Alumni Reminiscences 1878 of Anti-Slavery Rebellion

In this remonstrance, a protest, we endeavored to show that we were governed by principles, generally recognized by our people, and enacted by the great fathers of the Republic.

(About two years ago, my venerable mother brought out a copy of this bellicose document and asked me to read it to her, which I did. Your father, Prof. Park knew my mother well. She died a year ago at the age of ninety two years. I shall go to Braintree on Monday next. & if I can find the document I will send it to you). In this remonstrance we gave to our superiors our ultimatum--that we would remain in the Academy if allowed to exercise our "inalienable rights:" otherwise we asked an honorable discharge.

which we received & about forty of us "packed our kit."

I returned to Braintree, to the surprise of every body. After my explanation, my parents approved my conduct, & my grandfather who was with Washington at West Point, was in extacie when I read to him the document, setting forth the reasons why.

But the venerable pastor R. S. Starrs D.D. was in his "tantrums," & said "I ought to be made to go back & beg pardon on my knees."

He undertook to lecture me & predicted that I would live to be sorry for the step I had taken, &c &c. He was proslavery & I was antislavery. That made all the difference. But I am getting off the subject.

3.

DAVID THAYER,. M. D., 94 Boylston Street,

Boston, 187

The teachers at the time we left were Osgood Johnson, Dr Taylor ("Uncle Sam" I hear him called) Prof. Sanborn now of Dartmouth College. One McLane, a South Carolinian by birth, & another, I think his name was Noyes. Am not sure of the name of this last. But I am happy to say that Dr. Tay lor, Prof Sanborn, & Mr Noyes did not sympathise with the proslavery policy of Mr. Johnson, though I think Mr McLane was in his glory.

One young man, an excellent christian & good scholar Mr Sherlock Bristol, persisted in his adherence to the Anti-slavery Society of the village & was publicly

expelled from the Academy & turned out of his boarding house. He then went to board in a house on the road as one goes to the Shawsheen River, on the left near the foot of the hill. He was driven from that asylum, & went to Oberlin, Ohio, where I met him, five years later as I was travelling through Ohio. I found him a most excellent Christian. Bristols expulsion failed of the effect intended. In stead of checking us it rather excited us the more.

The act of the expulsion of Bristol was, as we say now, rather rough. The room in the Academy was full, Mr Johnson, (all the teachers being present) rose & with all the pomp & circumstance inquisitarial, that the little man could muster & master, went on to accuse his victim of

insubordination, & as we all thought, greatly exaggerated his offence.

Mr Bristol sat in a front seat & rose & with greate self control & in a most respectful manner asked to be permitted to speak in his own defence.

Mr. Johnson lost his temper & with great passion--anger--for so small a man, ordered him to sit down. The order was obeyed. This cowardly act of the Principal grieved many & exasperated the Abolitionists--and made us more determined in the way we were going. You ask particularly about [Dr?] Johnson. In reply I am happy to say he was a good man, a good scholar in Latin & Greek, but a man so ignorant of human nature that this little difficulty quite unhorsed him, so that he could not exercise authority without displaying the tyrany of a little & cowardly nature.