The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-08-15

my Satisfaction has been tntnixed l hae
prepAr. i myself IA see much that would
be gratifying, but | can III sDber truth DE-
clare, that the reality has exceeded my eA-
eeetaiions. | have felt only one regret,
and that is the necessity, from the para
mount claims on my time, to depart before
witnessing the examination Of all the class
IS. But, from what have seen, an quite
sure that tire examination OF every Day
would have added TO my Satisfaction.
Cadets: In YOUR department aud attain
inents, see, with uuspeakabie delight, the
most satisfactory evidence of your iodas-
try, talents, aud moral worth.
Officers 81 the insiitation In the foe
fruits which the examination has presented,
| am satisfied with the zeal and fidelity
with which you have discharged your %
lemn trusts. Where all have doae Their
duty, il were invidious Ia discriminate, and
shall not attempt il yet must say, Ca
dets, thai Col. Ttayer, your chiet superb.
teudant, IL entitled IL your gratitude, and,
| will add, To the thanks of his country.
Children ! for SO esteem you, since CIR
cumslances have placed yod under my pc
cnliar caic, ! feel for yoa rs parent and
value ii as one oil The most fortunate IN
eidents of my life that we have been assoc
eiatrd ia this intimate relation. lie assured
take deep iotrfest IN whatever concerns
you, and that as far as my power reaches,
il will be exercised for your welfare
wish 10 impress Oh both officers and
cadets, that the milton Is looking To tins
institution with an eye OF hope, and pride,
and affectonate solicitude. Officers you
will appreciate the honor sou ha.f received
from your country IN being called In pre-.
side over the institution, as the highest
mark OF her confidence. The trust Which
YOU have undertaken ia high and solemn.
Behold the favored children Of the nation.
These are To be the future men OF America.
II properly reared, her ornaments IN peace
10 wal, her shield and buckler, To the
Improvement oil the mind, add sehtlmeuts
Of morality, honor, aud patriotism. t.
maintenance Of your authority by a GSld
discipline, is essentai alike In the youths
and II tie naiausi5a. But femember,they
arr laifen young aud inexperienced from
theif parental soof Their homes and
theiI parents are afar oti-Their wants are
NJ longer administered to by the hands Of
allecton-You are substituted for the alb
sent parent--temper then the sternness
ofauthority by acts of kindness and benef .
cence , there is no incompaiibiiity between
them, and in their due mixture, consists
the highest excellence OF your calling !:
your reward IS in the consciousness ofhas-
ing done your duty, IN the mass Of worth
and intelligence you annually return To So
ciety, and in the appreciation OF your coun-
try.
Cadets, your country has large claims
upon you-you have been singled out amid
thousands Of unsuccessful candidates a the
objects of her favor Repay this kindness
by your exemplary conduct, and by your
attainment in science. Standardization tn
your superior, stands forward rs "A prom
inpnt part Of your duty. 1t Is indispensa-
hIe To your own welftre Although the
duties enj1ined may seem To your inexpe-
rence unnecessarily seyere, remember
thry have been prescribed ny your fathers,
whose affection you cannot doubt they are
the result of wisdom enlightened by expr-
rence respect them, therefore, for the
source from which they emanate. There
are two roads which lie before you: the
signs Of the one are virtue, Ttn0~n, and
happiness; of tie other, vice, degradation
and ruin. Is there any one among you
whose spirit Is 50 abased az 10 hesitate
which u elect ? The one is full Of satIsfac
ton consrlenlloasness that you have
done your duty, giving joy to your parents
and rejoicing yourself IN your coursr. The
other presents no temptation but the tenn
porary indulgence Of lii grossest appetites,
whose reward is intamy aud wretchedness.
I gu may yet from nexpelience not 1aye
sufficiently appreciated how essentially the
happiness of your parents aud the prospe-
rity Of your country IS involved in your f,te.
hlt nv unnI | #apJ
case, when we saw il bat yesterday--a ia
ther present then the Whole father sat up
on his face--ag tated by the conflicting e
motions of fear and hope, when his SON Was
called to come doYa on the arena. The
anxious suspense Was painful to ALL till the
son, with masters hand, distinctly eyoly
ed the intricate naazes of the most abstruse
sciences then the gentle murmur Of APP
plause circulated from one to The other TIL
the fathers fears were dissipatea aud hope
changed into confidence and when, to ill
the measure Of his happiness, he was told
that the attainments Of his son were infe-
riOr to his moral worth, the tear OF 10y es-
capped from his eye, 81 TIE parental benedic-
ton, inyoluutarily escaping, settled on I he
head of his beloved child. You, indeed,
might not have the pleasure of your fathers
p essence, but, whetesneyer he ia, howe,e r
distant, his solicitude for your success is no
less intense. lie is anxiousiy awaiting the
impartial award of the distinguished men
who have been called together to exam
inc you. you have no father, you have
perhaps some widowed mother, who nur
Inred your infancy your sick
bed with IA sleeples5 eye, or galnbolled with
you in healtn-nhose happiness you carry
IN your hand, AMI who, when SHE nightly
prepares her pillow, sends up your name
in her snpplcalions to the throne of mercy
with the cry of" My God, my God, pro-
tect and prosper my child !" and, in the
distant prospeetbryond this,see your coun-
try holding the wreath Of merit for him
who deserves it. Is there one of you 81
irbased as to be inseusible to these great