Record Data
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Dick. Coll.
June 9. 1847
My dear bro.,
The accompanying document, from southern students of the college, will confirm what I wrote to you the other day. May I beg that you will have it inserted in all the Hagerstown papers that have noticed the affair- as an act of sheer justice to the college + to a much injured man.
In haste,
Very truly
Robt. Emory
Rev. Fechtig Esq.
{Private for the Editor}
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the original document in my possession. The names will be furnished if desired, but it was feared it would make the article too long. They will all appear, with their residencies, in the Philadelphia Ledger.
Robt. Emory
Pres.
June 10, 1847
The undersigned being Southern Students of Dickinson College, observe in the Philadelphia “Ledger” of the 8th. inst. an account of the late riot in Carlisle take from the “Hagerstown News” which demands a notice. It is there said 1st That “numbers of the students of Dickinson College, who were from the South, took an active part “in aid of the owners of the slaves” 2nd “That one of the students was slightly wounded.” 3rd That “Prof. McClintock of Dickinson College was particularly conspicuous in urging the negroes to the attack.” 4th “That a meeting of the Southern students of the College had been called in reference to Prof. McClintock’s behaviour upon this occasion and it is supposed they will demand his removal from the institution or withdraw themselves” These assertions, we are satisfied are all false, and whether made designedly for the purpose of injuring ourselves, or Prof. McClintock, they call for a denial.
At the time of the riot (Wednesday afternoon) the two literary Societies, to which all the students belong, were in Session; and as the excitement was very suddenly raised and the College is at some distance from the Court-house the students generally were not aware that any thing of the kind had occurred, until the whole affair was over. If there was any student at all on the ground, none certainly took any part in the matter, nor was any injured.
As to Prof. McClintock’s alleged participation in the transaction, we are not only satisfied from the most respected testimony that the charge is untrue, but from his long , established characterm we believe him incapable of any such thing. The story did indeed come to us as first so perverted and exaggerated, that, with the natural warmth of Southerners, many of us were excited against him. But after several meetings held for the purpose of considering the matter, in which not only the Southern students, but all the students of the Institution as a body participated, we have become convinced of the falsity of the accusation. The conduct of this gentlemen towards the students has always been of such a nature as to call for our warmest commendation. So far are we from desiring his removal from the Institution, that we thus publicly express our regard for him as a Professor, a gentleman, and a Christian. Moreover, we sincerely hope he may long remain with us as an instructor; for we are fully conscious that his withdrawal from the Institution would be an irreparable loss, both to ourselves and the College.
We regret most unfeignedly this lamentable occurrence; still we consider that the truth of the case demands this action on our part, and we have endavoured to state the whole affair as impartially as possible.
Dickinson College, June 8, 1847.
Signed by students from the following States, viz:
Maryland 57, Virginia 20, District of Columbia 3, Delaware 4, North Carolina 1, South Carolina 1, Mississippi 1, Louisiana 1, Kentucky 2.
Ninety in all, comprising all the Southern students of the college, except four.
