The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-10-07
COMMUNICATION.
To The Editor offhe GALAXY

To The Editor Of the Gdldry;
SR:-Under the head Of "Middlebury
College and its abusers," your paper OF
the 23d nit. contaius an article relative to the
application of certain colored young men Tor
admission into the College, together win
letter from President Labaree TO u ROBERTS
Jr.. giving an account of the matter. such
is the general tone of your article, so mani
; FEST is its implied censure Of all who are dis
posed 10 favor the admission ofcolored young
men into the College, connected with the
well known fact that The application, in this
case, has beeu made through me, and the ad-
dilional fact that an erroneous impression ex-
lists, as TO what the application to the Corpo-
ration was, and its decision thereon, that ]
feel called upon to make some explana-
ton.
Early in April, last, received letter
from Gemitt Smith. Esq, dated at Philadel-
phia. on the 10Th Of March, enclosing a
copy of one Of the same date, TO DOct. Lord,
President of Dartmouth College, informing
him that there we're four colored young men
in Philadelphia, members of the church, Of
which The Rev. Charles w. Gardner, was
pastor, who were fitted for College, as bene-
ficiares of the AssembIy's Board and en-
QulTln, HhctutT tUtN hOuiu OC ~
Dartmouth. Mr.. Smith wished me TO lay
his letter to DIR. Lord before the Faculty OF
Middlebury College, and ascertain, and H.
form Mr.. Gardiner whether the young men.
il found properly qualified, could be admitted
here, in case they should not be received al
Dartmouth.
handed the letter TO President Labaree,
who subsequently returned it, with verbal
reply, which thus described in letter ad-
dressed TO Dir. Gardiner, on the 18th OF
April.
The President said 10 me, on returning Mr..
SIS. letter, that there was nothing IN the
College regulations making any distinction
in regard to color. and that personally, the
Faculty had no objection to the reception Of
colored students, but that he could not say
how the Corporation Of the College mightre-
gard The matter, especially if there should be
an application for the ADMISSION OF a number
Of colorcd students at once-Ihe admission Of
whom might create the impression that this
is The College for the resort Of rolored STU
dents am inclined TO think that there
would be little reluctance to the admission
of so many colored students at once, while
none, presume would be felt to the reception
Of one. Suffer ne TO suggest whether II
! would not DO advisable to seperate these
Young mon, and make an effort TO introduce
hem into several Colleges. proposal 10
introduce single colorcd student into Col
| lege W ould be likely to encounter less diff
Guilty, any wheie, than request for the ad-
| mission of four at once into single College.
The spirit of caste isthe hardest thing in The
world to eradicate. 1t must be hundred a
little, and be reached and subdued gradu-
ally.
/ need hardly say that feel much interest
in the young men referred to in Mr.. Smiths
letter, and will cheerfuly do any thing in my
power to aid them in accomplishing their
wishes 10 regard to an education
To this letter Mr.. Gardiner replied, on the
first Of May, as follows:
Your kind letter was received on The 2lth
uli., relative 10 Middlebury College, and il is
thought by Mr.. Hope and ourselves, in view
Of our peculiar situation, that the views sug-
gested by you may be correct. As matter
ofcourse it would be more agreeable for them
10 be together, but as you stated that the
College was open TO colored students, we
would like to know if one of the young men
could be received Immediately. AS it is de-
sreabIe that we should know what the course
is, and the expense &C., you will confer ia
vor by sending with your answer, catalogue
of tho College, and as The time Of the young
men is precious, we would thank you for an
answe err. with any information relative to the
subject you may be in possession of, as soon
convenient.