The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-16
Anniversary Meeting of the Vermont Coloni,
cation Society-Prof. Freeman's Address.


The Anniversary meeting Of the State Coloni
cation Society held in the Brick Church last eve
ming was very fully attended, and was in every
sense success. Professor Freeman did not dis
appoint the large audience who had assembled
to hear him. We have rarely heard speaker
hold the attention OF his hearers more closely
than he did on this occasion. He YVES introduced
by Rev Dr. Labaree, President Of Middlebury
College, who narrated briefly the leading events
of Professor Freeman lie as student and
teacher In 1874 be was ADMITTED to the Fresh
man class of Mddlebury College. He was no
able, however, for lack of means, to continue
with that class but entered, and was graduated
with the class of the following year. He was
successful with his studies and was selected by
his classmates to deliver Latin, and also an
English Grafton. The honor of Valedctorlan
was rot at that date conferred by the College
The newspaper story to the effect that Professor
Freeman had received indgntits from his class
mates land had subsequently taken the honors of
the class, President La5aree pronounced to be in
DOtn particulars named incorrect.
Not long alter Mr. Freeman was graduated,
lie was engaged as teacher in Avery College To-
Gated in PltlsOurg, Pennsylvania and has until
recently been laboring as Principal of that in
stitution. Professor freeman having been cleo
ted Professor Of Mathematics and Natura! Phil
osophy in Liberia College, purposes leaving this
country for hisnew post oil labor in a few weeks.
Professor Freeman. in his address, directed his
remarks mainly to answer the question: How
can the African race be elevated He took the
position that this cannot be accomplished in
America The colored man, through prejudice
against bis race, is here excluded from those So
cal and political privileges essential to the pro.
cess of his elevation. That feeling OF independ-
ence anI manly selfreliance upon which, as
basis, character should iest, are here crushed
out OF the negro. Pride OF race, and those SEN
timents proceeding from sense OF "a distinctive
ana honored nationality, have also been lost.
From his earliest years the negro is educated to
feel that lie /, inferior, and he is taught soryintv
whlIea child, and before lis reason or the indu.
ence OF education, can interfere to rescue him
from this process which tends constantly to de.
grade him. Ii in early manhood he obeys the
promptnsa otan honorable ambition, and strives
to ht himself for position OF influence, and to
gam such position, his efforts are rewarded
only by bitter defeat, W taunts and reproaches
until he IS driven to sullen despair He should
not dare TO hope he must not aspire. This is
true Of every place within the limits of the Uni
ted States The negro yields to this state of
things with hopeless Indifference for the spirit
That should resent such wrongs is crushed ont
of him.
Experience shows that Education will not res
cue him as general rule from this unresistina
submission to the rule OF the Anglo Saxon race
Neither has wealth been found of sufficient NOW.
er to give the colored man spirit Of indenen.
dence Although surrounded by every ,nxnru
and commanding all that money can purcb.so
he soili 3arries about with him an appearance or
conscious inferority.
IN looking at the negro thus conquered by a
ruling race, it should be remembered that his
ancestors two centuries back we're in a state of
oarbarsm in Africa. The capabilities of the
race can only be fairly judged of therefore. bv
comparing it as seen to-day with other races Of
that period of their respective histories, when
they were just emerging from barbarism before
Centuries of civilization had developed their Ia.