The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-06-14

YOUR airy castles Will lall " iAo0 ~ '"o -
possessors of ordinary genius, who ride not upon
The Wild horse of genius. be not discouraged; the
ace in which YOU live is favorable; it is an age 1T
self pre-eminent over all others, and has already
gone far enough in experiment. =, \,
After the close of Mr. McRae's Grafton, the Al
umni Association, of which L am MEMBER, met
in the Hall for the transaction OF their customary
annual business, and adjourned to meet, according
to the kind invitation of Gov. SWAIN, at MS resi-
dence and wait for the arrival OF President Buch-
anan and suite, at II o'clock. The President and
his escort arrived in due time, and were met by
Gov. Swain the Trustees and the Alumni OF the
University in front of Gov SWANS portico, where
he addressed the President, in substance, as fol-
lows: You, SIR are the second President OF our
glorious Union who has visited our Union on an
occasion like the present. President Polk In 1871,
and YOURSELF now. 1t as If the sister States,
Pennsylvania and North Carolina, were holding
JOYOUS festival. But let us withdraw our minds tor
few minutes, as if by contrast from the present
to remote scenes in the past Harnett your coun-
tryman, was the first man who struck the spark
that kindled the fame which resulted in the slo-
rious Mecklenburg Declaration Of Independence.
The Scotch Irish Of the counties of Rowan, Meek
lenburg and Cabarrus, were the pioneers OF Amerl-
can Liberty and Independence. Written state
ments composed by Lord CORVALLIS during the
American Revolution, have recently been discov-
cred, in which he says: "The future historian Of
the American Revolution will state that the Brit
ish Army surrendered to the American forces un-
der Washington at Yorktown; but it was at
Guilford Court House that the British army re-
ceiveG the fatal blow which was followed by
continual and rapid succession of defeats until its
final capituaton at Yorktown" Gov. Swain, in
conclusion, said: We most cordially, and with uni
ted Voices welcome you and Secretary Thompson
to the inequalities of our village; and | desire you
to consider yourselves my guests during the time
of your sojourning with us.
President Buchanan thus replied In your his
torica sketches, sir, you might have gone back
much further, to the Administration Of Archdalc,
which furnishes valuable information with regard
to the condition of North Carolina a colony, at
that remote period You alluded to the friendly
relationship of North Carolina and Pennsylvania
in this glorious confederacy. They have ever
been affectonate sisters; and never since the days
of the American Revolution has it been more i'm
portant that this siserly affection should be main
tanned, than at this time, when the tide of dis
union is rising so high that, if it be not checked
it may eventually involve all in one common
ruin. You spoke of my lamented friend, Presi
dent Polk. lie a good man; and l can say
without disparaging the services of his predeccs
sors no one ever labored with more zeal, energy
and efficiency in the discharge of the duties of his
high station, than he did; and do not hesitate to
say that | believe the arduous labors which he
underwent to effect this patriotic purpose, killed
him. | have for long time desired to visit the
University Of North Carolina on such occasion
as %his, because [ consider it an eninently practi-
cal, and therefore, highly useful Institution.
Here, the young gentlemen receive their educa-
ton from masters, instead of being handed to
young teachers of attainments very little higher
in grade than their OF tho great SUCCESS of
the University in her high mission, need only
refer you to the very large number Of her distin-
gushed Alumni i'll almost every State of this
Union. May her usefulness increase to the end
Of time. Accept my grateful acknowledgements
for your kindness Cheers.
The President and Secretary were then con-
Quoted into Gov. Swain S mansion Mr. Thompson,
Secretary of the Interior then called for by the
people; he re-appeared in the portico and address
ed them in short Speech i'll the course of which
he said The two most important periods in my
life that in which took the news home to my
parents that l had obtained the first mite in the
Freshman class, and the present occasion, when [
have come to revisit the scenes of my youth and
manhood Indeed, the very graves seem filled
with happy "reminiscences; and [ would like to re-
visit Mount Prospect and all the other familiar
scenes which rise up fresh in my memory.
AT o'clock in the afternoon, Rev. Dr. Hooper
delivered the Grafton before the Alumni. His
subject was history of the College from 1904 up
W GHlS tIulc lie part OF the OraLlOn was
what Collegians call funny; and President Buch-
anan said that it contained more genuine wit and
humor than all the similar productions he had ever
heard, if all were combined in one
On Wednesday night the representatives of the
Sophomore class spoke, and during the co urse of
the exercises, Rev. DR.. Wheat, Professor of Rhet-
ORIG and Logic, presented to President Buchanan
young gentleman of that class, and said: Permit
me, sir, to introduce to your acquaintance this
young gentleman Of the Sophomore class, who has
obtained the prize for the best English Compost
ton. He then handed the prize, consisting of
medal and DR.. Hawks History of North Carolina,
to the President, and requested him to present
them, which he did very gracefully, and said
Young gentleman, I congratulate you upon having
achieved the highest literary honor which it is
possible for young man, and especially young
American, to achieve, that of having written the
best English composition; for composing we'll, and
frequently will enable you to speak well, and true
eloquence alone can gain access to the great Ameri
can heart. The great beauty and force of compo-
sition consists in short sentences apty expressed
not in long sentences in which the writer discus
ses every subject in the world and many that are
out of it; and when he arrives at the end has for
gotten the beginning. In the last words which
ever expect to address to you, l add my admoni-
ton to the warning eloquenty uttered in your
hearing this evening by the Rev. Dr. Hooper,
avoid drunkenness you would the fatal sting of
the adder. Fly from it you would from the
poisoning breath Of the sirocco. Nav YOU enioy
health, prosperity and long life