The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-09-23
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE AND ITS
ABUSERS.

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE AND ITS I
ABUSERS.
Engaged in the labors ofthe political s,rug-
ole which has just been closed, the violent as
saults made by the Emancipator, the Green |
Mountain Freeman and their coajutors upon |
the President and Corporation of Middlebury
College, had escaped our attention. The |
first thing which arrested our observation was
a communication in the Green Mountain
Freeman signed by an old minister, from
amidst the disgusting billiugs-gate of which
we were able to CLEAN that the members ofthe
Corporation of Middlebury College, with
President Labaree at their head, had shut
their doors against poor pious young men Of
color who wished to get an education. The
writer showers down his bitterest maidictions
upon President Labaree, whose course he
contrasts to his great disadvantage with that
of President Lord, who it seems was willing
to take them into Dartmouth which was
founded for the education Of the aboriginies.
is from the editor of the Vermont Observer,
who is quite lachrymose because Middle
bury College had not said at once that the
blacks should be received, and thus hare en-
graren her an imperishable name lrhich ages
TO come If not the present age rcould hare men
toned lcih honor
Feeling of course deep interest in an in
stitution situated in our midst, and which has
so greatly distinguished itself among all the
seminaries in New England by its efforts in
the cause ofIeligion and humanity, we imme-
diately set ourselves to investigating the facts
which were relied upon to justify these fe-
rocious attacks upon her piety and honor.
No one acquainted with the manly and
ursophistcal character of President Labaree
will doubt that the following letter written in
answer to enquiries addressed to him by d.
Roberts Esq. of Manchester, which was pub
lished at the time, contains a true version of
of this affair Indeed, although there is
some difference, We discover no discrepancy
between this statement of President I.lbaree
and that made by Gov. Slade in his letter to
Mr.. Gardner. unless the additional assertion
made by Gov. Slade that President Labaree
ntimacd to him that there would be no OBJ
lection made 10 the rec Giving Of one of the
young men, might be SO considered.
MlDDLEBuRY Colt, June &c, 1915.
| d. ROBERTS, ESQ,
DEAR SIR:
| Yours of the Goth inst making inquiries re-
specting an article in the Green Mountain
Freeman, was duly received, and improve
the first convenient moment 10 answer your
questions. Twill give you PLAIN statement
of facts connected with the application of the
four colored youth for admission 10 College,
and leave you TO decide how far the article
referred TO is correct.
Early in the Spring received aletter from
Philadelphia, purporting TO be written by a
young man OF color, Inquiring il he and three
others of the same complexion, could be adj
mtted 10 this College. postponed reply
until the return of one or two Of our Profess
sors who happened TO be absent at the time.
Before the Faculty had considered the sub
iect, Gov Slade received note from Gerritt
Smith, Esq. making similar inquiries (and
enclosing the copy of a letter to President
Lord oil Dart Coll in which he requested
the decision of the Faculty of that Institution
in relation to The admission of these colored
youth. On consultation our Faculty came
to the conclusion that they had no authority
TO exclude young men OF of suitable charac-
ter and qualifications on account of complex
ion. | informed Gov. Slade of our decision
and at the same time suggested TO him that
the Corporation had the control of such mat
tiers, and that could not tell what might be
their decision on the subject. 1fany CONVEX
sation passed between Gov. Slade and my
self respecting the distribution ofthese young
men among different Colleges, it has entirely
escaped my recollection, but whatever was
said at thatinterview, except the communica-
ton from the Faculty, was in the character Of
free and familiar conversation. A short
time subsequent 10 this interview the men,
bers Of our Corporation residing in Middle
bury, held meeting for business. Govern
or Slade called in and presented TO their con-
sideration the case OF these colored youth,
and letter which he had just received from
the Rev. Mr.. Gardiner ofPhiladelphia. The
members Of the Corporation held an inlor-
NAL consultation on the subject, and came, as
far as | can recollect, 10 something like the
following result Middebury College is not
designed especially for the colored race, and
we are not inclined particularly 10 encourage
negroes from all parts of the country TO resort
here for education; we are disposed 10 do our
fair proportion in educating this class Of citi-
zens, and therefore, coorcd young men in
Vt. and States adjacent, who would naturally
fall 10 us, we will cheeriully receive.
No formal vote was taken on the subject,
no record made of the transaction, but give
you substantially the views that were express
sed al the time.
Very Respectfully yours,
B. LABAREE.
This letter of President Labaree at the last
annual meeting of the Corporation, was sub