The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-16
THE WASHINGTON UNION.

virtue Under the force OF amy temptation 10 ial be-
you will not yield ia these points is in TRUTH
conquer and the fruits of such ransgresson If you
TO gather them, would fall 10 ashes in the taste.
Follow rather the example Of the good old mother
State which has taken such unweared pains 10 incu-
cate upon her children that honor and moral greatness
TO he preferred 10 material wealth physical power
She not especially called by her interests be the
rst volunteer in the great struggle for American liberty
and yet il she not the very first there were none
ahead of her in enrolling for that war; or superior TO
her in the magnitude of the sacrifices which she made
sustain IT, AT her very entrance into the great family of
States OF which she then the leading member she
stripped herself OF empire to domestic peace
and build up great and common prosperity. Principle
has been the lone star which directed her course has
she permitted the temptations of material interests
to seduce her from il for moment Ii there be peo
pie upon earth capable of initiating the proud Athenia
example, of rejecting proposition which most bene
fetal because it most unjust it Is the people of this
great old Commonwealth of Virginia She has preferred
to transmit to her children the inheritance of a good
name rather than power and wealth
With such proud associations in the past and with such
family traditions before him, he must be degenerate son
indeed, who would voluntarily cast stain blot upon the
which has been the subject of so much tender care
and solcitude He must be ungratcful too if he would
spare to any honorable opportunity within his reach
to build up the moral grandeur the material prosperity
OF his State There can be true OF such mother
OF whose heart - not the first desire TO her crowned
with bonors to clohe her right arm with power and to
buckle on her left the shield which may defend her
against all the assaults of her enemies All her children
owe her their duty and love- and especially do you
these things to her for whose she has founded this
noble institution surrounding you not only with the
means and appliances for acquiring knowledge but with
corps of learned professors and skilfu instructors to
train you alike in the discipline of the school and the
camp and upon the model of her great son, who
was indeed the ''rst in war; first ia peace and first In
the hearts of his countiymen.
have spoken, my young friends Of the character Of
Virginia believe it deserves to be described not
lightly, in the boastfu spirit of mere State pride
proud Of my State but too proud trust wantonly to
bring up its and character for public criticism and
discussion, to beg the worldto praise her SO far
the world is concerned ii she IL entitled to its esteem she
will in the end receive it, and she does deserve it.
the attempt to enforce admiration would only be ridcu
lous. speak of her to her children to you who have
been trained and disciplined under her own eve that you
may understand and appreciate the full value of the sa
cred trust which is to be committed in part to your
hands To the generation to which you belong and in
which trust you to take leading part must soon
be consigned the the rights the interests and
the character of the State of Virginia BY yor best af
tecons, and i'm the of her mighty dead charge
you TO be true to that great trust when ii is conded
your hands Still keep open her road to progress and
improvement Preserve within her the feeling of self
respect and clothe her counenance in the moral dig
nifty which il given by the consciousness high purposes
to down the jest Of the rild or the sheer of the
profane II she to her services in the great
cause OF human improvement, pay them, If it taxes
all your energies and tasks your highest powers to
do it and let it be widows mite that she will
cast into the treasury of good works. but the rich conr
buttons OF fuil-handcd She will
wrong to Others, and need not tell You to that she
suffers from others in her turn for in this matter
that you will need the bride than the spur
But the contests of physical rcc are not the only batt
fields upon which the dostinics of States are to be deter
mined in modern times Public opinion has now become
moral power, which is worldwide in its influence and
all governments certainly all civilized governments must
feel that influence Before That great bar where this
verdict is to be rendered, States and nations must be
ready at all times to plead Like other human tribunals
mistaken judgments may be rendered here and States OF
even individuals who.havc truth their side may resist
them with success in the long rum but in the mean time
the whole social fabric may reel under the assaults which
thus directed against it, These the battle fields
upon which the State must look mainly its church and
its schools for the defenders who trained for such
struggles
vitcd may she be ready for the encounter and may
her children always be prepared and equal to the task
her dclnce May the day of her misfortune never be SO
great but that like the old Ancses she may find some
son strong enough to bear her safely through the fires
the strife the cloud Of missiles which her enemies may
hurl against her But augur for her no such day Of
misfortune she will continue guide her steps by the
light of truth and principle and in SO doing will grow
and prosper My deepest socitude and ardent prayer
her is that she may carry with her in her the in
crcasing love and respect OF mankind This is the point
TO which would direct your most earnest attention.
Rely upon that from time to time public opinion will
the States and nations of the earth appear be
fore the bar of the world to give account of the
vices which they have rendered in the great of hui
man progress and improvement Whenever that day of
reckoning comes at the great roll call of nations trust
State of Virginia may be able to render good
account the best of them and that with the proud
smile Of maternity upon her face she may lead up fair
array of her to be crowned in the face Of the world
either with laurel for the tiumps of with myrtle
for the ovations of peace.
Young gentlemen in conclusion, permit to express
the earnest wish that you may furnish amongst the
Of those whom she will present deserving either
the laurel on the myrtle
INSTRUCTION NEGRois.--There will be meeting of
the ministers and official members of the different churches
in Richmond to devise the best for promoting the
Scripture instruction of negroes in the First Baptist
Church DIR. Bunows Tuesday, the It'll of July, at
81 o'clock, p All persons feeling interest are in
vted to attend.
Many prominent ministers and laymen of different de-
nominations unite in this call Richmond Enquirer
The above is deserving Of notice, inasnuch of
the standing arguments of the abolition republicans
against the sin of slavery is that the moral and
ous instruction of the southern negro slave is neglect
cd. When will there be ga meeting of the ministers
and official members OF the different churches in New
York to devise for promoting the Scripture in
struction of the and thousands of own in
habnts who utterly destitute of such instruction.
and wish to continue so l--,Jownat Of Commerce