after, Capt. Smith, of Barre, unceremoniously introduced himself to the judges, with his sword drawn, and offered a paper purporting to be the petition of "the body of people now collected for their own good and that of the Commonwealth," requiring an adjournment of the Courts without day. He demanded, in a threatening manner, an answer in half an hour. Judge Ward, with great dignity replied, that no answer would be given, and the intruder retired. An interview was solicited, during the evening, by a committee, who were informed that the officers of government would make no promises to men in hostile array: an intimation was given that the request of the people of Athol