Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-01
FLARE UP AT BETHANY VIRGINIA.
ANTI.sLAVERY EXCITEMENT.

ANTI.sLAvERY EXCITEMENT.
Last week there was q great connection
at the Disciples College, presided over by Rev.
Alexander Campbell, at Bethany, Va. 1t was
produced by a student by the name Of Burns, who,'
in f|ulfllment Of his appointment to preach ON
Sabbath evening in tho College pulpit, pursuant
to the election of a College Literary Society to
which he belonged, undertook 10 speak on the sub
iect of human rights and in opposition to Slavery
though in very mild terms.
His remarks, mild as they were produced n furi-
Gus excitement among the Southern students and
others, who were known to be armed with deadly
weapons. The meeting was greatly disturbed by
Misses, yells, eatcalls, &c., &C., and threats Of yio-
lencc against the speaker were freely thrown out:
The mob spirit finally prevailed and the Southern
ers had made their arrangements TO lay violent
hands upon Burns and duck him in the river, and
commit other atrocities uron him. Ills friends
however, gathered around him, and no was en-
nbled to escape, in the darkness Of I'd night
from those who were lying in wait to seize Inn.
The Southern students net the next day and re-
solved that the subject Of Slavery should not be
discussed in the college. The Faculty censured,
the fnprudeacc OF Burns, one ot them
significantly remarking that when among gnnpow-
der they must not carry matches.-The Northern
students also met, and resolved, that inasmuch as
the faculty refused to award them the rights Of
American citizens which was freedom Of speech,
they y ould no longer remain in connection with
lllt llStlNuNibil' IbN1 S'I NN'N' "''NN w
leave the theatre of such disgraceful proceedings,
where the paddock, by the sanction Of the faculty,
was sought to be fastened upon their lips. AL
the Northern students except n very few who re-
manned awaiting orders from home, lett, and also
some from the South.
Three Of the Northern Students who were on
their way home spent the last Sabbath in this vii.
lage, and from them, through a friend, VIC have de-
rived the above Tecited facts, which need no COM
ments from us, as they are their own best common
tary.
Mr.. Burns, the student above alluded to, is q
S~cotchman, from Canada, and was formerly q stu
dent at the Eclectic Institute, at Hiram in this
county.
We are gratifed to learn that Charles Judd, Esq,
of tEis village, who has n ward at the Bethany col
legc, has promptly written to him to pack up and
return home. Honor to the prompt decision and
just action Of Mr.. Judd. So it should be with all
Northern parents and guardians having sons and
wards there, and so re presume it will generally
be.-RauenHa Dem.
Bethany, where this disgraceful affair happened
is situated on the little strip of land called the
Pan Handle, extending down between Washington
County Pa, and Jefferson County Ohio. 1t is the
great seat of Campbellite Theology, and the place
for training Campbeliite Ministers for the Country.
This sect has been distinguished for proffering FREQ
discussion to all opponents in its assemblies, that
is, in regard to its theological ~dogmas. But the
question Of Slavery has been a prohibited one in
the great mass of its Observation-Disclosures Camp
bell, the founder Of the sec t and the President of
he College, has been UNANIMOUSLY distinguished as
a devoted supporter Of the system of Slavery; and
in 1850 he fairly distanced his Rev Northern COM
petitioners, in his blasphemous advocacy of the di-
vine rightfulness of the enactment. And yet no
is revered and honored by multitudes of profess
ing anti-slavery christians in Ohio MS the founder
and defender of the purest existing organized form.
of Christianity. viii not this demonstration
against free speech for the support of Slavery help
to open their eyes in regard to the moral influence
of the men who give character to their church, and
mould the Ministry which is to shape the morals
Of their various communities? The who'll course
of the Faculty of the College is in approval of the
riotous proceedings Of the hopeful young 'Disci-
piles" and aspirants to tho Ministry.
Since the above was in type we find the follow
ing in the Wheeling hteligencer, from a friend of
the gag applied at Bethany College;
Ed. INTEILIGENcER dear Sir You have,
doubtless, heard Of the fuss got up at Bethany
College by a few Abolitionists, who had entered as
students. After trying to introduce their incedi-
airy doctrines into the Literary Societies, where
they were met with PROMPT reluke, one Of them,
who is studying for the ministry, presumed to des-
ecrate the pulpit and the Lords day by intro
ducing their tavorite theme largely into a discourse
he was permitted to deliver. a large portion of
the audience, feeling themselves grossly insulted,
Immediately arose and left the house. Next day,
the agitators, taking advantage Of the excitement
they had produced, tried TO get up n "Northern
party" among the students, and went so far rs to
formally demand of the Faculty to concede to
them the right of discussing their favoritc, or
rather their only subject, not only in the College ex-
ercises, but in the pulpit! Finding that this inso-
lent demand was treated with silent contempt, and
that their disorgapizing schemes were fruitless,
they concluded to seek a more northern and congo
NAL climate and to cultivate mischief on q more fa-
vOrable soil than that Of Virginia. II is said that
their departure was accelerated by the action of
one or two waggish boys, who, knowing the credu-
lily Of Abolitionists in regard to imaginary South
ern outrages,'" and aware Of their extreme timid-
ity, when they think their own precious persons
endangered, amused themselves with their fears
: by threatening them in an anonymous letter that,
unless they would speedily make their Hegira, they
should be favored with certain travelling facilities
of which Abolitioaists have n peculiar horror, as
they much prefer to travel with darkies in the
D dark or on an underground railroad. No such
4 horrors, it is presumed, were really intended, and
: certain 1t is that not the slightest personal indig-
NIFTY was offered to any one during the whole affair,
; the students Of Bethany College having too much
respect for the institution and its Faculty to do
C anything that would bring discredit upon either.
The whole number that left the College was ten.
OF these, five were dismissed by the Faculty, viz:
the speaker who occasioned the disturbance who
is a Scotchman and lately from Canada, a conse-
-, ~quential Benedict from Indiana, and three self
conceited Simon pures from Ohio. 1t is worthy of
remark that most Of the ten were bencfciaries, and
not one of the ten had paid a cent of tuition
Upon the whole, the College has obtained a hap
py deliverance from these a~gitators, who have made
themselves martyrs at a cheap rate, ard will no
doubt be made into lions by their Abolition friends
though Bethany biologists found them to belong to
quite a different tribe of animals. The institution
was never in a more Furnishing condition, having
a much larger number of students than ever before,
with the most favorable prospects. The Faculty
seem determined to maintain q wholesome discE
! pline to repress all political and sectional agita.
tons which shoald never be allowed in the peace
tul halls of literature to know no North, no
Soth but to furnish to well behaved youths from