USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Canaan > The history of Canaan, New Hampshire > Part 24
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The nation at this time was at the height of the anti-slavery agitation. During this month anti-slavery riots had taken place . in New York City, and had been continued into New Jersey. The people of Canaan sympathized with both sides and the line was as sharply drawn between the abolitionists of Canaan and their
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opponents as anywhere in the country. Several abolition orators came to Canaan and served to keep the people stirred on that question, which was not solved for more than twenty-five years after. The friends of the school realized there was going to be a struggle, excitement was in the air; both sides did not hesitate to show their whole strength, and every effort was made to bring it out and place every man either on one side or the other. This was a question that it took a man of great ability to straddle. An extract from a diary written at that time, shows that the friends of the school were intent upon carrying out their pro- posed plan : "Thursday, Aug. 14th, 1834. Rode around town, electioneering, exorted a promise from every man I called upon to appear on Canaan Street tomorrow at 2 o'ck."
Other trusty messengers were dispatched about town to notify all persons interested to appear. At the general meeting the plan was formally laid before it and discussed fully by friends and opponents.
The opposition was led, with much bitterness of spirit, by Hon. Elijah Blaisdell, a gentleman who was not a subscriber, having no pecuniary interest in the institution. Other promi- nent opponents were present - Dr. Thomas Flanders and Rev. Joseph L. Richardson, all of Canaan.
After a deliberate hearing, a ballot was taken when thirty-six of the fifty-one proprietors present voted in favor and fourteen against it. Two did not vote at all, and declined to express an opinion. Two of the fourteen negatives afterwards declared themselves in its favor. One who was not prepared to vote at this meeting afterwards gave in his assent. Two others hoped the school would go on upon the proposed plan and flourish, and six others who were not present afterwards sent in their decided assent, making a total of forty-nine subscribers who favored the proposed plan. The plan submitted was thus adopted, the proprietors proceeded to elect a board of trustees, and fix on, a day for their meeting and organization.
An extract from the same diary brings us a little nearer to those times :
Friday, August 15. Attended the meeting of the proprietors of the Academy. N. Currier, Esq., was called to the chair, which he took with- out making a speech, as he never pretended to be an orator. I was
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much gratified with the proceedings of the meeting, 17 trustees were chosen. Mr. Kimball spoke with considerable warmth and energy on the wrongs of slavery. N. P. Rogers was present and spoke cheeringly of the future of this school. Mr. Blaisdell with his usual malignant disposition, bitterly opposed the object of the meeting, as subversive of the cause of good morals. Elijah does not win confidence in his asser- tions for his bitterness. Several resolutions were passed, among others it was resolved and approved that Dr. Cox of N. Y. City a notorious abolitionist, a friend, be among the trustees. Great events are on the gale.
Paine says "there is a mass of sense, lying dominant in man, which often descends with him to the grave for want of some stimulus to bring it forth to action. Nothing so well contributes to that important end as agitated or revolutionary times. This allusion seems to fit our present conditions."
But the enemies of the school - perhaps that phrase should not be used, it is not probable that any one was opposed to the Academy, as it was originated - but the plan to introduce negroes into this white community was revolting to the white sense of propriety. Negroes were not recognized as a part of the social system. This negative idea in regard to the negro was not new at this time. There are hardly any old enough to re- member the first negro who came to Canaan. It was a boy, who came over from Hanover about ninety-five years ago, to live with Captain Dole. How curiously he was examined - the flat nose, thick lips, kinky hair, and more wonderful than all, the blackness that enveloped his skin. The boys gathered about him in a circle, and wondered to see him talk and laugh like them- selves. But the novelty at length disappeared, and then Denni- son Wentworth was only a "colored boy."
But the Christian men and women of those days were never ready to recognize his equality before God. And when the Con- gregational Church was built in 1828-29, that there might be no misunderstanding, as to the sentiment of the builders or pro- jectors, a pew was built in the northwest corner of the gallery, and dedicated to the negro race as the "Negro Pen," and there it remains today, a witness to the prejudice that was to culminate in after years, in outrages and mobs all over the land, produc- ing bitterness and wounds in society, that a whole generation has scarcely been able to heal. The negro could go into that
17
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pen, and listen to the prayers, the hymns and sermons of the preacher, but he must come no nearer the altar of God.
