What steps did Southerners take in the 1840s and 1850s to prevent antislavery ideas from being expressed in the South?

The Southerners banned abolitionist literature which includes Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" which was portraying the truths associated with Slavery.

Explanation:

During the 1840s and 1850s in the South, the ideas against slavery began perpetuating among the people, and in order to prevent the people from expressing these thoughts publically, the Southerners made several attempts to ban the abolitionist literature which includes the prohibition of the popular novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet Beecher which portrayed the evils and brutal truth related to slavery.

the authority to tax.