Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-07-25
For the Free Press.
BosToN, July nth, 1851.
Messrs. EDlToRs:

your pepper in its dress at the Athens of Amer
ica," and now plunge IN media. res. Last week
Oh Tuesday, the Anniversa rcs of the Literary So
cleties al Brown began by Grafton before the
fhi Beta Kappa, pronounced, or should rather say
read, by WIN. Green, Esq, of Cincinnati. As did
not reach the city until noon that day, the reports
OF others must suffice i'll this case 1t was described
as remarkably clear and logical discussion OF of
the exciting questions of the day Our obi gatons 10
Conscience aud the State. II reports are to be trus
ted, he maintained, with great force and power that
the individuals moral Judgment was not an ultimate
rule of action, when it contcted with the law, and
that the former must yield to the latter. On all sides
both by those who agreed TO, md those who dissent
ed from his conclusions, it was conceded that his
Argument close and logical and that he present.
ed his points with great clearne aud power. In
the afternoon the Undergraduate Societies, in their
public meeting listened to an Grafton from Abraham
Payne Esq, of Providence. His subject was Com
mon Sense, which he defined as a well balanced
character in other words, the union OF our capac.
tiles in harmonious action This quality is rare
both in the formation Of opinions and individual eff
fort The age required this quality, because there is
a strong tendency TO extremes of speculation. This
may be regarded as one OF the results of the prnci-
pie of the reiormauon-Ee right eff private ludg-
ment. The mos: common error to which this led
was an idea OF progress, quite prevalent The ten.
dency to speculation produced an extreme indlyidu-
alism, which created an antagon;sm be wern the
individual and society and that he who attempted
to withstand lis nevtab tendencies would be borne
along by the RESTLESS torrent. Hence the udyid.
uaI IN his labor should cooperate with Society In
this connection he spoke OF the change which New
England had Undergone, and drew picture Of the
cd times nndpaced them IN contrast with the present
This portion Of the address was very striking and
the description OF the minister of our early history
with his internal struggles-he settled hxedness o.
opinion nround-so different from our present reg
ious and lattudnaran speculations, all of this wa.
so graphic, and true to life, that we seemed to live
the old times over again. The changes Of Societ,
need not create alarm As long as the right OF free
discussion remained, truth would have more than an
equal contest Tins was the most earnest and i'm.
presslye portion and he to ervld eoquence wor
thy OF the spirit OF Roger Williams. As whoI,
the Grafton above the average though it ha,
obvious defects 1t was lragmentafy, and wantet
logical Conference, both in pan and connection o
thought. lie made several important statements
without exacincss. lis alIuSion to the phlosoph,
OF progress was so very vague that il was Difficult
10 know what he meant From his assertion tina
this theory il its last aiySis, resulted in Atheism
supposed he referred to the opinions OF Compile -
which are by no means generally accepted By tnos
who believe that there is a law OF progress whirl
has its basis upon clear and lofty faith and whicl
also finds lis confirmation III the Christian Reveal
J ton
The Commenceue nt exercises on the next dc
were better than usual, The orati,ns rxceed ali
that have ever heard, both in style and manner
There was not an indifferent one among them a.
1t may also with truth be added that none were yer
remarkable for vgor of thought and exhibition
genius. There was a little sameness in composite.
which awakened the suspicion that they had passe
through one pruning hand In this respect they d
tered from those have heard at our Commence
ments With us you discern more of the indivlt
ua,ity, which belongs to each mind. Our SUDDEN
have less polish ard elegance IN their composo
and mode OF speaking but their productions hay
the appearance OF being genuine, VIII ch to IN
mind IS great excellence
The dinner, which was under tent, on the gree
in the Of the College buildings was served WI,
tnsre and beauty. Among the distinguished speal
the Astronomer, of Boston. But as the interest
such gatherings belongs the feelings OF the lin
and the circumstances of the moment it is worse tina
useless to repeat what was said. DR.. Wayland pr
sided and was in excellent spirits at the results,
d far, of his new plan. Certainly as Twisted one
: the recitation rooms and found the old uncomtort
bic benches removed TO give place TO chairs wi
every convenience for taking notes, the improyeme
| m-de by this change was quite apparent As to ii
d merits OF the new system let wiser and more exp
= rirnced minds decide. The College really seem,
:, to be al progress. Time 1.-The great teach
d will declare the permanent results, On Commenc
. ment evening the Presidents house open us usu
# 20 his friends, and this was pleasant conclusion
o a happy day TO the Sons of Brown
d Let US pass to Cambridge. The public ann;vers
ries began with what seemed to me an unpleasa
q nntagonism, The Story Association" which co
5 vened for the first time fixed the hour for their Or
). ton a period assigned by honorsd custom to t
>, visitation OF the Divinity School On account
N this arrangement did not hear the Grafton OF y
e Choa,e, which all admit marked by that beau
% and mastery OF language. which are characters
OF his mind A friend who heard 1t remarked, II
it was Every plausible and at the close very e
Qutnl IL VIII pIpDdUlb Ne puDlslltu so mat eve
- one can Judge of the correctness o his conclusion
The exercises on Commencement day were mar
I'd by their usual varry-nct forgetting the old RAJ
strop man. The church crowded, the mu
sprlt-stirrng, and all seemed bright and happy I
Alumni dinner was more satisfactory than last ye
Mr. Sparks as soon as the repasI was over, gave
10 tn CHI r to Mr. Everett, the President o the " ;
H. clely OF the Alumni" lie presided with that grG
Ut and which few equal, I'VE o course rank amo
re these few, the general" who presided SO succe
ne fully al our Fourth OF July Festival and who add
IT, much to the interest OF the festivities,
On the next day, which is the most attractive
- the graduates, DR.. Sprague, OF Albany, gave
Phi Beta KAPPA Oration. His subject was
w american mind, lis origin and destiny" His st
=" OF oralory was simple and pleasing but there v
~ no evidence OF any marked vigor OF thought. or
higher qualities ei genius. The beautiful tribute
Buckmlnlster, was the crown and this kind OF "
ting seemed TO exhibit the excellent features of
mid and heart. 1t showed that no diferenc,
DIS opinion prevented that deep sympathy which
% good always feel for beauty OF character, and m,
H., worth. At The close OF the Grafton, the audie