The opponents of the negro part of the plan were not idle. They gathered together in caucus, after the meeting of the proprietors, and decided that a "town meeting" should be called to procure if possible an unfriendly expression from the voting population of the town. The names of the men who were most prominent in this opposition were: Elijah Blaisdell, Joseph L. Richardson, Dr. Thomas Flanders, the Pattees - father and son - Jacob Trussell, William Campbell and many others. There was another reason aside from the social aspect of the affair, that led them to a public expression of disapproval of the negro question in the school. The Southern politicians were getting excited at the spread of Abolition sentiments, and it was a fondly cherished belief of our good men, that they could contribute something towards soothing their Southern brethren, by passing resolutions, denouncing the Abolitionists, having them published in the New Hampshire Patriot, signed by the selectmen and clerk and then sending carefully marked copies to their senators and representatives in Congress. It was only a murmuring ripple of popular opinion, not very loud as yet but harsh, a murmur that was to develop an untamed wild beast.
Indications of the mob spirit are foreshadowed in an extract from the diary before mentioned, under date of
August 26, 1834. There is certainly something pertaining to aristoc- racy in every village, Yea, in every community, of individuals. The man of wealth has his retainers as well as the religionist his proselytes. There are those who are ready to act in any capacity, even at the head of a mob whose intentions have been declared. Jefferson says "the mobs of great cities add just so much to the support of the pure govern- ment, as sores do to the strength of the human body."
August 29, 1834. It seems that the principles of abolition are as con- tagious as the cholera. All seems to be infected with the mania. Amalgamation would be frightful, but that would be the result if these principles were carried out.
A school is about to be opened here, where spirits of all colors are to receive instruction together.
The master spirit of the age is benevolence. The earth, the at- mosphere, everything seems pregnant with the spirit of benevolence. What must be done, can be done. What ought to be done, will be done.
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A town meeting was warned to be held September 3d, "To take the sense of the qualified voters relative to the contem- plated Institution about to be established in this town, avowedly for the purpose of educating black and white children and youth promiscuously and without distinction and what measures to adopt in regard to said Institution." The meeting was held on the appointed day, and the following resolutions were passed :
Whereas divers of the inhabitants of the town of Canaan have erected a building and obtained an act of the legislature incorporating them into an association by the name of Noyes Academy for the avowed purpose of literary instruction, and whereas George Kimball, Nathaniel Currier and a few others, in contempt of the feelings and wishes of their associates, and contrary to the views of the good citizens of the town, (and as we believe of the adjoining towns) have determined by their vote to dedicate said building and act of incorporation, to the establish- ment of a school for the purpose of mingling promiscuouly, for the pur- pose of instruction the Black as well as the white children of our coun- try, and have by their vote and declaration, declared that they will re- ceive such blacks into said Academy for instruction and into their fami- lies as boarders on the same terms as the whites, and compel their own children and boarders, and all who may attend said Academy to asso- ciate with them, without regard to colour, thereby not only outraging the feelings of the inhabitants of said town, setting aside the very dis- tinction the God of Nature has made in our species in colour, features, disposition, habits and interests, but inviting every black, who may ob- tain means by the aid of his own friends and by the aid of a Society heated by Religious and Political zeal, to a degree that would sever the Union for the purpose of emancipation. Therefore resolved That we view with abhorence every attempt to introduce among us a black population, and that we will use all lawful means to counteract such introduction.
Resolved that we most devoutly wish for the emancipation of every black slave in our country, and that whenever any method shall be de- vised to effect that object consistant with the rights, views and inter- ests of our Southern brethren, who are immediately interested, we shall be ready to make any sacrifice to effect it, provided it is not to mix them with our own free white population.
