Abolitionism in Yale College

Mr. James Hamilton, a southern student in Yale College, has addressed to the editor of the New Haven Register, a very able and eloquent letter, in which he vindicates the South from the calimonies of the abolitionists, who seem to have become newly inspired with the spirit of evil since the publication of Mrs. Stowe's infamous book. In the course of his letter he discloses a mortifying state of things in Old Yale, which will not fail to attract the attention of those southerners who have sent or contemplate sending their sons to that institution. The writer says:

I shall now, sir, close this communication, by considering another agency to which I have but hinted - an agency more powerful than at first sight might appear, and with whose assiduous employment in this unholy crusade, I am satisfied the country at large is but imperfectly acquainted, and which indeed, may not be fully appreciated by men, even of the North. This agency is your College. Notwithstanding the effort put forth by your clergy, your literati, your daily press, your quarterlies, and monthlies, to bring odium upon the South and her institutions, it has generally been thought that a healthy, national conservatism existed in your institutions of learning. The Southron, believing that they afforded facilities superior, in some respects, to those of his own section, and besides wishing by observation and travel to expand his son's mind, has patronized your schools and colleges, not dreaming that these two have become infested with the prevalent hostility to his section. Now, what are the facts? Since the enactment of the "Fugitive Slave Law," reports from several of the more prominent colleges and universities in New England have been published, purporting to give expression of their views upon this law - and invariably in opposition to it.

To but one college in New England has of late been accorded the honor of being National. Yale, along has enjoyed this reputation; and the scores of Southern names upon her catalogue show how general has been, and is yet, this belief through the Southern States. But does Yale foster that sound, national conservatism, for which her authorities have the credit? No one has heard of public gatherings of students here to denounce the ex cathedra, Slavery and the Fugitive Slave Law. It is true, the subject has been discussed at times, but always on such occasions, and under such circumstances, as to implicate, in no respect, the opinions of the Faculty. But, within the last few months, Yale has caught the infection, and now raises her official hue and cry against Slavery, as un "unjust institution," and does reverence to the supremacy of the "higher law" - not, indeed, through public channels, but through the professional chair, she seeks to instill into the minds of the youth entrusted to her care a detestation for the institution of Slavery, a contempt for those who sustain it, and a hostility to the Constitution which sustains it. For the truth of these statements, I submit the following facts:

At the conclusion of the reading of the "disputes," a few weeks since, before the President of the College by members of the Senior Class, upon the subject of the acquisition of Cuba, (all of the disputants save one having taken strong negative grounds, and chiefly because of the increase of slaves and slave-territory,) the President expressed himself, in substance, as follows: "I have several objections to urge against the measure;" and, after citing our treaty obligations with Spain, and other considerations not necessary here to repeat, he continued "but waiving all these objections, and supposing the Cubans, by their own acts, to have established an independent government; to be possessed of full powers to dispose of themselves - nevertheless, should they desire to be incorporated into our Confederacy, I should oppose the measure so long as it involved the necessity of bringing us more slaves. There is, said he in conclusion, "a deep seated conviction on this subject of slavery throughout a large class, who have hitherto, for the sake of peace, acquiesced in legislative enactments; but who, if they are to be forced farther against their convictions, will spring an agitation such as this country has never experienced. For my own part, (said he,) rather than Cuba, with her slaves should be annexed to this country, I should opposed the measure - even to the dissolution of the Union?"

Said a Professor, not long since, to a New England Student, during a conversation which happened to turn on Mrs. Stow's book - "I have lived in Georgia, as a teacher, and can bear witness to its truthfulness from my own observation." Again, in a series of lectures, now in course of delivery before the Senior Class, by the President - upon the "Origin of Rights, and the Duties of State" - he has taken especial pains to dwell upon the "injustice of Slavery," and our obligations to a "higher law." In order to bring the subject before a great body of the students, he has written within the last week, in connection with a Professor in the law Department, gives as a question for a prize debate before one of the Societies: "Ought the Fugitive Slave Law to be Obeyed?" He has also taken occasion to congratulate himself upon the inefficiency of this law; and expresses his indifference as to the time when the final crash may come, which shall determine whether or not this is to be a free government.

In what, now, Consists Yale’s further claims to nationality – of which her friends, everywhere have so long boasted? What cord of sympathy or interest is left to bind her hundreds of Southern alumni, who have looked back with pleasure and pride to their College days, and, who have annually traveled weary miles to pay their tribute of love and veneration to Alma Mater? The society, which they formed thirty years since, for the cultivation of mutual friendship, and to enjoy the advantages of debate freed from the angry contentions which slavery disputes would beget in the other societies, is dissolved, and the Southern student, at this epoch of hostility to his section, is thrown out to fight his way in weekly broils – or submissively listen to the most hostile denunciations against the institutions under which he was born. Such has of late been the state of feeling, that a proposition has been [illegible] by a number of Southern students, to withdraw in a body. The alumnus, of a few years back, can hardly appreciate the full force of the present state of things. The indignant course has, in too great a degree, taken the place of the cheerful song and the laugh-provoking jest. – Men retire from the lecture room – some, indignant and enraged – some, with painful surprise asks – “What can the President mean by the course he is pursuing?” – others, elated with the sanction of such high authority, unscrupulously re-echo the doctrines there promulgated.


Once more and I have done. This communication has been prompted by no mere desire to assail any one – least of all, those under whose direction I have pursued a course of study for the four years nearly passed. The uniform courtesy, which as an individual, I have invariably received, will remain a source of pleasant reflection – and I shall continue to do honor to the “Genius of Yale” – as she was in former years. I gladly acknowledge, that, among her present governors, there are some patriotic and national minds; but these exceptions, as high a regard they inspire me with, I cannot allow to swerve me from the performance of a duty which I feel I owe to the public at large, and especially to my section. Connected with every section of the Union by hundreds of alumni – among the best educated men in the country – this college has wielded a powerful influence over the National will – and, sending forth a hundred graduates annually, imbued with the teachings here received, it becomes a query of no trivial import – whether this influence shall be exerted for good or evil?


This editor of the Augusta Constitutionalist learns from a private letter from New Haven, that Mr. Hamilton has lost his diploma on account of his authorship of this manly exposure of the abolition influences at work in the institution so largely patronized by the Southern public. Commenting on this fact, the editor’ asks – “And has it come to this, that the abolitionism has taken such a deep hold upon that venerable institution, that a southern student is to be ignominiously denounced and arraigned by the learned Faculty as a criminal, for having dared to vindicate the institutions of his native South from the vile slanders of its fanatical assailants.

“Has it come to this, that the pious and philanthropic sympathies with the maudlin sentimentalism of the female romancer, who has woven fantastic tissues of improbable events, and wept false tears over imaginary woes of the negro race, can tolerate no criticism upon its absurdities, and would strangle all investigation of the event to which abolitionism has possessed itself of their own lecture room. Verily, if held of what is here narrated be true, Yale College is an unfit place for a Southern student. She is utterly unworthy of the countenance of Southern men – her Alumni, scattered throughout the Southern States, should be among the first to denounce her fanaticism; and turn the footsteps of our youth, seeking collegiate advantages, away from her abolition stained portals.”