The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-07-09
Lexington-Litera Addresses-The
mtttary Institute Anniversary
Celebrations, sc.
IcoRREsrosDRsoE OF ruk RICHMOND p.IY plspArcn
LEXINGTON, Va, July 5th. 1858.

4
CORRESPONDENTS OF ruk RICHMOND DAILY prspArcn
| LEXINGTON, Va, July 5th, 1858.
fhe nasty sketch Of recent transactions at this
place, IN connection with the Commencement cele
| oration at Washington College, was brought down
IN former budget TO the close Of the lst inst
| On the I'd. nothing special being marked ont In
| the way OF public speeches, few young men
| thought that some amusement might be afforded
oy getting up Tournament, aud accordingly
spread the report that such an exhibition would
take place on the College Avenue in the afternoon
W conrse, crowds fiocked to the place to witness
| tue I'm this locality novel performance. After
some delay the Sir knights, numbering some tea
OF d oozen, and designated by all sorts of fancy
names, among them the Knight of Lamancha on
| one-eyed mule, drew mp in line before the orator
'or the occasion, to receive the charge before they
entered upon the gallant contest for the ring. Ii
| WIZ WIZ suihce your correspondent to say that the
| tiltiug was complete bufesaue on kuight.erran
try and was we'll calculated TO bring into disrepue
| this resuscitated relic OF the dark ages
On the afternoon of the 81, Samuel Garland Jr
| h'qr OF Lynchburg, graduate of the Y. NJ. l. in
the class OF 1919, addressed the Alumni Society ot
| the Institute, in the Presbyterian Church, Itwas
| evident from the manner in which the speaker
preiaced his address, that he purposed saving
| some things that would not exactly be in accor-
| dance with the views of the friends of the system
OF education pursued at the V. NJ. ]. Mr. G's main
| design seemed to be to rebuke the folly of the
ntra-utitarianism of this 'iron age in deyotjpp
! 80 much time to the development of the physical
| and mechanical energies of the young at the ex-
pense aud TO the almost exclusion of the superior
claims OF ancient and modern literature' and the
moral scences-to the Cambridge rather than to
The teachings of the oxford school. He quoted
largely from the writings and opinions of Sir VIM.
hamilton and other distinguished savans of
Europe, to sustain his position and combat the
spirit of literary fsuaticism abroad 10 our
land that estimates the value of any object or at
tainment by its 'strausmutability into consumable
N at tar ilI md tha tbat
productions of ancient genius are not sufficiently
practical, in other words, that they won't pay
This, of course, is hint at the spirit of the
address, which was carefully prepared-worded in
chaste but decided terms, and del iyer ed in grace
tul and attractive manner.
On the 4th, Sunday because it the lilo we'd
anniversary OF American Independence, and ba.
cause 1t came just between the commencement ex.
erclses OF the college and institute the pastor OF
the Presbyterian church, Rev Dr. White EN-.
braced the opportunity to preach a sermon fro,,
the passage found i'll Matthew, 10th chapter. and
Sd verse: Can ye not discern the signs of tie
umesF" can only say here, that it was an earn
est and eloquent sermon, replete with sound arg.
uments and wholesome advice. In citing a NUN.
Der of the signs of the times (his vie being con.
lined mainly 90 the Old Commonwealth all OF
which were auspicious, and going to show that we
are progressing rapidly in the march of improve.
ment--in education and in morality he
concluded that one thing alone seemed to
mar this prosperity, and that was the
land, evncing itself in all the walks of liein the
dIsobedlent conduct of children and the GsorlerIy
ieIneanor OF grown up men aud women And in
&lancing at the present state Of affairs, political
commercial, social and religious, throughout our
whole country, he argued that We had ample rea.
son to be thankful for the position we now occupv
| being great united and happy people, whose God
| is the lord
The loud reports from the heavy Artillery at the
| Military Institute this morning, announced that
| something out of the ordinary course of every day
| affairs was about to be transacted. The Main
| street OF the town was soon crowded with men,
| women and children of every age color and con.