Resolved that while we contemplate with sorrow, the hard fate of the African race, and lament that any of that race should be slaves, we are not prepared to sever the happy union of these states and inbue our hands in the blood of our brethren for the purpose, of having Black Presidents, Black Governors, Black Representatives, Black Judges, nor for the purpose of gratifying the religious zeal of any class of discon- tented citizens.
Resolved, that we view with abhorrence the attempt of the Abo-
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litionists to establish a school in this town, for the instruction of the sable sons and daughters of Africanus, in common with our own sons and daughters and that we view with contempt every white man and woman who may have pledged themselves to receive black boarders or to compel their own children to associate with them.
Resolved, that we will not send our children to any Academy or High school, where black children are educated in common with white chil- dren, nor in any way knowingly encourage such schools.
Resolved, that we will not associate with nor in any way countenance any man or woman who shall hereafter persist in attempting to establish a school in this town for exclusive education of blacks, or for their edu- cation in conjunction with the whites.
Daniel Pattee, John Shephard and Elijah Blaisdell were chosen to procure the publication of the foregoing preamble and resolutions. And to nominate "seventeen" persons in different parts of the town with instructions "to use all lawful means to prevent the establishment of said school and if established to counteract its influence."
These men were :
James Eastman
Jacob Trussel
March Barber
Sylvanus Morgan
E. Blaisdell Daniel Pattee, Jr.
Stephen Ward
D. B. Whittier
John Shephard Samuel Paddleford
Elijah Miller
Timothy B. Dudley
George Walworth William Campbell
Adam Pollard Joseph L. Richardson
Under date of the same day the diary says:
The people of Canaan assembled this day at the Town House to con- sider the recent measures of the Abolitionists in reference to the School. After listening for some time to the mobocratic vituperation of Elijah, a long list of inflammatory resolutions pertinent to the occasion were read and passed. Ah, me! the old Jacobins are determined not to have the niggers here.
Great efforts were made to rally the disaffected and to create disaffection. Mr. Blaisdell took hold of the growing sentiment of opposition, petted it, rubbed it the wrong way of the fur, to irritate it, then presented the resolutions, all of which together with his speech, were duly reported in the New Hampshire Patriot.
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NOYES ACADEMY.
No one raised an objection, no friends of the school took part in the meeting. The number voting for the unfriendly resolu- tions was 86, out of over 300 votes on the check list. The friends of the school were jubilant and considered themselves to be a strong and decided majority among the people. Poor, deluded mortals! Little did they realize the aggrieved spirit that animated those 86 votes. So firmly convinced that they were attending to their own affairs, and that no one ought to molest them, they took measures to open the Academy.
On the 11th of September, 1834, the trustees met for the first time in the Academy, when such business as came before them was transacted, and the following circular was passed to be printed, and put in circulation :
To THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
The undersigned Trustees of the Noyes Academy, in conformity with the wishes of a large majority of the donors of said Academy, and with the unanimous vote of the corporators, named in the act of the Legis- lature, have come to the resolution to admit to the privileges of this Institution, colored youth of good character on equal terms with whites of like character. In adopting this principle the Trustees deem that they are reducing to practice the spirit and letter of the Declaration of our National Independence, of the Constitution and laws of New Hamp- shire, and the Bills of Rights of all the States of this United Republic, except those which have made literature a crime, and prohibited the reading of the Bible under heavy penalties.
In the State of New Hampshire according to the law, character and not complexion, is the basis of every distinction, either of honor or in- famy, reward or punishment. But what greater punishment can there be, what greater degradation, than to deprive the soul of its proper sustenance, the knowledge of divine and human things? Much better were it to kill the body than to doom the mind to ignorance and vice.
It is unhappily true, that heretofore the colored portion of our fellow citizens, even in the free States, while their toil and blood have con- tributed to establish, and their taxes equally with those of the whites, to maintain our free system of Education, have practically been excluded from the benefits of it. This Institution, propose to restore, so far as it can, to this neglected and injured class the privileges of literary, moral and religious instruction. We propose to uncover a fountain of pure and healthful learning, holding towards all the language of the Book of Life: "Ho! EVERY ONE that thirsteth let him come and drink." We propose to afford colored youth a fair opportunity to show that they are capable, equally with the whites, of improving themselves in every scientific attainment, every social virtue, and every Christian ornament.
