The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-05-23

The late Meeting of the N. Y. Historical
Society.

We have received letter from MIR,
Jay, the Secretary of the New York His
torical Society, explaining his reasons for
opposing the vote of thanks TO DIR. Beak-
ley for his paper on The progress Of the
Caucasian race in science and civi!iza.
ton With the opinions expressed by
Mr. Jay, We have nothing to do, and We
insert his letter simply in accordance with
our rule of throwing our columns open to
all who desire TO place their views fairly
before the public -
DR.. BFAkLEY's PAPER BEFORE THE
HIsroR1CAL SOCIETY.
70 the Editor of the Repeblie
Sir,-As the report contained in the
Republic of yesterday, OF the proceedings
of the New York Historical Society on
Tuesday evening, mentioned that most
warmly opposed The vote oil thanks to d.
Beakey for the paper read by thas gen
lleman beg leave to state in your COL
umns, the reasons which obliged me 10
pursue course which has been censured
as exhibiting want of courtesy.
The title of the paper, as publicly an
nounced was, The progress of the eau
casian race in Science and Civilization,
but the chief object of the writer appeared
TO be, 10 show that the moral and intel.
lectuaI inferiolity OF the MongoIian, A.
meriean, Malay, and especially the E!hi-
opian races, was owing to their physical
organization and the color of their skin.
And further to prove that the African
was decidedly and irFesocably inferior TO
the white maitland that this lot was his
ndtura. and inevitable destiny. In sup
port of this old theory, believe no new
facts or arguments were presented, other
han those which have often been adduced
on the one hand and replied TO on the 9TH
er, and it was matter of some surprise
that the gentleman should have selected
as the topic of an Essay before the His.
torical Society, question so foreign to its
object, and especially a theory, which
with all Difference to DR.. Beakley, sup.
posed had long since been closed with the
speculalions Of Linnaus, on the humanity
Of the monkey; with the serious copjec-
lures OF DIR. Darwin, on mans original
element being aquatic. and his original
form an oyster, and with the almost equal
" extraordinary absurdites perpetrated
by Lord Monboddo. Not that was un,
aware that such philosophers as Mr. Cal
houn and Mr. McDulfie, who regard
slavery as blessing, had adopted The the.
Dry. They could not well deny it in the
abstract, when they have reduced it tc
practice, and as far as possible proved i
to be a fact-and TO many of our country
men it must be satisfaction to believe, i
they can believe it, that they are mt NJ EN-
upon whom they trample, whose muscle!
they sell, and whose gains they appropri
ate but creatures Of an Inferior order, spe
cially created to be their vassas--irrevUca
bly, destined 10 state of chailedom but
had no idea that with disntereSled an(
scientific inquirers, the doctrine found any
favor. For this paper a vote of thanks
I was moved. Had the resolution been, al
it was first drawn, 10 thank the writer 70
the effort he had made, TO amuse and in
struct The Society, cOnrtesy might hav'
required its passage; but certainly IA spG
cial vote of THINKS for the paper itself, di'
!, imply, not only that it possessed SOM
value, but that it was an appropriate OF
fering to that body. lfa bylaw existed
requiring their thanks to be presented l.
: every person who should read a paper O
any kind whalsoever-in that case per
haps, no approval could be implied; bu
I here think some degree of approval bot
of the value and fitness of the essay, is
= fair inference from the resolution. If
: be not so, the compliment of specia
vote dwndles to a mere act of bare civil
y ty, and such bylaw as have men,ione
3 would net only save time but avoid mis-
= understanding.
u | feel bound to oppose any sanction b
q q the society OF The theory revived by D
q Beakley, because l regard it, as l state
T. very frankly, with no feelings of unknt
- ness towards him, as false, impious an
At cruel. am satisfied OF its falsty, by OIL
Y er proofs than the striking facts containt
D. in he work of the Able Gregoire on II
: literature of the negroes, and the powerf
~ arguments presented in the learned di
lie QUESTIONS of M. BIumenbach and DR.. M
,e sor Good. And DR.. Beakley may an
IS day find conclusive evidence of his mi
'r take in the Colored Schools of this cit
10 wherein the proficiency Of the pupils
Is not one whit inferior to that of the pal
~ faced children, who are taught TO lot
IS upon them with contempt. regard it
Us mpous, because ii dares 10 pronoun
re upon the secret intention of the Almigh
j" Ruler Of naIi9ps and declares In 'hs nj