dtion, and at the sppoipted time the soul stirring
music of the drum aud FIFE sounded the march OF
| the gallant corps of Cadets to the place where
| their celebration was to be held. On arriving at
he Presbyterian church. the exercises Of the day
were opened with yrayer by the Rev. DR.. Peudle-
| ton. The Declaration Of Independence was then
| read by Cadet of the Sd class, E. Hardy, of Nor
! ok, aud the National Grafton was delivered by a
| Cadet of the 2nd class, J. W. Lyell, of Richmond
| The exercises of the graduating class then
introduced, with the salutatory address of Cadet
J. +. Neff of Shenandoah, aud closed with the val
edictoIy address by Cadet j. b. Terrill of Bath
The acting superintendent, Major Preston, pro-
ceeded to deliver Diplomas TO the following mem-
| bsrs of the 1st class: VI. b. Hardin, of Alexan.
| ria, L. w Reid, of Alexandria. L. L. Marks, OF
| Petersburg. j. F. Neff, OF Shenandoah n. G. vii.
| son, Of Rockbridge, NJ. Mcdonald, of Hampshire
| W. T. Catsbaw, of Jefferson, j. VI. kincheloa, OF
| rauquer, II. B. Meade, of Amelia r. s. Taylor, OF
| Franklin, F. c. Edmonds, of Alexandria G. f. Tay
Toe, of Roanoke, L. L. Pitts, OF Richmond j. T.
lIsrstou, Of Henry, Samuel Wilson, Of Surry, j
| b. TerriiI, of Bath, j. Armistead, of Elizabeth
City, II. L. Norieet, Of Nansemohd, and d. "
Elowerree, of Fauquer. After this, Gen. Rich
4rdson, Adjutant General of the State, and, ex-of
fcio, constant member Of the Beard Of Visitors
| delivered a brief address 90 the graduates in
| which he made the following statement: That in
his opinion, this is the bost class, in all respects
ever graduated at this Institute. The Literary
societies of the Institute were then addressed by
| the Hon. Wllloughby Newton, of Westmorelrnd
county. He chose as his theme, ''Virgiuia as il
it is and as it will be-. The address is spoken
Of as a ,uperior Intellectual production, but the
| sentiment contained in it, being avowedy aud
| distinctly in favor Of Disunion found but weak
| response iD the large and Intelligent audience
The public, however will have an opportunity tC
read and criticise it for themselves aud it will bs
a matter Of great surprise and regret if there are
| more than a corporals guard, in this good Old
commonwealth Of ours, WHO are ready,at this late
day, 20 adopt the views and opinions of the distn
guished orator.
| newly elected magistrate in this district il.
Illustrated his first official act this afternoon by the
capture of live ''tieer" IN room at the Lexipg
ton Hotel. Several persons who were caught in
the act playing with thi, ferocious animals tail
were arrested by the officers in attendance, bui
the larger portion of the select company made
| their sudden exit through the back windows. II
| il said that considerable amount of money in
bills and specie were gathered up by the officer,
| of the law, also the faro bank aud all the Deces
.ary fixtures thereto belonging, with sundry coats
| and hats belonging to absquatulated individuals
| 1t is due TO the good name of this place that
| should cay that the parties now under arrest dc
| not belong here.
| The spacious parade ground at the Institute il
| thronged tonight with an immense concourse Of
| people witnessing the brilliant and beautiful dis
| play of fire works, now flashing with scintil!a
| lions Of more than ordinary brightness and light
:. ing np the dark, lowering clouds, that ever and
anon send forth, as if in contrast, specimens o
| Heavens own grandest fire works.
| Soon the sweet and delightful strains of music
| will call the invited guests to the extensive and
admirably adapted mess hall, which has been
tastefully fitted up for the cadets annual ball but
| will not weary your patience at this time, and
| occupy more space in your burdened columns with
| any of the attendant details -.