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holders to sell until some provisions are made to buy such as may be offered, lest they should be led to consider it all the work of a few excited individuals, and not the deliberate decision of peaceful citizens. They therefore recommend the subject to the attention of capitalists; having no doubt that, independent of every other consideration, the lots in question would be a very profitable investment of their funds, and that if a commencement were once made nearly all of the colored free¬ holders of the borough would sell as fast as funds could be raised to meet the purchasers. Your committee would further remark if every¬ thing was in readiness, considerable time would be required to effect the object; they would therefore recommend caution and deliberation in everything in relation to this important object.
" In conclusion your committee offer the following resolution:
" Resolved, That an association be formed for the purpose of raising funds for the purchase of the property of the blacks in this borough.
" Robert Spear " H. Brimmer "Jas. H. Mifflin."
The report and resolution were adopted, and the following com¬ mittee of five was appointed to form an association for the purpose of purchasing the property of the blacks in the borough: Joseph Cottrell, Dominick Eagle, John Cooper, Robert Spear and Jacob F. Markley.
Another exhibition of that mad spirit of anarchy and violence which was spreading over the community like a flood and overthrowing the laws and good order of the borough, was made in Columbia, on Tuesday night, September 2, 1834. At the dead hour of midnight — fit time for such deeds of darkness — a band of riotous persons assembled and at¬ tacked a house in Front street occupied by a black man, the porch and a part of the frame of which they tore down, the inmates leaving the building at the first alarm.
The mob then proceeded to the office of Stephen Smith, the wealthy coal and lumber dealer, which stood on Front street below the present roundhouse, broke open the windows and doors, rifled the desk, and scattered the papers along the pavement. After attempting to upset the building they marched off, having gained " glory enough for one night."
While this act of violence entailed a great loss to the colored mer¬ chant, who was able to bear it, he stood up manfully for his rights and bore the odium heaped upon him with the patience and hunaility so characteristic of his race.
Whether the committee appointed at the town meeting held on August 26, 1834, for the purpose of inducing the negroes to sell out and leave the town had prevailed upon Smith to do the same, cannot now be stated with any certainty.
Stephen Smith was one of the shrewdest business men of his day. Possibly he foresaw that his path in Columbia was destined to be a difficult one. Public opinion not only seemed to be against his race but against the wealthy lumber merchant in particular. The recent attack directed against him, when his office was ransacked, was still fresh in his mind and may have induced him to insert the following advertise¬ ment in the Columbia Spy:
"NOTICE.
" I offer my entire stock of lumber, either wholesale or retail, at a reduced price, as I am determined to close my business at Columbia. Any person desirous of entering into the lumber trade extensively can have the entire stock at a great bargain; or persons intending to open
