building "must be razed to the
ground, let it go down in behalf of free speech and the great cause of
liberty." The class of '61 also decided that free speech must be
protected, and on the appointed evening was present in force with
hickory clubs, twelve members in front and more scattered about inside.
While the church was packed there was no demonstration, though the mob
"howled outside."

Most of the students who heard Phillips that night left confirmed
abolitionists, and some were among the first to take up arms. To us,
nowadays, the state of public opinion at that time seems almost
incomprehensible. Few of the individual members of those mobs were in
real sympathy with the South, but party affiliations were strong and, in
the words of Judge Cheever, '63, who describes these troubles, they were
held back from openly showing abolitionist principles by "their fear
that an open contest would lead to the destruction of the government."
Within a year a good part of the rioters were in the Union Army.

Throughout the troubled period preceding the actual outbreak of war,
President Tappan was circumspect in his public utterances, and was
considered conservative on the slavery question though he presided at
the Wendell Phillips meeting. The professorial radical of those days was
the young Andrew D. White. He was in closer touch with the students than
his colleagues, and his personal influence and brilliant lectures on
modern history swept his students on into bold opinions and resolute
action.

When Sumter was fired upon the University was aflame at once. Although
it was Sunday when the news of the surrender came, there was no thought
of services. A platform of boxes and planks was raised on the Court
House Square and Dr. Tappan was sent for. Upon his arrival, Bible in
hand, he found a large and a serious gathering awaiting him. Heretofore
President Tappan had permitted himself to say little, though his
students were thrilled occasionally by some remark which showed how
keenly alive he was to the great issues of the time. Now he could speak.
After reading some heroic passages from the Old Testament, he spoke, in
the words of Gen. W.H.H. Beadle, '61,--

With mind and heart and soul in heroic agony, as if long-formed
opinions and long silenced feelings now burst into utterance.... In
all Michigan's history this was the great historic occasion.

The contemporaries of Dr. Tappan are unanimous in their judgmen