What action did many Southern towns take regarding abolitionist literature?

Many Southern towns took aggressive measures against abolitionist literature, reflecting the intense hostility toward anti-slavery sentiment in the South during this period. This included hiring postmasters to burn mail containing abolitionist materials. The rationale behind this action was to suppress ideas that were viewed as a threat to the institution of slavery and the social order of the South. Abolitionist literature was seen as incendiary, potentially inciting unrest or rebellion among enslaved populations and challenging the pro-slavery stance that many Southern communities upheld.

In contrast to the correct answer, the other options suggest reactions that were either supportive or open to discussion of abolitionist ideas, which was not the case in the Southern states at that time. The South prioritized maintaining their societal norms, and the destruction of abolitionist materials was a measure to prevent the spread of ideas that could undermine those norms.