The President's Peculiarities
"Mr. Quincy's peculiarities are, in this neighborhood, well understood. His characteristic ardor of feeling, obstinacy of determination, and impetuosity in action, are known to all who have met him in public or private life... These qualities may be valuable in a popular leader, but they are more than useless in the President of a College. Students, though liable to error through inexperience, are nevertheless disposed to yield to just laws when enforced with mildness and dignity! These two requisites are manifestly wanting in Mr. Quincy..."
A little more than a week later, on June 11, the Senior Class issued a circular containing its views on the rebellion. For their trouble, seven of the more active seniors "dismissed from College for an indefinite term; and prohibited from appearing in the town of Cambridge, or having any connection with it, untill after the first day of September next."
On August 25, a special committee, set up by the Overseers and headed by John Q. Adams, made public its report on the rebellion. Seniors received most of the blame, although they were not considered completely lost souls. "To the senior class is yet reserved the power of exhibiting the honourable example of return from transient error to generous and liberal submission," the report stated.
And So It Ends
By this time, the Rebellion had completely run its course. Many students were in fact brought before the Grand Jury of Middlesex, but only two or three indictments were found, and these were dropped. Similarly, Quincy issued a statement, to all parents of the expelled sophomores, stating that "in the present case, the dismission was for a time, wholly indefinite." Later it was announced the expelled boys could re-apply for admission after that summer's Commencement--a fact which did not save the Class of 1936 from being the second smallest since 1809, with only 39 graduates.
One anonymous person tried to continue the revolt after the committee report criticizing the seniors. But his efforts failed, despite his assertion that "we must have some indulgence for Mr. Adams' humor. The mortifications and disappointments of his life have soured the old man's temper--and he must needs disgorge his venom."
But it was impossible to continue the rebellion any longer. It was over. And with it, the Rebellion Tree--including the spirit for which it stood--passed into history.