Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-12-11
visit Of the Ann ArbOr students
90 Mr. VaIlandlgham


a correspondent Of the Hillsdale
(Michigan) Democrat thus describes the
visits OF the students Of Michigan State
University to Mr.. VALLASDiGHAM After
some preliminary remarks in regard to
the occasion, the writer says
1--WE marched up to the Hison House,
where we iouud room mt our command
having been prepared for us by Mr. Vallan.
digham. We were conducted to the room BY
abe gentemanly proprietor, and as soon as we
had all became seated, a side door opened
and the statesman, the martyr and the exied
patriot Of the nineteenth century, stood be-
fore us exiled for no other reason than that
Of loving his country too well to stand idly by
and not lin his hand or voice as he saw rights
which were in accordance with the spirit aud
the policy OF the Government--rights which
were guaranteed not only by the Constitution
of the United States, but by the Constitutions
of each and every sState-rights which were
held as dear to the people as their own lives,
for without their rights, as the last two years
has clearly shown, the "life, liberty and hap,
pness' of the people were worthless. con.
fess was somewhat disappointed in the ap.
pearance of the man. had expected tall,
ra her slim, and very proud looking man
perhaps may say, fierce looking, eccentric
in manners aud dress But on the contrary
saw man neatly and fashiouably dressed
with smiling open countenance, and nothing
about him very forcibe or striking save his
eve. Think have never in my whole course
Of life seen an eye which was like it, in every
particularly large, fullsand round. 1t is
constantly betraying the thoughts of his mind
and the feeling of his heart 1t cleaned aud
sparkled as he enumerated his wrongs and
il trembled and filed with tear as he pie
tured his country in the future.
member of the class addressed him, tell
ing him Of our sympathizing with him in his
wrongsus iellow-ctizen, and of our apprecia-
tion of him as fearless and conscien-
tious champion of constitutional rights.
Mr. Vallandigham then arose and
essayed to speak, but could not; his lip trem-
bled and a tear stood in his eye He raised
himself to his full height, and looked around
for single moment That moment never
shall forget. There was not even a breath
drawn-all was still as death Perhaps IL
was weakness in me if so, we were all weak,
for there was not dry eve in that large crowd
We saw before us soul, generous, noble
true a soul whose every throb was for his
country; soul that communed with every
one present, conveying ideas clothed in the
eloquence of silence that drew tears even
from reporters eyes. Friends" said he
The spell was broken-his voice was again
under his control; and for full half hour
we sat there, never stirring, hardly breathing
listening with every faculty alive to catch the
eloquent words whleh conveyed thoughts al
most inspired Perhaps it was the occasion
perhaps the emotion of the speaker, that had
such an effect upon all present / say il
might have been this, that had such an inAu
ence over us that we were far from criticism
But cannot attribute it wholly to this, but
in part to feeling of humbleness we all have
when in the presence of a superior mind
Long will the participants in that excursion
remember it, Long will it be before they
forget the mighty truths that a mighty mar
impressed upon them, in the sincerity, earnest
ness and eloquencs of one who felt theil
worth. ~