The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-11-30

Though It 10 near a quarter Of q century
since was honored with The degree you are
about TO receive, and Quilted these scenes for
the active pursuits Of life, ! we'll remember
the emotions OF tina, day, aud can readily par.
ticipa,e in your hopes aud apprehensions. your
Joys aud sofross. Thus far, you have lived
under he kind direction of your parents, and
OF the authorities Of bis lnsli,u,ion. You are
now 10 be segregated from the College CON.
muni,y Of which GU have formed an important
part, and to assume The control Of your own
conduct, es members Of civil society. Each
one Of you Is an object Of sHtcilonale regard
10 bis family and friends, who have looked
forward TO this period Of HI, life with deep IN
teresi. and from the certificates OF liberal
scholarship and good morals, now conferred,
becomes q, once an o'lec, OF mark and disiloc.
ton 10 bis sphere Of acquaintance. Gearing
the testimonial OF superior opportunities Of
improvement erJo, ed, you will be expected
TO possess coriespondlng requirements and
quit6oaions Favored beyond mos, Of your
contemporaries 10 the Ell " met, q those or.
porunities, they will be regarded as q talent
committed TO your charge, OF which you must
reudor an account IN your subaqIeht lie. A.
such poin, IN your eys:erce, | would tina,
could furnish any preceps TO be chron,ced
IN your memories. that mleh, drec. you a
safety, honor, end useiu' ness, 10 the scenes
through which on are TO pass. Ia The ever
VARYING circumstances hIch attend US, the
principles OF moral and rc,l.touo truth, 10
which YOU have been 50 often instructed 10
this place, bffJtd tic only reliable chart for
your guidance. These. may not presume,
" can come mcadcd from my tongue" There
are icw suggestions, hoa ever, 90 o her top.
ics, which may not be Who'll useless. Ia our
stirring, ecIlve, enetGeic nation, with every
ihlug Tending TO the practical affairs of lie,
~e have not as yet. ard are not likely coon 10
have, body OF Professors of literature and
science merely. Add # we ~aI, the coming
OF J1hnsons, Go!tsm,hs, fumes. or Mscau.
LAYS, exclusive devolees o! leaning 10 csiab
h.h literary character FOR cur country, we
shall probably enact lie tgb,e Of the rustic Ge.
scrbsd by Horace, Who sat b, tic ri,et's do,
and expected 1t to lib away. Without pen.
sions OF patronage from Government. with the
engtosslng demands OF pub ic affairs, Of The
professions aud OF business, calling for new
employees IN their departments liberal ltaiu.
ing among u, for a long tine 10 clne oil
least, 10 TO be cultivated not by a seplta'e or.
der OF writers, but By those Who snatch time
from other vocatons for Ils pursuits ard us
chief dependence Tor preservation at all must
be upon the alumni of our Universities.
cor ire you, therefore, Cor " HE studies sake"
To ~hich you are Indebted for your present
distinction, not 10 Permit your tastes IN letters
to become eStinc', but 10 add 10 your presen,
requirements on every iiitrng opportunity
The will be IN easy tssk, Il undertaken ~ih
q moderate degree OF attention now, but will
become moe and more iiicul, the longer
Il may be deferred. fear il argues, how
ever, gross negligence Of generous studies,
or that our courage IS uDeqpal TO our cspRcl.
tics, that there Is not more general diffusion
Of polite learning among the mon Of education
in our county. Instead Of apol>glzlng for
the wan, Of It, 10y necessary auenriou 10 the
demands upon our time by public trusts, our
profession or business. We ought 10 remember
that some OF the most eminent v0tsrIes OF Gle
CANT and profound learning were persons Who,
OF the very tire when pursuing these studies,
bore their fall hare 10 similar employ ments,
and equally luxurious. Not TO recur again to
Cicero. (~hoso exceIlen, biography by Mid.
dleton canno, be too often read by men of Of
fare, 10 overcome slo,h aud revive their
for mental labor, i, may be sufficient,
10 psrtlcularize Bacon, Burke aud Brough.
ham, in English history, Lsnartine, Gulzol,
Theirs aud Bago, at the presen, day, in
Frsnce and, emitting many others IN our ccun.
try, Murphy, Tay Tor and Castor, in our own
State. Thcse we're persons not slo,hlul IN
business, but who adorned business as well
az leisure, with the charms OF polite eruditlon.
Whatever, therefore, be your plans of life,
whether to embark IN the Professions, 10 Ag
r,culiure, Commerce. or other business, or
whether you entertain an honorable desire
for dist notion in public employment, true
taste, love of leaning, and desire for further
advancement in oo~Iedse, should be hab'u.
alv cherished.
Du, il these be neglected or deemed i'm.
practicable, aud The lar flowers which have
been here nourshed should bear no such fruit,
rene mber that there can be no excuse for n
failure to illustrate your lives by enlarged
views OF integrity. justice. truth. honor, and
benesolcnce, IN your several spheres of action.
Not BY on abstract and outward admiration
Of these virtues, but an iutlexble adherence
to their impulse, under every variety and
change Of circumstances. And your educa
lion will have proved defective in its mos.
essential object, if, with the precepts Of re.
lison aud Of reason, and the examples OF his
tory. it has not impaired to you the force Of
will to maintain rig and resis. wrong, come
what may.
As citizens of Republic who have been
by your studies made acquainted with the
Constitution and Government Of your coun
try, and who have also been,
by ancient learning, 20 the enlightened love