Gentlemen of the Faculty.
At a meeting of the Philanthropic members of the senior class, the following resolutions were adopted.Resolved 1st That we will perform no part in the exercises of the ensuing commencement, but on condition, that the first distinction, so justly due, be conferred on Mr Maultsby .Resolved 2nd that if any one senior, being a member of the Philanthropic Society, be refused his diploma, we will refuse the acceptance of our diplomas.Resolved 3dly That we are not actuated by a spirit of vain and causeless opposition to the determinations of the Faculty, but on the contrary, we feel sentiments of profound respect for so enlightened a body, and will strive, on every occasion to maintain its equitableauthority; but while truth demands this avowal, justice on the other hand, compels us to support a fellow-member in his rights—rights, which are the just fruit of his industry, ability, and various literary and scientific acquirements, unsurpassed by those of any of his class mates.Resolved 4thly That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the Faculty in the name of the Philanthropic members of the Senior Class.
Wm H. Owen , Clk2
"A Copy of the resolutions passed by the Philanthropic Society on Saturday the 25th May
Resolved 1stThat the thanks of this body are due to the members of the Senior Class for the noble stand they have taken in behalf of an injured class mate—that their fellow members of the Philanthropic Society are fully sensible of the justice of the cause they espoused and the pure and elevated motives which have influenced their conductResolved 2ndWhile the sentiments of this body most cordially sustain our fellow members of the Senior Class in the cause they have pursued, yet the Philanthropic Society earnstly desiring to establish peace and concord and to diffuse a spirit of good feeling as far as within its power, even at the expense of some concession, do request its brothers of the Society to sacrifice their just proceedings to the decision of the Faculty.Resolved 3rdThat should the senior members see proper to comply with this proposal, they be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the Faculty of the University of North Carolina.
Gentlemen:
Whereas the Philanthropic Society has seen fit unanimously to approve the course we have pursued, suggesting at the same time a Sacrifice of our proceedings to the promotion of peace and harmony, unwilling therefore to refuse a request from such a source and made with such a view we accede to the proposal of our Society and respectfully recall the resolutions of the 20th inst.
Wm H. Owen , Clk.
I desire to express to you, my3 unfeigned regret for the late proceedings, in which I was unfortunately engaged. Now that the subject has presented itself to my mind in its true light, I feel dissatisfied with the motive of withdrawal, expressed in our last communication to the Faculty. I speak for myself only, and with a grateful sense of the forbearance shown to us all. I fully acknowledge the wrong grounds assumed in the resolutions of the 20th Inst. without caring to mention a single palliative circumstance.It will be my only regret regret in looking back to this place that I should ever have been found professedly arrayed against a just authorityrespectfully yrs.
Revd & Dear Sir;
As I am soon to leave this place, perhaps to visit it no more, it is proper that I should leave behind me a more sure testimony than a mere oral confession of my consciousness of error in the part I acted relative to the Senior Report. Obedience to College laws is a moral duty, I have ever felt it to be such. A love of principle, and not a fear of the results of violated law has given shape and guidance to my actions. Hence the motives that uniformly prompt me to the observance of duty, should induce me also, when these obligations are violated toacknowledge my error and to beg pardon for the offence. This I earnestly do in the present instance.The thought of being charged with arraigning myself against the Faculty and the College laws will ever be grievous to me. Nothing could be more hostile to my wishes or my sense of justice than such an act. A chief source of my delight during my course here, has sprung from obedience to College laws; and my happiness has not been greater only because I have not attended to these laws with more rigor and uniformity