Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-09-15

Ito pt.,iantfY OF courts and school;
There shal be sung second golden age,
The rise Of Empire and of arts,
The cool AID geeat inspiring f pie rsge,
The ~isest heads and noblest heats
Lei each one Of us gentlemen, according to
his means and opportunities, labor for the iul-
flment oi This obe prophetic Vision. have
come back to nbor with you in this holy cause.
here in our native State, which is doubly dear,
as it ought to he to Us all, and enlist this day
as private and volunteer in the service. |
have had my share Of the employment ofpub.
lie life. | desire now, in private station. 10
contribute. according to the humble measure
of my abilities. and in conf pnction with the
great BODY of my fellow citizens, to help on by
such influences we may exert. every gener
Gus scheme of Improvement demanded by the
wants. moral, intellectual or physical. of our
glorious old Commonwealth. In n Republ.
can community. every citizen, he is entrus-
ted with share Of the sovereign power, owes
corresponding duties to the community OF
which he is member; and as public opinion is
the final atbitcr in every question, there is
one who, from the bosom of the deepest seclu
sion, utterng the potent and persuasive voice
Of trrth, mny not exercise a saluiary influence
Every man, indec !, who, even in the conduct
Of bis private affairs Sets a good example or
introduces useful practice, is so far n pupiic
benelactoi and patriot. It is with this con
ception Of he duties and responsibilities Of
private ctizef that desire, as private Cit.
zen 10 throw in my mite with each one of you
for the Advancement of the common veal, and
TO restore, as lar may be, by The joint efprts
of all, the ancient and noble structure Of our
Virginia rcnoun. To this end, have already
put my band to the plough with you, and
with you. if need be. | ALL as freely put my
shoulder To the wheel.
The first want of every free State, is wise
and difIusive system of public instruction. Pop
uIar government, which i; is our happiness TO
enjoy, can rest securely only on the basi' Of
popular lucnlion. Tho extraordinary events
which haze lately occurred in the country l
have just LIT, and of which, Won gentlemen
am sure, have been intelligent observers,rho'
not from so a point OF view, as that from
which | saw them. demonstrate with force Of
evidence which it is impossible to resist that
the " ide,t and most unlimited suffrage is no
adequate security for the public liberty unless
those who exercise it are duly enlightened.
And the great lesson which the experience of
that country impressively teaches, you will al
low me 10 add, is that no instruction Tor any
other class of society can be safely relied on
unless il is botlomed on the solid basis OF re
ligion. Let Us, then, gentleman. one and all,
give hearty and urited support to every
generous and well considered effort to extend
and improve our system Of public Instruction.
We have able and experienced leaders in this
great work here present, in visitors and Pro.
fessors Of the University, who have been
pleased to join us to day, aud whose enhght.
ened lead | shall be proud to follow in SO no.
BILE a cause.
Another great want of our State,I am hap.
ny to say. has already been most wisely and
literally provided for-I refer to system of
improved and accelerated communication
which shall penetrate every part OF our terrific.
bring lis hidden and untold riches into day,
and waken the dormant energies of our popu-
aton to new life and activity. Virginia has
been hitherto Ike sleeping giant unconscious
of the power that stunt, red in her arm
The Railroad whistle v i'll rouse her from her
dreamy repose, and sti her up to deeds wor.
thy of her ancient fame. for ii is not the physi
cal energies only, but The moral and inellec-
tnal faculties also that are stimulated by these
busy avenues of communication. which bring
mind into contact with mind, while they open
ale" channels for commerce, and apply new
Incentives to industry. The school master
and the locomotive az tw in missionaries of
civi ization and know ledge, ard mutually pre-
pare the wav one for the other. | rejoice
with you gentlemen, at this new and brigh, era
| in the annals Of our State, and at the vet more
glorious perspective it opens in the iutu e.
We have made noble commencement
Let US not faint by the waysidc. Here, too,
we have able and tried leaders, some of whom
favor us with their presence to day, and we
shall at all times am sure be prepared to Sc
cond their exerlions with Jealous and cordi
al cooperation.
On every side fus, there isprogress. There
is progress in agriculture, in manufacture, in
the mechanic arts, In commerce, in science, and
! trust in morals. The age IS everywhere an
age of movement. Those who do not move
forward move backward Rest aud inaclon
have become impossible, for fany one be sup
posed to be stationary, it is in truth, 10 he re-
trogade when all the rest Ct the wcrlI are
passing by with ceeseles velocity. We must