He had only one remark before he sat down. It had been publicly
stated by a student of this seminary, that Mr. Thompson, in a
conversation with him, had said, that _every slave-holder deserved to
have his throat cut_, and that his slaves ought to do it. He could
not, of course, vouch for the truth of this; but Mr. Thompson was
there to explain. One thing, however, he could state as an
indisputable fact, namely, that the professors of the seminaries had
signed a document in which it was asserted that the young man had been
in the college for three years, and that his veracity was unimpeached
and unimpeachable. If the story were true--it was well that it was
timely made public. If the young man misunderstood Mr. Thompson, he
(Mr. B.) believed he formed one of a very large class in America, who
had fallen into similar mistakes, and drawn similar conclusions from
the general drift of his doings and sayings in that country.
* * * * *
Mr. THOMPSON, on rising, observed that no one could be more ready than
himself to commend the gentleman who had just resumed his seat for the
courage which he had shewn in dealing so frankly and faithfully with
him, (Mr. T.) in the presence of those to whom he (Mr. B.) was
comparatively a stranger, and whose favorable opinion he (Mr. T.) had
had many opportunities of conciliating. He rejoiced that his opponent
had, towards the end of his speech, attempted to state facts and
specify charges, and had thus afforded him an opportunity of showing
how completely and triumphantly he could meet the charges brought
against himself personally, and support the statements he had made in
reference to America. He would commence with the Andover story about
cutting throats. The truth of the matter was this. A student in the
Theological Seminary of the name of A. F. Kaufman, Jr., charged him,
George Thompson, with having said, in a private conversation, that
every slave-holder ought to have his throat cut, and that if the
abolitionists preached what they ought to preach, they would tell
every slave to cut his master's throat. Mr. Kaufman was from Virginia,
the son of a slave-holder, and heir to slave property. The story was
first circulated in Andover, and was afterwards published in the
New-York Commercial Advertiser, in a communication dated from the
Saratoga Springs. In reply to the printed version, I (said Mr. T.)
printed a letter denying the charge in the most solemn manner, and
referring to my numerous public addresses, and innumerable private
conversations, in proof of the perfectly pacific character of my
views. Then came forth a long statement from Mr. Kaufman, with a
certificate to his veracity and general good character, signed by
professors Woods, Stuart, and Emerson, of Andover. Here the matter
must have rested--Mr. Kaufman's charge on one side, and my denial on
the other--had the conversation been strictly private; but,
fortunately for me, there were witnesses of every word; and this
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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