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    ** I believe , when the founders of the Columbian College applied to Congress for a « imrt « r of incorporation , they met with unexpected difficulties , arising firom its being understood that the Institution was iikely to be directed iehieflf ,: if not exclusively , to tlie interest of -a particular religions sect ; A iriajority in Congress would Bat vote ior it on that ground , and it was not until the most earnest , solemn and repeated assurances were given , that nothing of a reKgious nature wfcs contemplated , and that the Institution was to be

    purely and exclusively for literary purposes , that at length flie charter was obtained . Even then a clause was introduced with special care , rendering it unlawful for any person to be hindered or excluded from any office or benefit of tins institution ,

    either as governors , professors or students , &c , on account of any particular religious sentiments they may entertain - That the College in question is commonly styled the Baptist College , and that its Presiaent and principal officers are of that

    denomination , are faets that every one knows . But , for that same reason , let it uot he called a National College - , for our friends on the Hill at Georgetown mi ^ lit , with as gte&t propriety , call theirs the National College . And oat of friendship to the Baptists , I would caution them not to be too loud in

    boaatmg of their jurisdiction , lest Ooogress should happen to think that they have forfeited , their charter by converting- it to sectarian purposes . ** I am informed tiiat the Directors have an agent in London , soliciting

    donations for the Oollegse $ tliis is all well if they apply as a sect , in forma pauperis , Ixut if % hey > at the same time , say it is a National College , I mast , as an American , 3 ay -it has a rery beggarly look . Wfe ^ hail have , 1 hope , a Natiqnal University in time , tout it < vpiii be of a vety driSWent descriptibn from this * 4 nSi be raised wttooUt foreign aid . If I had conjiexiona in Eng * le ( nid I should like to have th&s letter better ^ understood there than ii stems 46 tau r " ¦¦•' ¦ ¦> < ; "pj&ji VhA \ : . ¦ . ¦ ' K - . . ;; _ ¦;* ' . ' i " ¦ ¦ ' f \ ' j" y' ' ^'' ' '

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    7 \ % Correspondence in an American * Newspaper eti Hh * Ctdumlitin College .

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    * Cvrre * p < md < &tce ri # a JP ^ dshingtan Newspaper on the College establish * rd in the Vicinity of that City . { See p . 350 of the present volume . ) " To the Editors . ' •** g ^ % ENTLEMEN : In perusing an ^ JT English publication , put into my hands the other day by a friend , Ivhich is called ' The Monthly Repository of Theology and General Literature / for June , 1823 , I was struck with a passage in a communication to the Editor of that work , that I think requires some explanation in this

    district . The writer of the passage in question is a Mr . Reuben Potter , of Rhode Island , Editor of the ' Gospel Palladium / a paper of a religious cast , published once a fortnight . It seems this Mr . Potter writes in reply to some questions forwarded from

    England , relating to the state of the Baptist denomination in this country , and he gives a very flattering account of tite progress and prospects of that denomination . He describes , indeed , a considerable part of them as rapidly going over to Unitarianism ; in this ,

    perhaps , he is mistaken , but whether or not , is not material to the present object . The passage I adverted to above , is in a part of his letter concern - ing the Seminaries of Learning- among the Baptists . He says , * The National College , at the seat of Government , is

    under their jurisdiction . * Now , I have lived long at the seat of Government , and 1 did not kn ^ w till now , that we had a National College . And if we had one , I believe caaid hope it would aot be under the jurisdiction of the Baptists , or indeed of any other

    religious denomination . Oar excellent eon «* itutiaii , ( may it live for ejver !) prohibits Congress from making any law respecting ant e $ t&bllslimeiit of religion , and , consequently :, no

    National College or University can have a religious character , or patronise a sectarian ! theology . The exclusive in . Duenrce of xeligicwAs sects on the great seminaries of learning in Europe , ha $ been productive of such incalculable

    ixnachief , and operated so partially , unj ^ Btly ami oppressively , on : large portions of mankind , that we cannot be jfiao Jealous 6 f every attempt to accomplish the same pernicious objects iu this land of liberty *

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1823, page 712, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1791/page/32/