, 1862-07-04
commencement OF Wheaton College,

The second annual comtnen cement Of
Wheaton College terminated Wednesday, July !
I'd, most satisfactorily and cseditably to all |
concerned. The writer did not appear upon t
the grounds until Tuesday, but he learned |
from Others that the president, ]. Blanchard,
III spite Of The low state Of his health, de1iv |
cred his baccalaurcate on Sunday, which was
marked By that same eloqucnce and yjgor Of
thought which has heretofore characterized
the efforts OF this eminent man. On Monday
evening there was 4 meeting Of the alumni,
and on Tuesday evening I witnessed the
junior class exhibition. I shall notice this no
more extensively than to say that the ladies
uhe ladies and gentlemen recitc together
here) wrote fairly, and had the good taste to
be brief, while the gentlemcn's speeches we're
entirely too long, though generally excellent
in thought,
On Wednesday came commencement proper.
It was held in JEWELS Grove, a fine locality,
situated 4 rather lengthy mile and halt from
the College. There we proceeded about ten
o'clock, and at about eleven o'clock the eNer
eises began by music from the Great Western
Band which, it is simple justice to say, was
furnished through the Hberality of e. &. Child
Of Chicago.
.Alf. L. y. D2lQ"ln OF MOTIFS, QEuFcreQ Tue
first Grafton, upon Liberty and Despotism,"
| tracing their conflict from the time Of the
| struggle Of the barons with King John in
! 1915, which secured the Magma Cnarta, down
through the contests with Charles I. aud
james l., to our own time; showing histori-
ca1ly that the rights Of man have generally
triu1nphcd, and that nc should, therefore,
| lake hcne. It vas truly an excellent effort,
| every way considered.
Miss \. E; Collins, ef Haales, next rsad
true poetic fire; finely combining strength
and woman1y delicacy, and vastly superior to
the w5etched jingles generally got of on such
occasions.
Mr. $ .; Barne5, @ S, Of Galss15u1g, gsye US n 4
He labored to show that laws grow and have
efficacy where intelligence most abonnds );
that they do not have any power in reforming
society, but only conserve 7yhat. is already
gained; holding society up to its present
gctically delivered; and Mr. B. may we'll feel
proud Of the last effort Of his college life.
The last of the graduating speeches was
given us By Iii. L. s. Hand, Of Elkhorn, Wis
Upon The i Influence Of Agriculture in Char
acter." Although well delivered and still bet
ter received, it vas only to 'sdoubtfuI dispu
ta.iors," by your correspondent. He said
| for instance, that agriculture had strong
/ tendency to exalt and purify tue feelings, ant
:, to produce holiness and breadth of thought
|
, rience Of the writer is most egreg1ously q
fault. Not but that it ought to be, but that i
not. If this we're fitting place for such
thing, I should be pleased to add a few re
a marks upon this topic, which in the case Q
the majority Of farmers would be- the les
: complimentary in proportion as they ~eE
r truthful.
q After the graduating class had thus happi1
: completed their share OF the performance;
q Col r. II. Hough Of Chicago was Introduce
| fp he tn11fit11Te
l. The valiant Colonel was big with rag
, a5ainst the newspapers. The newspaper
= were so audacious as to question the lntall
< bility Of some Of our generals; they eye
is found fault with their general orders, and tt
h slackness Of their movements. What d
- - these editors know about the necessity Of til
~ or that in an army hundreds OF mites away
Or What right had they to critieise Halleck
$. Mcclellan We're they (thc eds. better &c
- erals than the generals in the field? Here Il
L. inate Colonel brandishcd the Chicago TR1
d. UNE in the face Of his audience, asking, ri
u did such sheets continue to create dlstru
~ ard dissatisfaction at home, and By the san
- means give confidence and encouragement
ca the rebels; why did not those papers confl1
NJ themselves to news, and an unqualified adj
Ia sion to every act and move Of the governing
:' and its generals Haacno opinions in regard
1T they ar and its conduct, The yoec'7ett III
ID, for you; swallow eoesythizg, from ali sid
lis however absurd and inconsistent, was t
n sum and substance Of q twenty minutes tira
W from this vMorous individual. could he
Ery passed over this diEcreaitxble nonsense
let The few excellent words he spoke in favor
IT,. the College, and his determination to helE
out Of debt, but it was too maWkish, too
ny sulting to my enlightened understanding.
nd The Rev. F1aycl Basco1n Of Dover then ma
an address On the s'Design, history and II
sion Of Wheaton College, in Which be s.
that It's first incorporation was as the llin
1Esi'as b. the we Me5syaR MsRoat f9oa i
lcn ral church through opposition to the al
tu- democratic government of that church
t6c slavery, to Secret societies, which in Il
~, oaths ignored the religion OF Christ. T
ILL., denomination being weak in this vicinity, s
Of harmouIzlng in these points With the Cong
hat gationalists who are stronger, gave the {
~ Irge over into their bands. And although
'ou college does not make hobbies Of these pc
be lia1ities, il is expected that it will train
students into love of liberty in church
vn college has an able faculty; and, alshough,l
NJ, old Harvard and Yale id their early hist
oad has bard struggle to nye-it Will yet
ieh SUSTAINED and supported. Efforts are bs
the made to remove the debt-about $6,0
;n,, which promises to be successful.
s' He argued for an improved standard
1s-3 scholarship, and thought the past history
top tie institution showed that It was the fa7
run. ite child Of Divine Providence.
cov. - After the conterring Of degrees Prasii
ld.'' stated that ho felt incroaeod HOBO il the ,
and mate triumph Of the college, from the
stantial promises made to him upon
ground. He said the classes we're all III g
80. condition, the smallest having four; and
seat ring cf the fall term.
that thus happily terminated the second c
Il Of foetios, - ~ " 1o+ro1a nr5 f.;anda -
dent