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HISTORY OF CANAAN.
If however we are mistaken in supposing, that they possess such capacity; if, as some assert, they are naturally and irremediably stupid, and incorrigibly vicious, then the experiment we propose will prove this fact; and will in any event furnish valuable data, upon which the ex- cited patriotism and piety of the land may predicate suitable measures in time to come, or may relapse into undisturbed repose, and forever forbear to form designs upon this agitating subject.
There are in the midst of this republic, of slaves and men nominally free, a number much greater than the population of the six New Eng- land States, and about nine times greater than the entire people of the State of New Hampshire. This mighty mass of human beings, of in- telligent spirits and active passions must remain here, for weal or for wo, until the Creator of all shall come to judge the world. They must not only remain here but they must in spite of all human efforts, go on to increase in a ratio, which inspires apprehension in those who are conscious of doing them continual wrong.
If, therefore, there really exists between them and the whites, that natural and invincible antipathy, which many allege as an argument against our plan, how important and necessary is it for the welfare of this whole country that some of their own color should be humanized, christianized and qualified to gain that access to their minds and that control over their evil propensities which upon the above proposition it is impossible for any white ever to acquire.
It is a familiar remark, that it would be an incalculable injury to this country, if the restraint which the influence and instructions of the Catholic Clergy impose, were to be removed from the uneducated and depraved among the Irish emigrants. The total number of those emi- grants does not exceed one fifth of the colored Americans! If, on the other hand, the alleged antipathy does not exist, then one of the most common and formidable objections to the free and equal participation of all our youth in the means and opportunities of improvement, van- ishes at once and forever.
We propose to do nothing for the colored man - but to leave him at liberty to do something for himself. It is not our wish to raise him out of his place nor into it - but to remove the unnatural pressure which now paralizes his faculties and fixes him to the earth. We wish to afford him an impartial trial of his ability to ascend the steeps of science and to tread the narrow way, which leadeth unto life. We wish to see him start as fairly as others, unconfined by fetters, unin- cumbered with burdens and boyant with hope; and if he shall then fail, we shall at the worst have this consolation, that we have done our utmost to confer upon him those excellent endowments, which the wis- dom of God and the solemn appeal of our fathers have taught us to regard as the appropriate distinction of immortal and infinitely im- provable beings.
We profess to be republicans, not jacobins, nor agrarians; we think with a great and liberal Englishman, that political equality means "not a right to an equal part, but an equal right to a part," not a right
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to take from others, but an equal right with others to make for our- selves. We profess to be Christians and we look with humble reliance for the blessing of Him, with whom "there is neither Greek nor Jew, Bar- barian nor Scythian bond nor free, but Christ is all in all."
This declaration is intended to be preliminary to a detailed plan for the instruction and government of the Academy, which with the terms of tuition, the qualifications for admission, the time of commence- ment, and the name of the instructor, will form the subject of a future and early communication to our fellow citizens.
GEORGE KIMBALL, Canaan, N. H.
NATHANIEL CURRIER, DO, TIMOTHY TILTON, DO, JOHN H. HARRIS, DO, DAVID L. CHILD, Boston, Mass., SAMUEL E. SEWALL, DO, WILLIAM C. MUNROE, Portland, Me.,
N. P. ROGERS, Plymouth, N. H.,
GEORGE KENT, Concord, N. H., SAMUEL H. Cox, New York City,
Trustees.
CANAAN, N. H., Sept. 11th, 1834.
The same day there was a public meeting at the Congrega- tional Meeting House. Rev. Mr. Robbins, a Methodist minister, was invited to open the meeting with prayer. He almost declined, but finally consented. He prayed very cautiously, asking God to bless the enterprise if it was to be for His glory, but as he did not believe it was God's intention to mix blacks and whites, he prayed that all the efforts might be put to confusion. A careful man, this Robbins, but not honest as God and the law require men to be honest. The meeting was then addressed by Mr. David L. Child of Boston, followed by Samuel E. Sewall of Boston and N. P. Rogers of Plymouth.
