Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-08-28
August 90, 1915.

w LILLIAN Ol4h - IL
August 90, 1845.
1t is not from any personal hostility to the COL
lege, that present these facts, but if the officers
of College in Vermont have so far disregarded
their office and brought lasting stigma upon our
profGssedy free institutions, by refusing to admit
four colored students, solely on account of their
complexion, it is high time the public should
know these facts.
That both sides may have a fair hearing, we
publish the following correspondence, which has
been delayed some time, in order to have itappear
in connection with Gov. SHADES letter.
Manchester, Aug 1, 1945.
MEssRs. POLAND AND BRIGGs-- GentIemen:-I
notice that the proprety and truth Of a certain ar
tcIe in the "Green Mountain Freeman" of June
18th, q hnk) in relation to the Faculty of Mid
debury College and certain coIored applicants for
admission to that institution, are called in question
in communication to the Emancipator by Mr.
Clark of Middlebury. The charge made in the
Freeman Gas remember t) was against the Fac
uty, not the corporations; and was specially aimed
at the President, DR.. Labaree. Now, it is uppa-
rent, that, considered as Il question for the pub
lie, the important inquiry is, were those four col
ored YOUTH or either of them, by the direct resolve
or the individual management Of the responsible
government Of the College, whether Faculty or
Corporation, debarred admission to the privileges
of the institutions There seems to be a lack of
information upon the matter, which so far as
may be able, will supply.
Upon the goth of June, wrote letter to Pres
ident Labaree, calling his attention to the article
in the Freeman, aud enquiring whether that arti-
Gle was either literally or substantially correct.
As a son Of Middlebury College, and not indiffer-
either to her honorable a. just prosperity, or to
the cause of human Freedom, felt free to do this.
In reply received the following letter from Pres
ident Labaree, the circumstances of the case for
bidding that it should be considered as in any wise
confidential. Won will be able from this to know
the temper and policy of the authorities of Mid
dlcbury College, upon the subject Of receiving col
ored youth; as well as to infer their decision upon
the particular application before them. will on
lily add as evidence of the disposal Of these appl-
cations, that have lately received letter from
fast lrien9 of the College, who is so situated as
necessarily to he acquainted with all the crcum-
stances, in which, speaking of this NATTER he says
"the particular circumstances which you allude
to, wish had been differently considered" ! wish
so too Truly yours,
DANIEL ROBERTS Jr.
"DANGEL RoBERTs, Esq:
Dear Sr:-Youls of the Goth inst, respect
/ =. n
was duly received, and improve the first conve-
nent moment to answer your questions. will
give you plain statement of facts connected with
the application of the four coored youth for adj
mission to College, and leave YOU to decide how
far the article referred to is correct.
Early in the spring | received letter from
PhiladeIph purportine to be written by young
man of color, inquirng if be and three others of
the same complexion could be admitted into this
College. postponed reply until the return of
one or two of our Professors, who happened to be
absent at the tine Before the Faculty had con-
sdered the subject Gov. Slade received note
from G. Smith, Esq, making similar inquiries,
and enclosing the copy of "a letter to Pres. Lord,
t of Dartmouth College in which he requested the
decision of the Faculty of that institution in rela-
ton to the admission of these colored youth
+ On consultation, our Faculty came to the con-
IclusOn that we had no authority to exclude young
men, of suitable character and qualifications, on
account OF complexion. informed Gov. SIade of
our decision, and at the Same time suggested to
him that the Corporation had the control Of such
, matters, and could not tell what their views
might he on the subject If any conversation
Q passed between the Governor and myself respect
r ing the distribution of these young men among
different Colleges, it has entirely escaped my rec
\ election But whatever was said at that inter-
view, except the communication from the Faculty,
j was in the character Of free and familiar CONVEX
satlon
A short time subsequent to this, the members OF
our corporation residing in Middebury, had n
meeting for business. Gov. Sade called in and
= presented to their consideration the case of these
colored youth, and letter which he had then just
:. received from Rev. Mr.. Gardner, of Phladep ha.
= The members Of the corporation present had an
y informal consultation on the subject, and came, sc
far as can recoect, to something like the follow
ing result:-Mddlebury College is not designed
especially for the education Of the colored race
and we are not inclined particularly to encourage
negroes from all parts of the country to resor
S here for education We are disposed to do oul
i fair proportion in educating this class OF citizens
! and therefore, coored young men in Vermont, ant
: States adjacent, who would naturally fall to us
y we will cheerfully receive.
No formal vote was taken on the subject, M
II record made of the transactions; hut give you sub
IL stantially the views that were expressed at thu
o time Very Respectfully,
o B. LABAREE."
We thank Mr.. Roberts for communicating tb
o above upon the reading OF it, several matters pres
n themselves upon the attention:
i, d, l. 1t required first letter from Gerrit Smith
NJ Esq, then Que from Rev. Mr.. Gardner, applica
tons dating back to "eary in the Spring" second
rs ed by the efforts of Gov. Sade with both Facult
a., and Corporation, in order to get any decision VI
on the the application. If the application ha
IN come from four red haired or squnt eyed you'll
Ell probably it would have not been so but this ca: