Student Anti-Slavery Rebellion 1835

This result however was far from bring satisfactory to Mr Thompson & others, who were engaged with him in advocating the cause of immediate emancipation & had hoped for some more active cooperation from this Seminary in promoting their objects. Unwilling therefore that the matter should end thus, they determined to visit us again, & to make extraordinary efforts,-- efforts of a bolder character, & of more certain efficacy. These efforts they began on the fourth of July, & continued them, as ^we were informed seventeen days in succession. Mr George Thompson was the prinicpal lecturer, & Rev. Amos A. Phelps, & Mr Garrison, his assistants. The two former, as we were told, addressed themselved to their work, publicly & privately, with remar-

-kable diligence, & warmth of feeling. Mr. Thompkin's most conspicious effort was made in his attack upon the transactions of the Seminary published last February. Those transactions of ours disappointed his hopes, & proved to be no small trial to his sensibilities. His feelings & expressions on that occasion were said to be such, that one would hardly be willing to undertake to describe them. So far however as the members of the Seminary were concerned, the effort was a failure. The students who were present (and the number was large) even those who had taken the liveliest interest in his previous address, generally expressed a strong disapprobation of much that he uttered on that occasion. It was Friday evening the close of his first week's labors,-- public

notice having been given before of what he determined to do. He displayed not a little zeal to distratct from the influence of the Instructors & Governors of these three Institutions, & to stimulate the members of the Seminary, & the youth in the Academies to go forward, & form antislavery societies whether their Instructors consented or not, & in defiance of their authority. This attempt to introduce disorder & insubordination among young men who were quietly pursuing literary & theological studies, was something before unknown in the history of New England; & it was no ordinary mistake for any one to suppose that an enlightened community would look upon it with indifference. The time will come if it has not already come,-- then the chief actors in

this scene will wish to draw out their doings veil of concealment. But what, it will be asked, was the effect of their labors? It was this. A prevailing & very prominsing attention to religion was suddenly brought to termination end; A number of inexperienced youth in one of the Academies had their minds inflamed and perverted, & in consequence of this, pursued a course of conduct, of which many of them have already repented, & which all sober men here regarded with pity & shame.

The evnts which followed in the Seminary, were these:-- On August 4th, near a fortnight after the abolition agents had left the place, twenty seven members of the Seminary, i.e. four of the senior class, one of the middle,

short time, become a scene of envying & strife & every evening evil work.-- Far distant be the day, where such a calamity shall come upon the school of the prophets!-- It is our earnest desire that you & all your brethren would join with us in guarding this Seminary against any approaches to a condition so much to be deprecated.

Again. The formation of the proposed society ^would in our judgement, interfere with the spirit of piety among the students, & with their usefulness in the ministry.-- If you would be useful in the highest degree, which we trust is your aim, you must, as the apostle directs, "give yourselves wholly" to your appropriate work as ministers of Christ & must, in a great measure, withdraw yourselves from many other things, which may be ^{lawful &} proper for other men. But in the present case there is something still more to be feared than a diversion of your minds from your appropriate work.-- The business you have thought of is of such a kind, that you cannot enlist in it, without the danger of being so excited as to occasion a direct inquiry to your piety, to your ministerial usefulness, & to all the interests of the church. This convention is fored upon us by facts of a painful nature.

After this reply was communicated, those who have wished to form a society pursued a course honorable to themselves & gratifying to all the friends of the Seminary. They at once agreed to acquiesce in the decision of the faculty; & ths the whole matter quietly subsided.

We cannot but ^acknowledge our special obligations to God that he has dealt so graciously with this Seminary & has now again so ordered things in his providence that the evils which have so frequently resulted from agitation of such a subject have ot come upon us. And we most [?] wish that like blessing may be granted to all the literary & religious institutions in our land. Respectfully submitted;-- in behalf of the faculty Theological Seminary Andover, Sep 1, 1835 Leonard Woods

Sec Postscript.

Boston Septr 4 1823 My Dear Sir, Your anxiety is before this relieved by noticing in the papers a contradiction of the dis{illegible} of account from Montserado. I have just passed 2 hours with Capt Wightmore the Commander of the Brig Oswego. By him I learn that he landed the passengers at Montserado 61 in number all in health on the 25th of May. Found all the former Colonists well except 2 or 3 who had been wounded in the attack of the natives. The passengers went immediately to work to build houses. For about ten days they were all taken sick with the African fever. The Capt. Left the Cape on a trading cruise & returned about the 18th of June.\ He found the company he carried out sick but many of them the Doctor said well out of danger. Capt. Wightmore sailed from Montserado on the 21 of June. At that time 5 had died among whom was the famous Abel Hurd a colored man & a great traveller sent out by the Society to explore the Niger. I am going to prepare a report from

-minter taken from the {illegible} for the papers which will appear in his name. He is quite ill & has been for a long time. He says Dr Ayres is sick. A Shuman also poorly. 1. The fort or Castle is not destroyed. The roof not being on in season the heavy rains havemade a break in the wall, which will be repaired. Capt SS thinks white men cannot live in Africa. He says the land is very fertile the site a good one for a colony but the blacks are lazy. I wish to have all of their work done but the Croomen {illegible} government has been good for nothing. Dr Ayres immediately set about a reform but is so sill as to be able to write only a few hours at a time. I will only state one fact more - as it is an important one. Capt SS says the southern blacks are much better for Colonists than those from the free states. Behave much better & are far more industrious. I think we must not give up the enterprize. but I doubt the expediency of sending a cargo of negroes from N. England. I hope you will go to New haven & do what you can to lay a foundation for obtaining aid from Ct. When you got to N. Haven if you do not find the review in the Spectator I hope you will send me an abstract of it as soon as may be, to be embodied in an address to the worshipping assemblies of New England. I think too you would prepare the address yourself - Meantime do write immediately to the Ex. Com. or to Gurley & let them know that I must have a commission from them forwarded immediately to Boston suitable to be read in public if they mean to have me do anything for them. May our Heavenly Father bless you and Dear Sir & prosper the cause in which we are engaged. Yours very affectionately Chester Wright

yours very affectionately, Chester Wright for he

I have attempted nothing here until I get a commission I hope you have written & that one is on the way. If you have not your need not do it for I have written to Mr. Caldwell this day. Pray tell me what are your prospects at New Haven? The bearer of this will bring back your answer. Pray do not fail to send it. or if you fail send it by first mail. Yours in haste - Mr. Leonard Bacon Care of Mr. Henry W. Dwight New Haven (Ct.)

Sept 8. 1823 Dwight

Nov. 3. 1823. Chester Wright Collection 4th July & Af. Coll.

Mr. Leonard Bacon

Andover Ms Mr Road