New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-25
COMMENCEMENT OF THE COLLEGE OF
NE F-JERSEY.
JSo. Sflsrry

! ment of the venerable College Of Eew-JerSey, at
| Princeton, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday,
aid the att actions Of the occasion filed the village of
Princeton OVERLOOKING with visitors from not only
every section of NewJersey, but from almost every
| State in the Union. Both public and private houses
taxed to their utmOet TO accommodate the throng
end even then there were many who were compelled
to either stand and sleep betake themselves to the
floor for lodgings. And ever the privileges OF enjoy
ing the last mentioned luxury was worth something
I'VE mean to the landlord to the lOdger, for
reporter knows one Princeton landlord who modesty
valued spOoze on his sdamaDtine floors with the
privilege Of greasy overcoat for covering, at sta
BE FAY ors Of similar character at propOrouate prices
Tie Annual Grafton was delivered by the Hon.
VIM c. Alexander, at Nassau Hall, Oh Tuesday after
noon. The spacious hall was literally crsnued with
people, and thousands obliged to retire after
rutess effort TO get within the sound of his voice.
The address of about 30 minutes duration, daring
which time the gentlemans natural eloqueIce Of
speech together with the enchanting interest which
lie threw around his subject, leld. his numerous au-
dience completely spell bound. Mr.. Alexander COM
menced by saying that it was not without sgnricancy
that be occupied the position that had been assigned
him upon this occasion, without Immediately reverting
to the days of his youth. One impulse 50 uniform
must have It's Ofgln IN natural Ieeung. Inc udyS u
youth-in every worldly sense, our happiest days
came back to Us in such gatb erDgs, and we would
fam live over again the hours when were as yet
untaLted with the earthly handling of the cares and
business of the world, and when our models Of
statesmen and patriots those stern impracticsble
old Creek and Romans concerning whom were
accustomed TO read with masters. Such return Of
thOug hts natural and pleasing, ike the coming
home Of some wayward soldier after the vicssitudes
o., fl..o
where lie had spent his childhood among the hills.
And therefore it is that whether we return to these
shades whether as in the present case, we reside
among them our peDsiye thoughts go back TO the
days of College discipline. They were our days OF
impression. Later traces have been superficial in
comparison. Then the seal was act on the melted
wax, which presently grew hard rock. What a
tribute to the power of academical edu alton Great
scholars and great men had, without doubt, been
made in privacy; but these must for ever lack the
high end almost festive association Of JOINT pursuit.
remembrance of enthusiasm caught from soul
to soul in the common race for knowi-
edge and reputation. powerful agency In
forming and refining the character OF man was the
hslowed Influence upon the heart snd fancy which
exists in the precints of an ancient collegs. The
speaker here dwelt at considerable length on the effect
Of public education upon the national mind and char
acter-ts power in the Transmission and establishment
OF truth protection of liberty, extension OF cyIzaon
and the progress of refinement; and pointed out the
intimate connection which had always existed between
literary institutions and the cause, progress ana sue
cess Of human liberty, and the Influence exefted by
universities and coueges in forwarding every enter.
prise ever undertaken in support OF the natural and
il alienable rights OF man. He claimed tia. Freedom
had never had auxsries mole important than these
institutions and as illustration Of this fact referred
to the part that universities had taken in the Enssh
and Scotch Revolutions the French RevolutOhs OF
1880 and lsiS and the struggle between power and
right in the Southwestern States, Germany and Aus
tina The spirit OF progress had had no champions
like universities and colleges with whom every enter
pri &c in favor Of Freedom Rad originated.
III, Lit t.a, IA
and importance Of educational institutions generally
came directly to the principal topic OF MS ora
ton, and dwelt upon the Influence exer,ed by the
College Of NewJeIsey upon the liberty, independence
and pPe atness OF these United States. He sail that
the College building had served as bairaek alter
patey oi the royal and the continental forces that
within its walls the Continental Congress once met
that at the of 1888 the stage hon
ored with the presence Of the Father of his Country
who was specially adore ed by the vaedctory orator
Of his class himself a soldier Of the Revolution, and
whose within few years had been added To the
list of ilustrious and departed Presidents Of Nassau
Hall: that the President Of the College and gradU-
ate Of the first class, affixed their names 10
| the Declaration Of American Independence
that our.ffths Of the Alumni passed from her wall
TO the ranks Of the Revolutionary army and that no
one Of them proved reCreant to tho cause while their
blood mostened every battle field from Quebec to the
Savannah; and from the establishment OF the College,
| in I747 nm TO the breaking out of the Revolution,
God in His providence using II As an instrument
in the preparation OF the men who Were TO bear no
unimportant part in that struggle for empire. Inc
speaker rened to many Instances OF patIlOc deVo-
ton among the early graduates OF The COLLEGE, 10
which connection he mel toned the names OF Isaac
Smith Joseph Reed, James Caldwell, Benjamin Rush,
Francis Barber, Scudder, Lvermoie ana Sergeant;
Blair Paterson and Ellsworth, Ramsay, Howell and
Martin From these men the orator came down To
the accession of President Witherspoon IN Hbs-euo-
gizei bis character talents attainments and patriot
ism and spoke of the wonderful influence he exert
cd in the cause and progress OF liberty and
the dostinies of the country; that ne inoued
the mind Of every pupil, and OF all who
came within tie scope of his influence, win
an ardent love of liberty and hatred OF oppression
and formed and nodded the character OF the future
men Of the country and prepared them for the proud
and distinguished parts which many OF them were des-
tined to perform the great political drama then about
10 be enacted Sketches OF the character and services
Of a number If his WitherspoOn y pupils were gwen
| of William K. Davie, William Bradtori, Moses
| Allen, John Beatty, PerpOnt Edwards, Frederick
ErelirChuysen, Aaron Bun, James Madison aud
others and the interesting fact stated that on the
9Th day Of August 1850, at the battle OF hanging Rock,
in South Carolina under the Immediate command oil
Capt. Davie Andrew Jackson at the age OF thirteen
wears and i've months, witnessed his FIRST battlefield
this institution thus furnishing bis nrst preceptor
in arms TO that patriotic and truly llustnous man.
| Passing fIom the cOlege-made PATRIOTS AMI war
ricrs The speaker proceeded 10 illustrate the nhu-
| ence Of the College ON civil affairs, and OF the
| mighty contributions she had made 10 the tera-
tuie civilization and refinement Of the age The his
tory Of her labors yet 10 be written aud The us
| toIian who undertook the task would enter upon
field hitherto explored by few and would have con-
ce1ton ii the value Of the beneath his feet until
stalled by the riches Of the treasures which would be
gradually presented to bis view. The benefits be-
| slowed by the College en- the State OF New-Jersey
could not be told and still the State had left her foI
more than century TO struggle on IN her upward and
glorious career unrefreshed oyore single smile OF her
fayor-ealbitiDg parsiIhony Tor which It Justly meT-
tied denuncation Twice during the existence Of the
College, when her fair places hs been ald waste by
contiagi ation the State had looked with cold and
leaden eye upon her desolatOcs aud the College q
New-JeIsey, thus repudsted ard disinhented by the
u. h.ar. and ,yLnsa .nry Ne Las