Faculty Minutes, April 15, 1819 [Containing W. A. Anthony's Request for Dismissal from
College Because of an Argument with Tutor Simon Jordan]
April 15th 1819
The Faculty met Present
- Rev
d.
Joseph
Caldwell Pres.
- Elisha Mitchell M. P.
- Denison Olmsted C. P.
- William Hooper P. L.
- Simon P. Jordan Tutor
- Robert R.
King Tutor
W.A. Anthony was cited to answer for
disorderly conduct. It appeared that said Anthony on the 12th of the month applied to the President for a dismission from the College, stating as his reason, a resolution made in his own mind, that
he would not recite in the class any longer this Session. Being asked the cause of such resolution he refused to explain, but
referred to one of the Tutors [Simon Jordan], who he said would be able to
explain it. Conversation was afterwards held with the Tutor by the president, and
then again with said Anthony upon the
subject. This young man shewing much irritation on account of what he deemed an
insult on the part of the Tutor, he was advised to go to said Tutor, who
would probably satisfy him that no insult had been intended, or ought to have
been understood.
It appeared the next day that the young man was abroad among the students stating
every where, that the president had said to him, that he deserved to
be insulted, that polite treatment was not to be expected by the students
from the Faculty; and that the students were too scrupulous in expecting
politeness from the members of the Faculty. These observations the
president
asserts never to have been made by him, either in words or import. Upon hearing
of these representations the president made special enquiry the next day, and found
that the young man had been actually employed in attempting to impress these
assertions upon the students, and to agitate them with violent discontents.
In conversation with said Anthony, it
was mentioned to him by the president, that he was under a misapprehension, in
regards to what had passed in the former
conversation, and that on some points he had wholly misrepresented it to the
students. It was further stated to him, that his requests for a dismission had
been laid before the Faculty who had consented that he should receive one,
provided he would altogether absent himself from the place, according to the
ordinary practice at this institution.
Said Anthony then began to assert with
much positiveness and in an imflammatory manner, that the obnoxious remarks had
been made by the president, and every attempt to explain or deny, was followed by
still greater violence on the part of the young man.
It farther appeared that on the same evening said Anthony came armed with a dirk, a club, and several
pistols to the Tutor [Jordan] with whom he professed to be offended, and with
threats of instant violence with the club, demanded that he should ask his
pardon. Upon refusal he drew out a pistol and cocked it, and when another Tutor
came to interpose, he threatened him also, that if he made the least movement to
separate them, he would lay him dead on the spot. Other persons in the mean time
coming up the violence terminated, and it was presently afterwards found that
said Anthony went abroad among the
students stating that he was now satisfied, for the Tutor had actually asked his
pardon: while agreealey to the statement of
both the Tutors, who had continued together, no such language of confession had
been used, the Tutor having alleged that he had never injured him, and that
therefore there could be no reason why pardon should be asked.
When said Anthony appeared before the
Faculty. he demanded whether he was called as a student, or as an independent
individual. Upon being informed that having never received a regular dismission,
he must be considered as a student, he asserted himself to have been no longer a
student from the time of his application for a dismission; that he was a free
man and lived in a free country, and had a right to do as he pleased, in regard
to being a student or not.
It is to be further observed that having writen a note to the Tutor to ask
expanation, the Tutor had invited him to come and converse with him, in his room;
but said Anthony declined the
conference.
It appeared further that said Anthony
when in the presence of Faculty stated that in one of his conversations with the
president
he had asked redress for wrongs which he had sustained, & that redress
had been denied him; whereas the applications made by him were invariably for a dismission with leave to
remain at Chapel Hill, upon the ground that he had been insulted and that his
resolution had been formed not to recite any more the present session while no
suggestion was made of desired or expected redress, otherwise than as he might
attain it for himself.
It was resolved by the Faculty that W. A.
Anthony be suspended from this University for the term of six months commencing from the present date,
and ending on the 16th day of October next, and that he straightway
withdraw beyond the distance of two miles from the University.
It is also resolved that this minute be laid before the boad of Trustees of the
University at its sessions which shall next
ensue, for the consideration of that body.
It is further to be stated that said Anthony refused obedience to the law in removing from the College after his suspension, but having remained from Thursday,
when this determination of the Faculty was read in the publick hall, till the
following Monday, he then made a second attack on the Tutor with whom he professed
to be angry, armed as before, and on that night he made a clandestine escape.
Robert R. King Sec.