The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-11
,tr,;uia Military Institute,

...,. rc Washington At the Virginia
,.,,,,v Institute. II is very long and
.... ,rrgei,re have not room TO insert II.
a. Ir1,urg gives history Of The statue,
ling is first Inauguration in lS5G,
...., Governor WISE made an address
......, t'.,. occasion and quotes largely from
~ WI>E's Grafton. lie also cxcoriatcs
,...,~I Ilr>rrR, who stole the statue, but
..,,a coed word for Generals AvERILL
..f CGroA. He then goes into Il "hrict
l.-.ury of the origin, progress, and bril-
r..r, success " Of the Institute:
Since the organization OF the Institute,
.. lie wear l>3g, 1000 have matriculatcd,
.. whom 81 were State cadets. 80 have
minated. and of these ~ were State
-...rt>. on these graduates liG have been
... aged in the business of teaching, thirty
seven have devoted themselves 10 the pro-
,,.,u al civil engineering, fity-thrcc
J: ~. arriird themselves to farming, and
..~,y have devoted themselves Ia mcr-
EJuii,iug.'
Governor ISTCHrR pays 4 feeling and
handsome tribute Ia the memory Of STONE
wuL JAcksoN, and does not forget the
cg,a, Stale prisoner al Fortress Monroe.
H.. ,!cnjg, that the South was responsible
.. -. origin of the late war, saying that
II va> "i,rccd upon Us, and mainly by
.ia, political parsons and politicians Of
. N,w E"-aud.' He gives II short rcN,raf
%. ,.r,> ia support Of this proposition. He
,.., makes defence ut his own course in
..,.cy,.pn sit. the war, showing that
,G,r lis oath ut office he could not have
,1.ar olhu"i,e Than hc did. lie also de-
Ids the people Of Virginia from the
,..rec Of Icing rebels. He says:
Tn, people OF ' i,Ginia believed thHt
,y their act al ratification OF the ConSti-
'.t.oa ii the United States they bad u
,, :" repeal that act, not for light or
nNII, caU>c>, but for good and substan-
s.I rr4>"uS moving them thereto. And to
,.,H that they had some Justification ior
,Ngt opinion, present 50 much of the act
70 .uc,,ion A. bears upon this point:
We, The delegates OF the people Of
\ @inia, duly elected III pursuance Of
recommendation from the General Assem-
n.s. and uOW met i'll convention, having
Mliy amt freely investigated and discussed
proceedings OF the Federal Convention,
All n"inc prepared Is well rs the most
mature elaboration hath enabled Us to
decide thereon, Do, in the name and il
t,'!Ali oi' The people 81 Virginia, declare
and make known that the powers granted
H'Iyr he Constitution, being derived
In.,, IL. p."pi. IT ii. tpdrd suites, mav
u r.,,uai ~ Npp wh,0~O r,,' H." >n,n,
,iat a. p.'r,r'd u Hri' ;aJ"rVoi' uj,p,'c$-
-a"; amt that every power not granted
.l.ryhy remains with them, and at their
a,ll.
Here il j. expressly declared by the
'or,ratipn Ihat they "Do, in the name and
m bri,lt 81 ~. J"";,L - lir!iain. declare
and maxi known that tho power granted
nr.rr III" Constitution, being derived from
t3' people oI the lmt"d States, nt"y be-
.-awd hg NrH ~trt>ccutr the SANE MuN
" r.pr''" IL H'r tmjn,y ~ "ppreS>'"n,
ard jilt every power not granted thereby
u0utiu> with tGcm, and al their will
iH.>r arc the terms in which Virginia rat-
G..., -" Constitution. and these terms were
accepted, rrcogniIcd, acted upon, and Viz
-.ui., Vas thus received into the Union.
Virginia declared that the powers might
i~ resumed when, IN the judglncn; OF her
constituted authorities, those powers might
20. perverted ur used 10 her injury or OPP
Hr>~ion. When, therefore, She undertook
jeGrprIi this act, and withdraw from the
/ nlon. She believed she was only cXcrci-
w. a sight She bad never surrendered or
parted with.
GNvrhor Lctrhcr argues this point with
tulUty, and quotes Mr.. Lincclns famous
declaration. Il believe this Government
.a4not endure permanently half slave and
l@tl 'Icc.' Wa not the inference ire
>.>'.alr, argues Governor Letcher, that
with his opinions hc desired to see slavery
',m"ycd, and was prepared L. use the
necessary means To accomplish al end 50
gm.H desired 10y himself and his friends
h,y"ra"c l".chrr makes the following
beautiful and truthful reference to Viz
sina:
"NUgiJ.a has always been true to her
Ii ,ri - honor. She has never been
nIsr 10 others. Her principles have al
way, been frankly and candidy pro-
clAlmcd-hcr action has been characterized
ry H1idnc>S, prudence, and decision. Prn-
ru!c with her has never been made sub
g.'l'"t 10 policy. She has ever travelled
Tie path biazvd hv duty and honor. She
ha>, N her own Judgment, been faithful TO
all the obligations she has assumed; and
mall her actions, connected with the re-
r"lt troubles She has pursued that course
which vas best calculated to do Justice to
al with whom she was united, and to up
A.'t her reputation as 'tho honored
mother Of States and statesmen
After showing by the facts that Virginia
acted according to the teachings Of the
fathers Of the Republic, Mr.. Letcher pays
a. compliment TO President Johnson:
And here allow me to occupy mo-
mcul Of Your time in doing justice to that
great man who, under the most trying cir
cum>tauc,s, has exhibited an ability, il
courage, patriotism, and devotion to
prInup!e never surpassed in the history of
ruler IN ancient or modern times
May he live
ii.""s'i man have time 10 tell his years
iNri he."Nrdt and loving may his rule be-
Aha "Een OLD Time shall lead him 10 his end,
"oodn'>s aud he hi up one monument"
Mr. Lctcher closes with reference TO
Tie political condition of our people and
Their duties. lie says:
The southern people regard the qucs-
''nS at issue ~ settled and forever set
Tea. They accept the result, and arc
PREPARED toabide by il in good faith. They
r'edse an honor that is untarnishcd and
"A,n brave men and honest men give such
pledge, who can doubt their sincerity,
anu who can hesitate to believe that their
pledge viii be redeemed Ia the letter fr