PROVIDENCE, Dec. 6 1854.

DEAR DOUGLASS:—

Whither would we fly —if fly we would—to escape the ills which man is heir to? When, but that we will find something to encounter, to endure—but that same spectre will arise and point to responsibilities skulked—some work left undone—run away from. These are among the thoughts that arise, while listening to the declamations of Pinney, and other Colonizationists, who would have us go to Africa, as they allege, to avoid the ills we here endure, to be benefitted; but we look upon difficulties to surmount there, no less stupendous than those fate has bid us subdue here. The hollow sounds of yawning graves, selected in a strange land by those who foster the ills they would have us fly from, rest upon our ears, as their voices discourse of Africa.

I would refer to two very interesting incidents; I would give the associate ideas which bear a relation. The incidents are the Washington letters from Liberia, published in the New York Tribune of the 14th and 22nd ult., and the giving to the public of "Ida May." This book, interesting—very interesting—in itself, has an increased interest from its relations, and the happy contrast which, in some particulars, it affords to Mrs. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Mrs. Stowe lands and leaves in Africa one of her main heroes—in fact, the only one that really betrays any other than the subservient, submissive, Uncle Tom spirit, which has been the cause of much of the disrespect felt for the colored man. While "Ida May" tells us, through its hero, "I'll die before I will be whipped," and finds a home in Ohio America for the slave when free—it knows no Colonization tendency.

It might seem ungenerous on my part to allude to Mrs. Stowe's carrying Geo. Harris to Africa, after she has declared that if she had to write the book over, she would not take him from the country; but my apology is that she has given a $1,000 (I suppose a part of the money received in Europe) to Miss Mytilla Minner's School at Washington, which I believe to be a Colonization affair I give my reasons for saying this.

Miss Miner told me, in the presence of two individuals, whom I have lately questioned to verify the correctness of my memory, "that colored people need not hope to be elevated in this country; that it was our duty to go to Africa." John B. Latrobe, the President of the American Colonization Society, said no more than this, in a conversation with me of two hours' duration, upon the same subject, at the same place—Newport. The matter doth not rest here; we have manifestations of the depreciating Colonization spirit, aside from the above declaration, which, when viewed together, do not admit of a shadow of doubt, but hat Miss Miner's school is an auxiliary to the Colonization Society, to which auxiliary Mrs Stowe has given a thousand dollars. I would that she had aided our "Industrial School!" but much rather had she left that thousand dollars with the benevolent of England.

None other than a Colonization spirit (regarding the embodiment of Colonization to be hate) would unnecessarily detract from our merits—parade our misfortunes. This Miss Miner has done, (viewing it in the most favorable light.) Those that know the abilities of the Rev. John Cook and Dr. Fleet, of Washington, as school teachers, can testify as to the correctness of the statements made by Miss Miner.

The following I extract from a paragraph published by Miss Miner:—"There were previously five or six private schools in this district taught by colored men, from which some of these girls professed to be graduated—i.e., learned all their instructors could teach them; but they were unable to apply the knowledge they had acquired to any practical use. While professing to be able to read well, they had no proper understanding of what they read. While professing to understand grammar, they rarely spoke or wrote good English. While professing to have advanced through practical arithmetic, they could neither read nor write numbers accurately, nor keep accounts with any correctness. These graduates were from fifteen to seventeen years of age, and unfortunately some of them were uncultivated in mind and manners."

Why this expose? Was it to tell the world that we must have white teachers for our children, instead of having them "taught by colored men?" Was it to exhibit and prove incompetency on the part of "colored men" to lead, direct and teach? that we are not proper guardians of our children's "minds and manners?" It is well known that some "colored men" teachers at Washington are Miss Miner's equals in the studies and accomplishments mentioned above. I cannot suppress the thought that Colonization tendencies dictated the above.

Miss Miner admits that the "first promptings to this effort (her school at Washington) were suggested by a Southern Christian," which Southern Christian told her that "this was the truest and safest method of relieving the country of those vexed questions, which distract its peace and agitate its leading minds." How shall we interpret this? What is the common acceptance of the term "a Southern Christian?" Why the qualification? This talk about "relieving the country, leading minds," &c., when used by "Southern" Christians, in speaking of educating the free colored people, has the odor of Colonization all around it. What else is it but the language of Colonizationists? They would have us, the disturbing element, go to Africa—would educate us to that end.

The Hon. Mrs. J. Horsford has in her mind, in recommending this school, the idea that its pupils will be servicable "as principals of female seminaries in Liberia;" and I look in vain through all the recommendations which Miss Miner gives the public, along with the above, for the first outsoken radical expression effecting the great question, JUSTICE TO THE COLORED AMERICAN AT HOME While, on the contrary, she gives us the recommendation of a principal of an institute in Mississippi—that hot bed of slavery—where its enormities are magnified in reality to their utmost capacity—where they are seen in all their chilling and overpowering horrors, against which natural manhood and womanhood must revolt—aye, where you cannot shun it—where it must be seen, heard and felt. This principal says of Miss Miner's residence in this very Mississippi, that "for more than twelve months her character at all times has been most unexceptionable." It would seem that there needs be an adaptation to circumstances

and opinions, so as to be "unexceptionable" to a Mississippi principal and his patrons—very like the Colonization Society, which at the South is pro-slavery—at the North, professedly anti-slavery.

I am informed that Miss Miner has lately been traveling in the North, soliciting aid in behalf of her school, exhibiting some nearly white children, saying of such as these is my school in great part composed —aid me—which, in conjunction with another extract from her pamphlet, which I shall give, savors very much of the idea that there are particular rights for white persons—that sympathy should be "particularly" enlisted, bestowed, when the subjects are "three-fourths white." It will hardly be affirmed of Miss Miner that, "while professing to be able to read well," she "had no proper understanding" of what she had written, read and said. She asks "why the colored people of America, and PARTICULARLY THOSE OF WASHINGTON, D.C. ONE HALF OF WHOM ARE THREE FOURTHS WHITE, may not have schools?" Thus it is to be seen, that in the opinion of Miss Miner, all that are "three-fourths white" may thank their stars, or rather their licentiate slave-driving parents, who are both fathers and masters, for being "three-fourths white," inasmuch as it entitles them "particularly" to consideration and the blessings of education.

I had thought of saying something in reference to Mr. Augustus Washington's admirable letters from Liberia as it Is; but I occupy more of your space than I had intended, and will simply recommend the reading of the letters by all, remarking how like the duplicity of the Colonization Society is the sending of Pinney to Africa, to enquire into the wrongs spoke of in these letters—this Pinney who is deeply interested.—Why not let the colored people send a man along with him? We are the persons to be satisfied in this matter; and we have no confidence in Pinney, though, like Miss Miner's pupils, he be "three-fourths white," and a quarter black.

GEORGE T. DOWNING