The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-08-22
tllOiI. ID. W.
ADDRESSES AT NORWICH COM.
MENCMENT.

MIR kINInALI:-l had the pleasure of be
ing al Norwich, on the llth inst, and of
witnessing the public performances, bur
will not iorcstaII the regular Report Of the
Commencement Exercises, by giving the
particulars ofthe occasion, 1t may not be
improper to say however, that, so FAR as
could learn, in regard to the prospects of
that Institution, though more favorable
than AT some former periods, they are not
such as they should be. The University is
not pa,roniaed and encouraged as it de-
serves. The interchangeable devotion ofthe
talents and a,taInments of Professors and
Tutors, is not adequately rewarded.
But main objec, is, to speak orlhc per-
iormance of the speakers on that occasion;
Rev, |. ID. WILLIAMSON, of Mobile, Ala,
and Maj, c, &. EASTMAN, of Woods,ocH,
VI.
Twill barely say Of the truly talented,
ingenious, and eloquent Discourse of Mr.
Williamson, that he has consented to have
it published, by which its real merits can
be better appreciated, than from any i'm
perfect sketch which could give.
But, hearing that Mr. Eastman would not
consent to the publication of his Address,
have avalled myself of the means at my
command, scromIing as they are, and by the
aid Of memory, to present you with some
specimens OF it. The whole abounded with
originality Of thought, reasoning, aud style
of composition, ! shall confne myself to
few points, the report of which should
think would be interesting to the public.
Mr. Eastman maintained, with much strength
Of reasoning and felicity Of dirriun, that though
men may tamper with Law, and make appear to
change with the changes Of circumstances, MS en-
prcs rise and lall, iaw Is itself immuiable, -
and had lis origin at the throne Of God, ayes on
ages before men had learned to counterfeit or per-
vert it, for selfish purposes. The seraph on high,
touching his golden harp at the throne of the Eler-
nal Father The arch.ange spreading his glitter
ing wings through the realms Of illimiiabe space
the darkness Of chaos and eternal night nc-
knowledgcd it. And, when the radiant morn Of
creation broke. the countless orbs of heaven
wheeled of, in their glorious round old ocean
,hrobbed, and light stole into the petals Of
the wild flower IN secret conformity TO its de
crees. Law The cxcIaimed,) The uorh is mn
a -. :, Ill.
II reveals itself in the crash of the avalanche - in
the slightest vibration Of the harp sirng,-in the
finest and most alenuated web Of the spider,-in
the mos, splendid exhibition of human labor, in
the hum Of the wild bee, and in the cIangor Of in
armies. The sea roars, the stream
tire catnract lifts up lis voice to the
march Of time, and the quiet and noiselcss though,
comes and goes on It's mission. The breeze wis
pnrs the Storm howls, the volcano belches It's !
flames IN the face Of heaven. The spark Of the
glow worm fits along the meadow at cvebtidc,
the dew falls the rain descends. the sun shines by ,
dav, and the moon and stars give light by night,
and the enel gies Of onr own ~, s,crIous being are
developed and exerted in accordance TO its own
eternal will
Afier a train of close and fine wrought reason
ing on the government natural 10 nan, the throne
Of which is in every human heart, dim, shadowy
and III. defined, for the time being in many, in
contra distinction TO the enactmenis Of circum- /
stances. which could not report with accuracy
even If | had leisure aud room the speaker said,
in substance, The governments against which the
people revolt, are always oil Two kinds = first,
those governments which are founded on circum-
stances without regard to the laws Of rams
moral being; or. they are, secondly, those govern
mcnis which. however Just at their organization,
h,va becon,p y,lupess by falling TO keen mace