Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-06-15

private education. Here emulation is created The
boy who is compelled to recite to his MASTER Wnlie
he is not associated with Others has not due spirit
of emulation aroused But while the boys are at
college, each endeavors to acquire superiority over
the other, and 50 they become thoroughly prepared
for the serious duties of life This preparation has
been seen in the hosts of men whom you have sent
to ether States. AS far as know, they carry with
them the firm integrity and wisdom which charac-
terise the people of this State in an eminent degree
They have been scattered over the wds and have
contributed essentially to to the places
of their choice. ri
wish could address all the young men in my
Hearing. A vast responsibility rests upon them.
While generations of men rise and sink and are for
gotten, principles remain and are eternal. woulo
advise these young men to devote themselves to the
preservation of the principles of the Constitution,
for without these blessings our liberties are gone
Let this Constitution be torn into atoms; let the
members of this Union separate; let thirty Repub-
lies rise up against each other, and it would be the
most fatal day for the liberties of the human race
that ever dawned upon any land. Let this expert
ment fail, and every friend of liberty will depore
the sad event. belong to generation now rapid
ly passing away My lamp of life cannot continue
to burn much longer. hope | may survive to the
end of my Presidential term. But so emphatically
do believe that mankind, we'll as the people Of
of this Union, that hope may be gathered to my
fathers before witness its dissolution
In the fux and rchux of public opinion things are
constantly passing away. Events that may be con-
sidered great to-day, the refux of public opinion
may remove tomorrow. Let us keep together,
then, for better or for worse, as man and wife,
For though troubles, as they say, sometimes
times prevail in the married state, yet the couple
hold together and pursue their quiet way. thank
wi o,,I nj 7 b,v
doubt it will prove one of the most interesting Pc
>riods Of my life. = ~
At the conclusion of President Buchanans re-
marks cheer after cheer went up simultaneously
from the assembled multitude He was then ush-
ered by President Swain and the Marshals, into the
paror, and the opportunity afforded the fair ladies',
who had congregated there, of exchanging friendly
greetings with the President of the United States.
Loud and repeated cries from the crowd outside
brought ont Mr.. Secretary Thompson. lie said that
the honor was unexpected but man never forgets
his mother nor could he forget his Alma Mater.
thousand things rushed to his recollection on his
arrival here. But there were two events which he
would ever remember with especial pleasure. The
first was when he got the first distinction in the
Freshman Glass, and run home and told his father.
The other was the kind and cordial reception he had
met with from those who were the sons of his early
companions. As he entered that venerable mansion,
thoughts of his early teachers fitted across his mind
Here the venerable DR.. Caldwell resided, and pu-
rer, better man never lived in this world. There
was also DR.. Mitchell. He missed them now. He
would like to indulge in of these reflections,
but he would not exhaust their patience. When he
left the University, its numbers small but the
institution always had the confidence of the people
of North Carolina. He found it now in the flood
tide of prosperity One thing as to President Cald-
we'll knowledge in those days was limited. Pres
ident Caldwell wrote several articles on the mpor-
lance and feasibility of running central railroad
from the seaboard to the mountains 1t was argued
by him with singular force and ccarness that great
and lasting good would be derived blythe State from
the establishment of such a road But how was it
considered in his day and generation He was con-
sidered dreamer of dreams. The people had com
passion for the good old man. They thought like
Fcstus of DID, that "too much learning had made the
old man mad" And now, to-day, have been ena-
bled to come here along the very track which the
old man traced out upon the map. Great cheer
ing. Now, fellow-ctizens, said the speaker, would
like to take walk around Chapel HILL to look down
at the old grave yard to and count old oaks
to narrate to you events in my own memory, for
though | have wandered far, never have forgotten
these things. have kept my eye upon the men
who have gone out from here, and hope there is
now in this crowd some historian who will do Justice
to his Alma Mater. have witnessed the influences
which this institution has cxcrted upon the country
The history of those who have exertod these influ-
ences would prove interesting and valuable. was
received in different State under different star
cxerted myself and that star shone upon me with
benignity and kindness; but my love to Mississippi
is not inconsistent with my love and devotion for my
native State Among the last conversations had
with my venerated companion, the distinguished and
now lamented Postmaster General drown, he said
that he and myself should visit our Alma Mater to-
gether. He has gone, but when the history of the
graduates of this institution is recorded, his page
will be bright one. Some of my classmates have
gone, North, South, East and West but in ali their
spheres. they have reflected credit and honor upon
their Alma Mater
Three cheers were given for Mr.. Thompson, at the
conclusion of ais remarks
For the Standard