The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-10-13
UNIVERSITY OF MIssIssiPPI 1
September -, 1870. (
Tor to be truly,
ROBERT >. HUDsoN,
Hon. Il. 5. HUDSON,

I1ON. IA >. III DSONs
Dear Sir:-Your letter of inquiry of27th
inst, is received, and as your object is clear
ly and candidly expressed, you are entitled
to a reply just as clear and candid.
In answer to your general question
"WdEtb FdcUlty, as ROlo composed, receive or
reject al, dpplicantJor admission, as student
on account Of color or race p We proceed
to say that this Faculty would, mostassured-
ly, in deciding the question of admission,
be governed by the consideration of the
color and race of the applicant. Further
more, and the more clearly to meet the point
which we know you had in view in the in
quiry, we state that should The applicant belong
to the negro race, noe should, ,githom hesitation
reject him. We presume this answer will
be satisfactory to yourself, as to the 'many
Others" who, with you ''await the answer
you solicit; and that "this response" will
not be found "marked by any evasion or
uncertainty" Here then we might close
our reply but inasmuch as many will have
access to our correspondence who may fat
be so readily satisfied, we shall briefly, but
with as much clearness as possible, present
the considerations, which, in our judgment,
imperiously demand of us the above indica-
ted course.
l. The University of Mississippi
was founded originally, and has been con-
Quoted exclusively, in all its past history.
for the education Of The tohue race. The
Congress of the United States which en-
dowed the Institution; the State of Misss-
sippi which by its Legislature accepted the
endowment, and chartered and fostered the
University the successive Boards of Trus-
tees which have, for quarter century past,
directed itsZaffairs; the Faculties which
have presided over it, and governed il and
lastly, the citizens of the State who have
patTOniZed it, never, for moment, conceived
it possible or proper that negro should be
admitted to its classes, or graduated with
its honors, or presented with its diplomas.
,. The Faculty are not invested with the
law-makiug power. and until the Board OF
Trustees, who possess this prerogative.
legislate change in the relations Of the
races, the University Will continue to be,
what it has always been, an Institution eX
clusiveiy for the education OF the white
race Z
3 We have received not the slightest init
nation that such a change is contemplated
by the Board of Trustees; but, on the con-
trary, so far as we know, it is their mind
and purpose TO maintain the Institution
unchanged in this respect.
4. We add. as due TO ourselves. as well as
to the patrons of the Institution. that should
such change be made in the internal reg
ulations OF the Institution, as to require the
Faculty to receive and admit applicants of
the negro race to the University Glasses.
the members of the present Faculty would
instantly tender their resignation of the !
Office they now hold. and surrender the trust
to the authorities of the University. as that
of which they could not longer conscientF-1
ously continue To be the fiduciaries.
The above Is the authoritative and relia- |
bic response of the Faculty, and the status |
of each member thereof on this question" /
1t is subscribed by each member of the !
Faculty with the exception of Prof. Lyon, |
who, being absent in distant part of the I
country, could not of course affiX his sigma /
ture to 1t at this time. 1t is due to that /
gentleman to add, that no one entertains the 1
above sentiments more cordially than he /
does, and no member of the Faculty would |
more promptly subscribe this document, 4
Since this question was regarded as one |
of sufficient Importance to be propounded
to the Faculty. our only regret in conncc-
ton with the matter is that IL has been de-
layed until period Immediately before the |
annual opening of the Institution: since, il |
our ''status" on this subject were doubtful.
it would have been better for the interests
involved to have this doubt removed ut a
period of time which would have enabled |
parents and guardians to decide for them
selves, whether or not they could entrust
their sons and wards to an Institution which
is, and has ever been designed exclusively
for the white race.
Very respectfully.
JNo. n. WADDEI, Chancellor,
J.J. WHEAT. Prof. Mathematics,
A. QUINCHE,
>. G.. BURNEY.
L. w. H-LGARD,
J.. &. GARLAND,
GEORGE LITTLE.