Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-13
MASSACHUSETTS, AND VIRGINIA

worthness Of the institutions and the policy of the
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, we cannot let
the opportunity pass without expressing our entire
concurrence in the views which-it SO happily and so
pithiy expresses.
No one, we think, can ever have been looker-on
at an annual Commencement at that ancient seat of
learning, Harvard University, at the latest Of which
this speech was delivered, without having his facul-
ties of admiration and veneraiion excited in the
highest degree Nor is it the great merit which cha
the scholastic exercises yet the gravity
and dignity Of the assembly in whose presence
they are performed, which alone excites the adj
miration and the respect of the behoder. There
are other incidents of the Commencement which
stir the feelings deeply, and leave impressions
not soon nor easily to be efaced from the mind that
once receives them. No one, for example, who has
been present at the great annual Dinner in the Col
lege Commons Hall, after the comforting the De-
grees, ever forget the thrilling effect of the clos
ing Of that Dinner by the whole assembly rising,
at the invitation Of one Of the oldest of the Alumni
of the College, venerable clergyman with head
strongly reminding you Of the best portraits of
Franklin, and joining in singing with accord
and with pious fervor Hymn to the Deity, which,
the same manner, to the same old tune, at every
commencement day, not only by the oldest men Of
the present generation, but by generations Of their
ancestors who have long passed away from earth.
The Speech which we are about to introduce to
our readers was delivered at the Dinner ION the day
after Commencement of the Phi Beta Kappa So
ciety Of Harvard College, IA festive OCCASION, at
which Mr.. RUEs, being with his family on tour
through part Of New England, an invited guest.
No spectator Of unprecedented mind, as we have
already remarked, but must have felt the sentiments
expressed by Mr. RIvEs. But we rejoice that Mr..
RIvEs had the manliness and the courage, re-
nouncing and discarding prejudices which, in his
younger days, it is probable that he entertained in
common, though not to the same extent, with many
of his Southern friends, to give utterance to the fol-
lowing eloquent and heartfelt tribute to the tri-
umphant energies of freedom, industry, and ntelli-
gence," the fruits of which visible in the COM
fort, prosperity and order of the people Of Massa-
chusetts and Of New England in general.
/ FROM THE BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER SEPT. 2.
In our notice of the exercises of the Phi Beta
Kappa at Cambridge on Thursday last, refrain
ed according TO custom in reference to festive
occasions of this sort, from any report of the good
things which were said at the dinner which follow
ed it being not public literary festival, but con-
yivial meeting of friends. The occasion is not one
which properly calls for the vocation of the reporter
unless in special cases. But when distinguished
| public men, whose opinions deservedy regarded
with the highest respect, on such an occasion ex
press sentiments on subjects OF strictly public
nature, and in which all feel an interest," there is
nothing in the occasion which should lead us to
| withhold them from readers. We are therefore
Il. Al Ill Il. IL.
| for which we indebted to friend, of the re-
marks which were made on Thursday last by Mr..
RIvEs, the late Senator of Virginia, on being called
up by toast from Judge WARREN, the President OF
the Society," complimentary to his native State 1t
is not merely the vanity of recording compliment
from SO high to our local institutions, but
the pleasure Of finding in expressions like these so
cordial good feeling pervading the leading minds,
in section of the country between which and our
own there is always danger from various causes Of
different feeling, which gives us pleasure in pub
| fishing these remarks. There have been few peri
DDS in our history when the latter feeling has not
prevailed. The toast this occasion alluded TO
Virginia as sister State, for which Massachusetts
has always cherished special regard and the
President in introducing it. adverted to the fact that
the charter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, in Har-
ward College, was derived from the College of Will
liam and Mary, in Virginia. On the giving Of this
1 uOdsts Which, WdS VI COuISC fCCCNCu WIN aPPduoc
from the company
Mr. RIvEs and said he had looked around him with
ety there present Of Virginia
worthy and better able than himself her acknowledge
in fitting for the Aatterng notice just taken of
her But seemed, unucky he felt it to be for his native
State that there other Of her children there speak
for her. He was in sense alone in his glory y and
il devoved upon him. therefore, all unworthy he to
represent her such occaono RETURN her behalf the
acknowledgements due for the cordial and distinguished tribute
and respect just paid her He must be per-
the time acknowledge the deep debt Of ga
tude he felt for the kindness which had been shown TO him
self personally He had been taken Ivy the hand brother
and admitted to intimate and unrescrved communion with
that noble fraternity of letters embracing scholars urst
statesmen and dvnes in the commemoraton Of their great
family fesiva-ntroduced were Mr.. President into the
very your great Temple Of Liberty and Learning
It was privilege he could not too highly esteem, and he
should ever recur with pleasure Both yesterday and
to-day he had SEEM heard and felt many things which he
should carry home with him cherish the remembrance of
to reflect upon and endeavor If he could to initiate and to
practise
When reflect said Mr.. R., that those Of us who live re-
you are indebted for precious opportunity to
the modern facilities Of locomoton cannot but honor not
withdrawing what said by Of friends yesterday
and to-day, the inventive and unitarian genius Of the
which has thus annhacd space by the railroad and the
Steamboat and made your noble country, in and double
sense the land of Dilos n Is true as was remarked by