This meeting was interesting to all the friends of the school. The principal points upon which Mr. Child dwelt were: (I.) The unlimited power and control of the master over the slave. (II.) The capacity of the black to receive needed knowledge, and (III.) the possibility of safe emancipation. He illustrated these points with facts, some of them revolting to human nature. "Sept. 12, 1834," the diary goes on : "An address was deliv- ered at the Academy by Mr. Abdy from England, a traveler, upon the subject of slavery as it existed in Europe, contrasted with it here. Mr. Child followed with some cheering words.
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Then George Kimball, the lawyer, being filled with zeal, prophe- sied glowingly of the great benefits that were to result to the human race from the small beginnings here in Canaan." At length, "Sept. 14th. Tranquility is again restored to our vil- lage. The Abolitionists are gone, and Elijah and Jacob have retired from sight to their several occupations in life. Now let us wait for the next moment for both parties have become so hostile that aggressions must follow."
In those days there existed a class of men, whose minds were constantly seizing upon new and unheard of horrors, with which to influence and arouse the indignation of such as are always shocked at the recital of outrage and wrong. This class of persons like to pass from one state of indignation into another with abruptness, and always find the succeeding condition more intense than the preceding. This morbid feeling had been strained to a high tension, by the recital of the outrages and murder committed upon William Morgan, by the Masons of New York, and by the revelations of imaginary horrors, that were daily transpiring, within the guarded recesses of the lodge room. It was not difficult to transfer the sympathies of these awful imaginings to the actual horrors which were being daily recited, in relation to the black slaves. Their wrongs were visible, tan- gible realities, and seemed to cry to Heaven for redress. That cry was heard in every hamlet and village in New England, and awoke the sympathies of philanthropists into sudden and some- times unhealthy activity.
It is possible, that the action of the trustees, inviting "col- ored youth," to partake of the benefits of the Academy, might have had its origin in a desire to secure to itself the benefits of the fund which several philanthropic gentlemen had set apart for the education of "colored youth," but certain it is, that some two years before the establishment of "Noyes Academy" efforts were commenced for the establishment of a Manual Labor School, somewhere in New England, to promote the improvement of the free people of color. Several thousand dollars, the sum was stated as high as $15,000, were subscribed and several places were recommended as suitable for such an undertaking. George Kimball, Esq., who was an enthusiast in everything he under- took, exerted himself with great assiduity, to influence the trus-
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tees and patrons of Noyes Academy to admit pupils without regard to color, to the advantages of the institution.
When this decision was announced, as it was by the trustees in their circular of the 11th of September, it was decided that the subscription with all its patronage, should be bestowed upon Noyes Academy, thus securing to it a permanent fund and plac- ing its success beyond a doubt. But the hostile sentiments which met them at the threshold, and which soon developed into un- governed rage, caused the withholding of these funds, and it has not been possible to trace them with certainty. But it is probable, when the difficulties in Oberlin College, Ohio, which were caused by the same sentiments, were settled by opening its doors to blacks and whites alike, that generous subscription went to swell the funds of that institution.
But to go back to the facts. After the meeting of the trus- tees on the 11th of September, a committee was dispatched to Andover Theological Seminary, for a "sound and accomplished teacher." Doctors Skinner and Woods, recommended Mr. Wil- liam Scales, of the senior class, who accepted the position, and appointed the first of March as the date of opening the school.
Encouraged by the cheering call of the circular of the trus- tees, fourteen colored youth and children resorted to the school, advancing with trembling steps to the enjoyment of privileges, to them at least unexpectedly presented. Besides these there were twenty-eight white pupils, at the opening. And it looked as if the school was going on in peace and prosperity. Of the demeanor of the colored pupils, and it is upon good authority, that "they were modest and inoffensive in their deportment, in their manners polite and unassuming, their lives unblemished, in their application and improvement their capacities and intel- lectual attainments they compared favorably with the other pupils." The friends of the school believed they saw in all the signs a token of God's approbation of their endeavors, and they rested securely upon their labors.
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