Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-06-08
COMMENCEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF RTH-CAROLINA.

COMMENCEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF NORTH CAROLINA.
VISIT OF PRESIDENT BUCHANAN.
Route of the Presidsnt-Ais reception at the rari
ous points-speeches of the President, Hon. Jacob
Thompson &e.-Commencement Exercises, the
Ball, &c., &c., at Chapel Hill
The visit of the President of the United States to
the University of the State, is most gratifying
event in our annals. venerable and wise old man,
burdened but not broken by the Of State upon
the cordial invitation of the authorities of the Uni
versity came among us to see our people, to take
them by the hand, to give encouragement by his
presence to the cause of learning, and to enjoy a
brief respite from the arduous abors of his great Of
fee He was greeted everywhere, from the time he
touched the soil of the State until he departed, with
every mark of respect and esteem. The people and
the military crowded to see HIM and to do him hon.
or at Weldon, CASTOR, Lttleton, Warrenton, Hen
derson, Franklnton, and at other points along the
line, and at Raleigh and Chapel Hill He came as
the President, and not as the head of party, and
he was welcomed accordingly. He came to visit US
on literary and ,cial OCCASION and for time po
ltca feeling was forgotten in the warm and cordial
sautations with which all receiv' d him. We trust
indeed we know that he is UGH pleased with his
visit, and that he carried back with him to Wash
ington still higher respect for the State and her
University, and still warmer regard for people
The speeches made by the President on various
occasions while in this State models of their
kind. Mr. Buchanan is not perhaps, great orator.
Judged by the standard We are accustomed to apply
to great orators yet his delivery is impressive and
his style is remarkably clear and pure. We never
heard him when aroused in debate; but We may
we'll conclude that he who maintained position and
made reputation in the best days of the American
Senate, when such men as Calhoun, and Webster
and Randolph, and Clay, and King were his associ.
ates in that body, is no second-rate orator even
among the greatest Wewere struck with one lead
ing idea in all his specches-his devotion to the Con-
sttution and the Union The Union according to
the Constitution seemed to be uppermost in his
thoughts and this devotion his part to this great
work of our fathers-a Constitutional Union-met
warm response from every one who heard him.
The Hon. Jacob Thompson the Secretary of the
Interior, accompanied the President Mr. Thomp-
son is native of Caswe county, in this State and
graduate of the University. He, too was most
cordially welcomed His mother State and the
University, one of her most cherished institutions.
stretched forth their arms to greet him. The son,
whom circumstances had carried and kept away
from the old hearthstone for quarter of century,
came back again, with the same noble principles
which he imbibed here when youth; came to see
u.s. and to say to us, as he did say, that though he
had lived among and served another people, he had
never forgotten ours and that he owed whatever of
success in life he had achieved to the opportunities
he had enjoyed and the character he had formed be-
fore he left the State. But we will no longer detan
our readers from the account of the Presidents visit
The Hon. L. OBJ. Branch one of the committee of
the citizens of Raleigh and the Hon. Weldon N Ed.
wards met the President and Mr. Thomson at
Portsmouth, Va, on Monday night, the Both, and
accompanied them to Weldon. At Weldon thew
were met by Gov. Ellis, Ex-Gov. Bragg D. W.
Courts, Esq, and W. W. Holden, on the part of the
Trustees of the University; and Hon. D. NJ. Bar.
ringer, M. A. Bledsoe, A. NJ. Lewis. W. H. High,
j. j. lredell, Ed Graham Haywood, w. R. Cox,
and Wiley j. Palmer Esquires, on the part of the
citizens OF Raleigh. The Committees from Raleigh
were accompanied by Wesley Jones, ESQ.,, Marshal
OF the State, Geo. 7. Cooke, Esq, Postmaster, Mai
G. H. Wilder and P. A. Dunn, ESQ.,, of the RALEIGH
and Castor Railroad, COL John N. Bunting. W
II. Bum, ESQ.,, Of Wilson, and the Oak CITY Guards
commanded by Capt Thompson About II O'Clock
on Monday night the Wilmington Light Infantry
commanded by Capt. Hall, and accompanied by Gen
Cowan and staff arrived. The Oak-Cit Guard,
had with them the Salisbury Brass Band, and tn,
Wilmington Company the Fayetteville Band.
At half past ten on Tuesday morning the Seaboart
train arrived at Weldon, having on board the Presi
ident and his friends. Soon after the President wa
conducted by Gov. Ellis and the Committees to tn
piazza in front of Happers Hotel, where the tw
military companies were stationed to receive him.
On reaching the piazza Gov Ellis addressed tn
President as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS: have the honor of introtlu
cling to your acquaintance the President of the Uni
ted States He comes to visit North Carolina tn
State and her people, his friends for quarter of.
century, and those who will ever prove the friend
OF the true and the faithful to their countrys nte,
ests.
1t needs not that I should speak to you of tn
character and services Of distinguished vsito,
They are part, bold, enduring part of the bri
!,ant history OF great country; and as you kno,
That history and love that country SO do you kno,
and value his labors in its behalf
1T was the boast o. valiant Marshal of Franc,
the close OF an eventtu career when he had caus
TO think that bis countrymen were forgetful of hi
services that he bad fought five hundred Battles
france and never one against her. So may it /
said OF the veteran statesman who stands before yo
In the ciVii conflicts that have transpired in tn
country, and many and ferce they have been, Jam,
bnchanan has fought five hundred battles for tt
them Let those forge. who can, but as for the ne
Pc OF North Carolina they will ever scar in graf