The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-18
Harvard College COmmenc ement.

amply paid by ramble through this region.
Harvard College Commencement.
OUR CAMBR IDeE CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMBRIDGE, (Mass.) July l6, 1851.
/ suppose you will not be unwilling to receive
some account of the doings at this of learning
at this, the most interesting season Of the year.
To-day is comm encement day at the Harvard
University. Tomorrow the Phi Beta Kappa cee-
beate their anniversary; and yesterday the Sto
Association b ad their first celebration.
This ascot alton is formed Of the law students
connected with the University, under the immediate
instruction of Ex-Chief Justice Parker, Of New
Hampshire, and Professor Parsons. Judge Kent
of your city, is the President Of the society.
At twelve o'clock procession, consisting Of the
Story Association the college officers and students,
and sundry distinguished guests was formed on the
college grounds, and headed by band Of music,
marched to the church. The edifce Gro wded
in every part-the galleries were exclusively occu-
pied by ladies-and President Sparks. Hon, Edward
Everett, Chief Justice Shaw, Judge Bigelow.
Judge Edmonds, of New York, Hon Thomas Car
penter, of Rhode Island and several other dstin-
guisbed persons were seated On the platform.
| After prayer by Rev. DIR. Walker, and music by
| the band, Hon. VIM. Kent, of New York, President
| Of the Association, introduced the orator OF the
occasion, Hon. Rufus Choate, who spoke about
hour and twenty minutes, in high STRAIN Of elo-
quence.
His subject was the present condition of the couu-
| try-the masked moral treason which exaggerated
| the public mind, and threatens the destruction Of
| the nation-and be urged that 1t the peculiar
duty OF the profession Of the law to win back the
virtues of the people to the service Of the country
| The doctrines Of transcend ntalsts and humani-
| taraDs-who sip from the teachings of anti
Unionsts, who reject law be cause it con iicts with
some one interior sentiment, who try law by hoard
| ei anger-were scattered to the four winds, not
| by rhetorical skill Alone but by arguments support
cd by standard of ethics as sound and immut ole
as the word of God. Mr.. Choate said the In ,st
startling idea in the seeming progress of our day
the endeavor to try to solve to eliorate and
to explain everything at once by the standard Of our
| own human MISUNDERSTANDING ID the dark
ness Of our inward thoughts. No regard was paid
to the philosophic teachings of Locke Jeremy Tay-
lor Burke, and other erudite and profound masters
of the old time, whose wisdom and learning illumed
| and guided n former generation, and whose maxims
confront and ignore the lessons Of the modern con-
science advocates. Constitution and laws are de-
| nouIced as things Of hell, and one man puts his
| own judgment agains. the opinions Of the ommu-
| nifty Ii was under these influences that unre-
strained treason walked abroad to day at the Moth
| end at the South. Conscience" glosmy and
sullcn at the North-proud aud heated at the South
dictates the stupendous heresy OF notification
| which is now preached openly in both extremes of
banquet Of emotions, but they do nothing a. all
teach us how to demcan and act out the duties OF
civil life.
The struggle at present in South Carolina, to en-,
the government, was noticed and deplored by the
orator, ard the agitations in our own vicinity were
also lamented. Mr.. Choate's exhortation to dis
card local passons-to collect the scattered stars
to make all men feel and surrender their common
affections TO the country-to avoid platforms Of
wood, and the sending forth Of rocket Distractions
70 refrain from gapngs over the hedge of Southern
slavery. and certainly not to enter ito cure the
morality which countenances "a dissolution of the
Un)n-to discard all arrogant and self righteous
ortces- to shun poetic sebmentaiists end al arti
fetal virtues-was appeal such Is Sc dom heard
The Grafton was listened to with marked attention.
and at the conclusion the following original ode,
written by Hon George Lunt, was sung to the air
"Auld Larg Syne," the band accompanying
| Beneath these shades. whose hallowed fame
| snch generous thoughts revere
| Wi,hiu these halls, of many name
| To hope aud memory desr
| BE here by meeting hearts and hands,
| one freshcr garland twined,
| Round sacred lssrnDg's gathered bands
To mingie mind with mind
| III. ages lionel lamp might shine,
| And in its light expire:
/ And burning w,rd thou yht divine,
| Nilht y.Ish in their ure
Dut caught from Nil ling soul to soul,
The flames euulgeEt spread.
| ARD clt' = immortal whole
The h'irg anu the dead.
These toodng cares that round us rise,
Ard lifr fnitdounCd 20 tolls.
| Catch hail n grace frtii social it's
| And live IN genial smiles
| And SIN when Wisdom ifs her brow,
! Encruwnrd WITH iOw,ry wrraths
| Her noblcst purpose breathes
| within tn. br,sum' secret shrine
lmi0ortsl visions sleep.
Lii gems that light the sucn mine
or pefrls that strev the deep
| But touched to III, by kindred ant,
The burning accents roll
| fo.uns and Senates feel heart,
| And nations n soul
After the services in the church, the association
with guests repaired to Harvard Hall and partock
Of Inner. Perc speeches were made by several
| rebtltmen:-By Judge Kent; by Chief Justice
shaw and Juoge Wilde, Of the supreme Court Of
| Massachusetts,; by Chief Justice Edmonds, of New
| York; by Chief Juitice Ieustis, of Louisiana; by
! Judge Bonnet, Of the Supreme Court of Vernon. ;
| by General Carpenter, of Rhode Island; by Pro-
| fessors Parker and Parsons, and others, aud nj q
late hour the assemblage broke up, much gratiiied
with tic proceedings OF the DAY.
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS.
From the Boston Travel, z, July 10
| The Com mencement mt Harvard University wa
| today celebrated with the usual appropriate ex-
| ercises in he First Church, ut Cambridge. His
| Excelency Governor Boutwell,, and other members
| Of the evil government, we're escorted to Can-
| bridge from Boston by the National LaDccrs. the
corego arriving at the place of meeting, the church,
some minutes before ten o'clock.
The platform in the church was rs usual occupied
| by tie Governor and Council, and Senators OF
Collele, both in civil professional and ecclesiasti-
cal he ard President Sparks, VINO presided on the
occasion.
At ten O'Clock the exercises commenced with
| Latin Grafton, Sslutstory, by VIM. W. Goodwin.
Of Ply outh, tho delivery Of which was excellent,
and from the Dtenances Of those on the platform