Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-08-19
ADDRESS,
ADDRESS,
Deliuered at The Examination of FRANKLIN THOMPSON ESQ.,
School, july 3d. 1859,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN The invitation which
places me before you this interesting occaslon came
to me in the shape and feeling OF command Inc non
or it bespeaks had been lrequitted indeed H. WITHOUT
better excuse than the ncessant duties of an arduous
profession, the required services had been Wthhelo-
And while would ask that the veil OF charity oe
spread over the deficiencies and errors of the task
saw that felt if declined should betray an lnsensl-
bty to the kindness of my friends and an indifference
my country and to the cause of Education within ner
borders utterly alien to my bosom. Duly affected Dy
both. am here. then, with more zeal than ability, TO
manifest my sense of dnty, than with hope to raty
the Judgment of fattering selection.
In the first young of mans existence on earth
his ideas-hs modes and Objects and pursuts-dltfered
very much from what find them at present Inc
lapse years has accumulated mighty and Invaluable
collection OF experience, facts and data from ana Dy
which we are enabled to religion government
and science And in consequence of the instruction de-
rived from these sources the mind OF man has been re-
voutionized and undergone great and wondrous muta
tion When the rude contemporary OF Adam hrst look
ed out upon the anti-deuvian world-newy moulded by
the hand of Deity and blooming in all the youngness of
its primeval beauty, the veil Of enchantment was
spread over all he saw--everythng around HIM was
mystery ard bis earnest heart felt that OF the great
objects of his destiny was to investigate Its laws and
solve its phenomena His mind yet being wholly en-
crossed by the real and visible had time to indulge
the abstract specuatons of philosophy, or mnutey
to examine and compare the deductions OF reason lie
had yet to learn the alphabet whereby to read the
secs everywhere written the pages of creation We
may hence learn the why in these early ages
was rather observing than thinking being True,
the power of mind then, it ever has been IN some
measure felt but the paefaced thinker was forgot and
intellectual exertions paralized before the preemnent
power of him of the sinewy and iron frame IN those
elder days Of the worlds history But this crude system
Of thought-O of action and of social organization result
ing thererOm is now obsoete-an archaism in the his
tory of civilized man. The superstructures of society
/ Of relic and Of
terent basis and held together and ruled by far differ
ent power The mnd-the cultivated minds now
the only lever that the ponderous machinery
of this Nineteenth Century. And well does it behoove
to keep in play and in good working order this great
and gigantic motive power.
In its broad and comprehensive sense the work of Ed
ucation is the grand business of human life; and
in these United States, need h. rdy say can never be
neglected but at the hazard Of consequences which no
patriot can contemplate without alarm. This belief was
present with America, at its very trth and stamped
upon its rising institutions the great impress OF freedom
and perpetuty In the history of other nations LEARNING
has been the slow growth of society already formed
and has existed at last only the ornament OF wealth
or the champion of power. But with the Fathers OF
our republic it was dcult-with them, next to religion
it was the first thing thought Of not luxury, but
as necessity not the handmade OF privileges but
the OF equality not the child of endowment
The accident OF place. but as the surest basis OF public
prosperity and private happiness They planted know
edge therefore in the schools as
soon they had builded habtaon3, ani Laid the oun
dation of system of education, while yet they were
struggling with the ravages Of disease and the prvations
OF want shall attempt no historical sketchings of the
progress of education from then until now, suffice it to
say, that this day reap the benefits of their fore
thought and labor and enjoy the fruits of the tree plan
ted by their care.
Well may we feel grateful, that it has been our hap
py fortunes to live in the present age An age rich IL
the requirements Of the past and eemng with all the
advantages Of accumulated experience thought and la
Dor, and in hopes that duly appreciate those
advantages and able to realize the contrast between
the present and the past Deeply grateful do feel, tc
the great dispenser Of all human events that my humble
lot has been cast here and at this time and proud
to claim the old North State the land of nativity
and Onslow as my home, surrounded as am this day
with such unmstakable signs of improvement. Look
abroad to day upon this fair and happy land, upOr
the large cxpanse OF seashore and plains and hills
mountains upon the CATTLE the meadows the rivers the
sounds and bays upon the ships and steam cars upor
the churches sending their spirits mp into the pure all
above towns and cities nesting amid the thousands
graves still fragrant with thelngerng breath spring
upon the ripe sheaves cleaning upon countless acres
the tall green waving innumerable furrow;
giving promise of full harvest and abundant cheer
upon nine hundred thousand people, embracing different
and most opposite races, dwelling together in peace
smten by pestence plague with regular military
organization, and none daring to modest them with
schools open to all without money and without price,
with the Bible with the right of free Speech OF hdbu
upright judiciary With all the liberties and every bless
ing that rational beings could DESIRE look upon all this
and then say if our lots have not been cast in good time
in the worlds history, and in pleasant places and if
have not State and County worthy of all our devo
ton and affection richly entitled to best efforts t.
improve them in peace and to blood and our treas
ure if required in the day Of danger. Consider too
their capacities for improvement and the progress which
has been made in the last twenty years, and particularly
in education and the advancement of knowledge.
Up to 1910, when our Common Schools were com
menced there Wero but two Colleges in the State bu
one hundred and fifty Academies and only SIX hundred
primary Schools. Now there are fourteen Colleges
i male and female over three hundred Academies. enc
K about three thousand SIX hundred primary common
Schools In 1910 there not more than two bund
red students at College, four thousand at Academies
O and not than twenty-five thousand at all tn
Schools of whatsoever kind in the State. Now Their
sixteen hundred students at the various Colleges tel
thousand in Academies, and not less than one hundre
It and sixty thousand in the primary Schools
d What cheering results are these, and how they mus
gladden. the hearts of the philanthropist and patriot
e We all remember with what mingled pride and 10
the first shrill whistle of the steam was heard abov
the soil of State with feelings similar to those an
akin to reverence do greet evidences of mental i'm
provement throughout her borders and as has bee
evinced in this School here to-day As citizen deer
O ly feel and proud to express my gratitude for tn
manifestations of the Jealous interest which the patrons
e pupils and teacher of this little School have TODAY e.
IL hlbed. To him who has gotten up and opened thi
fountain of knowledge, who has worked to sustain
and labOred for its all honor and credit is due
and clearly shows that he is of those who never feel
Indifference to the of education towards tb
youth instructed by their care--but watch their Orc
gress in the active of after life and reioic
fathers do when they mount to eminence and usefu
% in the vrtuous pursuits of and womanhood-
Ii May his laudable undertaking than realize hi