Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-06-14
THE INTELLIGENCER.

COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY.-We lately
received copy of the address delivered by Elk
President John Tyler, on the one hundred and
Slxty-sIxth anniversary of tho College of Will.
liam and Mary; together with the poem upon
the same OCCASION, recited by st. George Tucker,
Esq: Mr.. Tyler, in his admirable address, mar
rates, in graphic and interesting manner, the
most important incidents connected with tho
college from the date of it's foundation in 1908,
to the hour ofits destruction by fire in 1885,
During the course of the address, he asks:-
Has this old university in all tho long years
Other existence hung out nolight to sNitarE,St,ta
Tcleazher aged brow with no wreath ofim-
mortality? What wealth has she brought,
what jewels has she given from her laboratory
of learning? In answer to these inquiries, she
points not to ingots Of treasured gold, to no
shrine inlaId with earthly magnifcencc. She
opens her catalogue containing the names ofhe
children; and, although amid the storms and
tempests which have prevailed around and
about her for near two centuries, her records
have been torn and many eminent names lost,
enough still remain to give her imperishable
lustre. Could invoke the aid of the weird
sisters might cause to appear in almost end
less procession the figures of the dead mighty
in their day and generation, who drew their
sustenance from her maternal breasts; more
than eight generations would rise up before us,
each in its turn presenting forms stately and
grand. The first in the advance as they passed
along would point to that early legislation, and
TO those executive and judicial proceedings,
which laid the foundations af Virginin'S proSpe.
rity, and of her subsequent importance, as tho
result of their labors These would he followed
by others whose names will be repeated and
praised through all future time. There rises
up before us the form of her Jefferson, holding
in his hands the bill establishing religious free
dom, and the immortal Declaration-the one
setting free the human mind, the other emanci-
patinS continent; and as he passes on pointing
TO the sugar cane as emblcmatic of the extensive
region of Louisiana acquired by his wisdom
and policy. Then quickly follows the silver
tongued Richard Henry Lee, exhibiting the
Resolution declaratory of Independence, and
pointing to numberleSs instances of devotion. to
the public good, any one of which would ctcrn-
lzc name. Then there appears that pure pa.
triot and good man. James Monroe, his garments
stained with youthful blood shed at the battle
of Brandywinc, in his hand the orange, en-
blematic of Florida, and pointing to long
career of valuable public service. Next follows
Peyton Randolph, with the mace borne before
him, emblematic of the first President of the
glorious Continental Congress; and BY his
side walks, full Of all personal accomplish
mcnt, Edmund Randolph, bearing the Con-
situation Of the United States % sS ind in paTt HIS
TaT pTaatriotici abors. Then we have George Wythe,
with "rhe Just inscribed upon his escutcheon,
aud Edmund Pendeton. jurst legislator, states
man. Then, too, we have John Marshall, the
great chief justice; and then, rising in qnick
succession, not TO scar eyc-balls as did Ban
quo's endless issue those of Macbeth, but as the
honored sons of our common mother, John lay
lor, of Caroline, John Randolph, of Roanoke,
Wm B. Giles, Spencer Roane, the Lees, the
Nelson's the BANDS, the Pages, the Harrisons,
the Carriers, the Nicholases, the Tazewells, the
fuckers, the Masons, the Braxtons, the Grymes-
es, the Lyonses. the Prestons, and numerous
host of eminent jurists, councillors and states
men, each distinguished for some great quality,
and many of them master wOrkmcn who gave
aid III building up the fabric of government,
state and federal, and in shipping that system of
domestic and foreign policy which has borne
America through difficulties and Dangers and
places her. in the eight-third year of her lnde-
pendence, in companionship with the most pow
erful nations OF carth"
And he closes with the following:-
"such, as fcebly represented, has William and
Mary been in the past. The oldest save one of
all the literary Institutions of the United States,
she has contributed her full share to the public
enlightenment She has made her mark on the
tablets of history, which neither fire can con-