Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-08-17

MUSIC
DEGREES CoNFERRED
PRAYER.
BENEDICTIoN.
*Honorary appointments.
MiDDLEBURY. Aug. o.
The Commencement exercises yesterday iuercas-
cd in interest to the close. The Philosophical
Grafton by A L. Mann, of Mlrysville, California,
called forth hearty applause from an appreciatIng
audience
The Valedictoran, r. Harris, Of Brattleboro,
performed the part assigned to him, with ease and
dignity.
AS the class stood upon the platform to receive
their de rees, ore element Of the success Of Yer
mont men was consplouousy evident. Those who
notice the lack Of physical development and ener-
~ manifest in the GRADUATE classes Of many
American colleges. would find pleasure in attend-
ing Commencement at Miidlebury.
The Degrees conferred were as follows
4. NJ.
A s. Bolton, Il. E. Boerdman,
L. D. Edridge, Stephen Notion,
Henry Miner, Henry NJ. Porter,
II. H. Thomas, y. hite,
4. " Wild J. 0. Hazen,
II b, Foote
HONORARY \. NJ.
Hon. E. P. Walton Of Montpelier,
RW Judson Of Providence, k. l.,
j 4. Page Of Boston,
L. W. Kussel. Of tit.lburs,
c. c. F4ost, Of BrattebOro,
Rev. NJ. " 1ite, Of Middlebury,
Rev ;. S.sparhawk, Of kaudolIh-
d. D.
Rev. Cyrus B. Drake Of RoyaltoD, y.
IL. D.
/ Samuel Swift, of MiddeJury, VI
/ DR.. A. :. Doane, Of Brandon, VI.
The Associated ALuuSl.
The public exercises ofthc Associated Alumni
took place on Thursday Hon. DAy'L ROBERTS,
ESQ, Of Burlington presided, and Rev. Dr.. Post
/ Of St. Louis offered prayer Doiworths Band
played Departed Days, perhaps only they
can play it.
IDvAuD j. PagLrs, Esq, Of Burlington. OF tie
class Of $50, then addressed the Associated
Alumni.
NJ. PIrLrs' AorEoz-
Aitc- noticing the peculiarlty of the occasion
that called thel together and aIudns to the fact
that they were SKILL b.ys. boys whom age could
not vither. because g their noble hearts be pro
eeeded to speak Of "IVhltfii, cor4f-, demand f. "a
/ her educated r7en.' lie believed there had been
no more important chapter in the history e. the
world than the one we are living to-day. He be-
liered IN progress aad thought it q mistake to
suppose, that human hist ~ repeats itself Our
country, he thought the most historic portion Of
the world in this age. He sketcaed the early
history Of the American colonies, and sail that
the monuments Of architecture Of seulp ptrrei mar
be, and Of literature are beginning to link wi;h
the ages to come. Grand beyond conception may
be cur destiny found a new race upon til
vast continent which all other races shall Re in
some sense blended and oomprehenled."
/ After thus looking at the elements ol growth
the orator inquired where shall be found the con-
ditians that shall make this growth permanent,
and a lasting power. He said They must be
found in the conservative influence Of the educated
men 0f this country, and no where else.
One Of the most eminent living Briti.h states
men had in he House Of Lords referred to the Uni
ted states as a conclusive argument against eI-
tending the right Of suffrage. 1t was charge
coming from the hi hest legislative authority in
/ our parent country. We shall not, Of course,
give UP the institutions in which We have been
nurtured, yet is it net true that we have alarm
ingly receded from the simple high-toued princi-
| pIe with which we set out There Is corruption
( in public men, and unworthy are filling pla-
c Of trust. 1t is wrong to complain Of the age
as degenerate for increased facilities for education
| and an increased population, and wider
territory, are giving us no better men than our
/ our fathers were The mischief is, the best men
/ are not found in the government. Public opinion is
/ beginning to ,ympsthile with corruption; as an
| instance, the case of q gentleman in one Of the
Southern States, who had in plain words stolen
about hundred thousand dollars ofpublic money
wa, alluded to, of whom the editor who made
public the case stated that the gentleman had been
extremely honorable throughout the whole
I ttQSGCllOU, anu ut4 t4le MdAAA cymldbhS "a lAC
| Public" We are in a fair way (said Mr.. Phelps
to settle the question, How long sound morality in
individual affairs can remain with public corrupt
ion.
Again, the theory that places individual opin-
ion above the laws Of the statute book is becoming
dangerous to the State Men forget that this must
end in making all law dependent upon popular
caprice When our Puritan ancestors adopted the
Constitution of 1920, they agreed to abide by law,
and thought this the main point, and a sufficient
guard Of liberty.
All these evils have their origin in a common
source, which, in all past time, has been the
destruction of Republics,-the desperate strug-
Gle for power and public otlce
among men who by no fitness Of their own, ever
enact TO obtain it. With US the result cannot
bs oopbted. If it cannot be made better it grows
worse. and the Government must go down.-Into
what condition We shall then emerge, let tie
history of other countries declare.
No man who bel ewes in a God, can contemplate
the history and physical grandeur, the unparalleled
success and resources of this Country, and rot feel
that it has higher destiny than to be ruled 6y
domagogues We began with free institutions
and have tested their blessings. We are beginning
to feel those dangers which have beset ether re-
publics, and been fatal. If we can meet them,
we'll; if not we must perish as Others have perish
ed. What we need to meet the evils of the day
il intelligent bold conservatism. Some would
have progress in everything, in those things
which are rot capable of progress, as religion and
truth. Conservatism is progress, progress IN its
true sphere. "The great principles OF risat and
order are the same now as when law ana ofdef nrSe
came out Of chaos, and the morning stars sang to-
gether for joy ,
The orator then spoke Of the emoluments ot
Office, its appeals to ambition,-of the men who
run after reputation and thereby lose it, He
affirmed that real fame was never had for the
seeking. This truth applied, not only to political