All Items 5

Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to the Anti-Slavery Society, 1835 January

Humphrey, Heman, 1779-1861

A letter written by Heman Humphrey on behalf of and by vote of the faculty to the Committee of the Anti-Slavery Society in Amherst College in which Humphrey responds to the letter from the Anti-Slavery Society to the faculty, dated January 1835 and in Box 1 Folder 48 of this collection. Humphrey states that he shared this communication with the faculty and they were happy to find that it was written in the same excellent spirit as that of the memorial written by the Anti-Slavery Society previously. He writes that though the faculty has the kindest feelings towards every member of the Anti-Slavery Society, they agree with the opinion recently expressed by the student body of the Andover Theological Seminary that in the present agitated state of the public mind, it is inexpedient to keep up any organizations under the name of antislavery or colonization or the like in the literary and theological institutions. Humphrey goes on to explain the reasons for this opinion and responds to the society's objections to the conditions previously suggested to them by the faculty. He states that the Anti-Slavery Society must cease to exist just as the college's American Colonization Society has done already. He again states that they hold the members of the society in the kindest personal regard and are confident in their good principles and judgement. On the back of the letter is a note stating that this is a copy of the communication sent to the society.

Copy of Heman Humphrey letter to the Anti-Slavery Society, 1835 January
William George Howard, David Andrews, and Edward Corrie Pritchett letter to the faculty, 1835 January

Pritchett, Edward Corrie, 1812-1892

Letter from three members of the Anti-Slavery Society to the faculty of Amherst College. Members William George Howard, David Andrews, and Edward Corrie Pritchett write that the society has examined and discussed the conditions that the faculty offered them, presumably referring to the faculty's letter dated November 26, 1834 in Box 1 Folder 48 of this collection. They state that after examination of the specific restrictions which the faculty's letter contained, which they feel deprive the society of all that gives value to any association, the society resolved at the last meeting that their duty as men and Christians forbids them from agreeing to the conditions the faculty submitted. The letter states that Howard, Andrews, and Pritchett, as the undersigned, were appointed to communicate this resolution to the faculty body.

William George Howard, David Andrews, and Edward Corrie Pritchett letter to the faculty, 1835 January
William George Howard, Joseph Haven, Jr., and Leander Thompson letter to the editor of the Evangelist, 1835 January 23

Thompson, Leander, 1812-1896

Letter from members of the Anti-Slavery Society to the editor of the Evangelist. William George Howard, Joseph Haven, Jr., and Leander Thompson write on behalf of the society regarding the January 17, 1835 issue of the Evangelist which included a copy of the memorial the Anti-Slavery Society of Amherst College had addressed to the faculty of Amherst College. They write that they were surprised to see it published and that they regret the accompanying editorial remarks which they feel were calculated to deteriorate the reputation of those they esteem as guardians and friends (the faculty of the College). They go on to say that while they don't wish to impugn the editor, they do feel that the publishing of the letter along with the private views of the gentlemen who forwarded it without the knowledge of any of the society members was unfair and unwarranted. They go on to say that it also is not a fair representation of the current state of facts between the society and the faculty. Thus, on behalf of the Anti-Slavery Society, they write that they respectfully disapprove of the course the newspaper took and they provide a public statement saying that the transmission of the document to the editor was unauthorized and undesired. The document, also called the memorial, discussed in this letter is presumably a copy of the letter in Box 1 Folder 47 of this collection.

William George Howard, Joseph Haven, Jr., and Leander Thompson letter to the editor of the Evangelist, 1835 January 23
Faculty letter to the Anti-Slavery Society, 1834 November 26

Amherst College. Anti-Slavery Society

Faculty letter addressed to the Committee of the Anti-slavery Society in Amherst College in which the faculty respond to the "memorial" sent to them from the Anti-Slavery Society, presumably the letter dated October, 21 1834 in Box 1 Folder 48 of this collection. The faculty explains their delay in responding and write that despite the petition from the society, they still feel that the interests of the Institution would be best served by the voluntary disbanding of the Anti-Slavery Society. They go on to say that since it seems the society members cannot conscientiously take this step, and since the faculty ordering it to be done would be so afflictive, they have decided to let the society continue under certain regulations. They provide these regulations in detail including that the society must only meet once a month and chiefly for prayer, that the society cannot solicit new members, that discussion and formal addresses before the society be entirely discontinued, and that neither the society or members of it can correspond with the press or any other persons to bring their opinions before the public. The faculty explain that the object of the regulations is to guard against evils that they feel would result from frequent meetings, earnest discussion, and newspaper notoriety. They conclude by stating again that under these regulations they will permit the society to remain intact for now, but retain the right to disband it in the future should they feel it is necessary for the good of the Seminary. They end of the letter states "by the unanimous vote of the Faculty."

Faculty letter to the Anti-Slavery Society, 1834 November 26
Anti-Slavery Society letter to the faculty, 1834 October 21

Farwell, John Edward, 1809-1858

A letter signed by students John E. Farwell, Leander Thompson, Joseph Haven, Jr., William George Howard, Henry G. Pendleton, and Ezra Adams, Jr. on behalf of the Anti-Slavery Society addressed to the faculty of Amherst College in which the society members respond to a request from the faculty that they disband. The authors explain that they respect the instructors and would gladly reply with their request if they could do so consistently with the dictates of their conscience and the wants and woes of perishing millions. However, they go on, they met and after prayer and deliberation they resolved unanimously that they could not disband the society. They provide background on the formation of the society and the measures they have taken. They then specifically address the objections that were raised in regards to the society's potential negative impact on the progress of religion for the individual society members and the community, explaining that they feel the reverse to be true. They conclude by reiterating that they cannot disband their society as was requested and state that they feel their cause is the cause of humanity and the cause of the Bible. They ask that they be allowed to continue to hold their usual monthly meetings for prayer. They say that should the faculty still believe that the society must be dissolved for the good of the College, they pray that the faculty will continue this work themselves. They also state that they would rather abandon any of the literary societies than this society.

Anti-Slavery Society letter to the faculty, 1834 October 21