Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-23
For the Waterman and Journal
NORWICH UNIVERSITY.

For tho Waterman and Journal.
NORWICH UNIVERSITY.
NoRwIcH, July 10, 1876.
Mr.. EDIToR,-The Comme exercises of
" Norwich University" came off yesterday. The
day preceding, there was very respectable gath
ering to hear the Grafton by the celebrated OREs-
TEs A. BRowNsoN. The orator chose for his
theme the subject of Christian Patriotism. Poiti-
cal demagoguism, as pracsed, of late, by the SOL
dSam democratic party, received the most effective
rebuke from the sarcasm, with which the speaker so
much abounds, and which he dealt out OH this &C.
cason, without stint. The policy of the govern
nent, in creating the Mexican war, was dsapprov-
ed of by Mr.. Brownson, but The duty of our citizens
to aid the government in prosecuting it to a speedy
and successful conclusion, was fully and patriotl-
caIly urged. Indeed, one of the main points in the
Grafton was, that however the subjects of govern
ment might differ as to the constitutlonalty,
pediencv of the measures adopted they were bound
to conform thereto. All regularly established gov
ernments, of what form soever, were necessarily
absolute, and must be obeyed, or they amounted to
Just no government at all. Whether the Supreme
law of the land emanated from the head of n mon
arch, or from the expressed will of majority of the
people, that law was equally supreme, equally abso-
lutte, and must be absolutely obeyed But this du-
Ity OF absolute obedience was qualified by one, and
by only one exceptions Wherever the subject
positively certain that his political obedience would
involve direct violation of the will of God-when
he absolutely knew that he was commanded TO do
what positively forbidden by the divine law,
then it his duty to resist the commands of his
government. There must be positive and absolute
proof-but how this proof to be obtained, the
orator did not inform his audience but gave them
ample room to infer that reference must be had to
the Church-io The Roman Catholic Church Our
duty was first to the Church; UNDER or in conform
ty 10 this, our duty to the government was abso-
lutte. Governments, in the execution of their COM
mands, were always to be deemed presumptively in
the right.
A republican form of government, it was admit
ted was the best for US here-nay, any other form
of government was not only impracticable, but was
from the earliest period of our colonial history ut
terly impossible. But because the republican form
was the best, and the only possible form for US, it
was folly to infer from this, that that form the
best Tor all other nations, or people, That govern
ment was best which was best adapted to the ma
ture ofthe people for whom it existed, and to the
nature OF the circumstances under which it existed
All governments had their origin in the divine will ;
therefore where any one form of government had
existed for long period of time, and had proved
itself well adapted to the real and substantial wants
Of the governed, it were wickedness to attempt to
overthrow it. All revolutions, and reformatlons, so
called, had proved failures. The English people
actually enjoyed more liberty and real advantages
before what is called the reformation" than they
had ever enjoyed since that event. The old English
House of Lords was really more republican, had
more sympathy with the people, than the English
Commons In these degenerate days and this diff
ference in favor of the former was owing to an in
fusion, in the golden days of yore, of larger pre-
portion of the Lords spiritual. The cries OF ''re-
form" in all ages of the world, reminded Mr.
Brownson of the orders of certain militia officer
when he commanded his men to Advance backwards !!
The reason, which Mr.. Brownson gave, why the
spiritual Lords gave a republican tone was the fact
| clnrUV n
the body oil the people, whose wants they knew and
cared for.
The american Reuolution," Mr.. B. did not seem
to think at all in the way of his theory. What is
usually termed the American Revolution, was
strictly speaking, no more than an attempt to pre-
vent the imposition OF neW system of government
instead of being an attempt to overthrow old
system. The American Colonies were substantial
ly free prior to the Revolution-they attempted on
ly to resist encroachments upon rights already eX-
lstlng- every thing was conducted through legally
constituted authorities, and carried on substantially
in the same manner at:er, as before, the Revolu-
ton.
The tone and spirit of modern literature were
very fcrcely rebuked; especially in those instan-
ces where rebels against regularly established gov
ernmens, and persons of VIGOROUSLY bad charac-
tiers, had been made the heroes of Imagination
These heroes Of romance had stirred up bad spirits
in the minds of readers, created false sympathy,
Hlleu tlS WOIIu WIN whit audience very
naturally inferred the speaker meant-the Chepa-
Chef heroes of moderh times. Indeed the spirit Of
DoniSm, SO fast becoming prevalent among the
modern democracy, was most eloquently denounced
The majority of those who occupied seats upon
the stage, and Immediately around the speaker,
were doubtless democrats, according to the modern
definition of the term; and whether they were
pleased or dspeased with the sentiments uttered
by Mr.. Brownson, ! am unable to Judge, any fur
Their than from the evidence afforded by the fact,
that the University, after the delivery of the ora
ton, conferred upon the distinguished orator the
degree of LII. d., which the trustees begged he
would accept, and which he kindly consented to do.
Other honorary degrees were conferred, but they
are not now in my mind.
Mr. Brownson is native OF this county, and
seems very proud of his native State. Nothing
but necessity, he says, induces him to live beyond
its happy borders. lie is undoubtedly sincere
believer in the Roman Catholic faith, and the pc.
ical doctrines that legtmately flow therefron.---
That he has talents no one that hears him speak
in public, or talk in private, can doubt
On the 9th, yesterday, the regular commence
ment exercises Of the University took place: A
bout dozen of the cadets spoke original pieces,
several Of which evinced considerable ability, ana