The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-30
From our Special Core pondent.
commencement Of columbian sO''
1eup.
WASHINGTON, ID. {

The forty-third annual CONNIE
of Columbian College has been held to-
day. =,
Ton orations were delivered In the fol-
lowing order:
|. The Fall of Poland. By Valerius
Chiswell, of Maryland. An amplihcatloh o'
a splendid line, which, according 10 All
eccentric critic and his law OF compcnSa-
ton. Campbell could never have written
If Poland had not fallen with her hero,
"and Freedom shrictcd-as hoSciu'ko
fell !" y.
2 The Westward Course of Empire. by
AZ. Duvall, of District of Columbia an
qualification of another famous line, b.
shop Berkclcy's Westward the Star OF
Empire Takes its Course" The speaker
might have happily alluded to Leutzc' )
fine picture in the capitol illustrating the
westward course of empire on tins CONT
nent.
3. Conservatism. By S. II. Walker, of
MARYLAND. The strong cheSt-voice OF the
orator added force to the brief, pthy SEN
fences, blow after blow, with which he at
tackled the foes Of conservatism, the best
friend of real progress.
4. Beauty of Expression in Nature and
Art. The Philosophical Grafton. BY II. A..
Duncanson, OF District of Columbia. TIL
Grafton gave gratifying evidence Of the
asthetcaI culture which the accom-
ulished President Samson is almost the
first to have introduced successfully into
American college. life. DR.. SamSOnS forth
coming work, entitled elements Of Art
Criticism" will be welcomed, not only as 4
textbook for schools and colleges, but as u
hand book for amateurs and artists.
5. The Pleasures Of Science. BY John
kurtz, of District Of Columbia.
g. The Lessons OF History. By J. Holds
worth Gordon, OF District Of Columbia.
!. The Influence Of The Bible on the
Progress Of Science By James Nelson, Of
Virginia.
&. The Triumru Il Science. By Wood
bury Wheeler, OF North Carolina.
.. Science in History. By d. q. Gill
lettc, OF New York.
10. The Law Of War. By Charles P.
Harmon, of Virginia.
The fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth or
these orations eviuced the careful mental
training by which the speakers have been
disciplined, and their familiarity with the
latest results of researches in science and
history. They have been taught not only
how 10 admire the genius and prodlglouS
industry of Comtc, Mill, Buckle, Strauss,
Colenso, Rcnan, and the rest, but also Ia
test the methods and conclusions OF these
great students BY the standard of " Dtrmc
DLiioso0dg." Mr.. GjlEcttc's "Scieuce in
History" and Mr.. Nelson's " Influence OF
the Bible on 'he Progress Of Science
were both in high plane Of thought. The
frequent applause which Mr.. Gordon
Lessons OF History" received, especially
from his comrades, proved him lavoritc
among them.
The eighth and tenth orations were par
ticularly interesting and suggestive. Mr.
Whcclrr's Triumph Of Common Sens"
was marked throughout by the dircctncss
and point and unaffected style OF delivery
at once consonaut with his theme, ard
illustrating the value Of that education
which the camp aud the field, according -
Napoleon'S idea, must substitute for that
Of tie college III time oil war. Such was
the -Four Years Course" of most OF our
southern young men during the late war
Those who have survived and have resumed
their interrupted studies at the University
OF Virginia, at Columbian College, Qicrc
there are several aud elsewhere, know for
what they 90 back To college, and devote
themselves to their work with an energy
full of promise for the future.
To return 10 Mr.. Wheeler. Here the
manly tones in which this cX-captain Of q
Confederate battery expresses his convlc-
tions firmly, but with a mcdeSty equal -
his courage on tins side Of the Potomac
no less coolIy than lie fought for them on
the other at was on American soil that
the elements of perfection were attained
in the structure Of this great Repulic-thc
greatest triumph of common sense IN the
science of government. In ii no system N
hereditary rank letters genius, aud no
established religion Compels the knee to
bow in alteration not sanctioned by com
mon sense. The essential elements OF
greatness all are here, and common sense Is
tie panQcea Of all oar lr0eS.
"When oar National Legislature ShGNpTGc-
tice this uirtue, all 1rW be ,reH.-
Then shall tho ship Of State
Sail on majestic, glorious, great
Now listen to another Southron, Viz
ginian, Mr.. Harmon, while, with 4 true Viz
gnian proclvity TO distractions" he
unfods "the principles The Law OF
War. He dweIs particularly on Cicero's
noble tcxt-QHare SuScipiendu qnidsm belIa
Sunt OBJ cam CuUSdn, ut sine in)urt0 in pace
rirutVr, ctc.-war only to be reSorted to as
an extreme measure, and 10 be conducted
on lenicnt and humane priuCiplcs-peace
being its ultimate object. The audience
applaud his exposition Of the rules Of
modern warfare as to private property and
uon-combatants, and especially the treat
ment OF cQptireS. He insists calmly on the
mutual duties which arise after war be-
tween the lately Contending parties; and
his eloquent conclusion" ShOr the lror!d
that the ranquiShed hare rights rs eel as the
,ictOrS t"-clicited three rounds of hearty
applause. Professor Dahney, OF Richmond
College, might be tempted to say that the
very name of young Harmon goes a good
ways towards harm0nizing" $50 called.
Vide Bill Arp.
You see that, although the representa-
tivcs elect Of the southern States have
not yet been admitted to Congress by the
some of those States are
neither unreprcsented nor i'll represented
in Washington by such young men a.
Harmon, and Wheeler, and Nelson. The
latter, it should have been stated, is from
Louisa county, and an ex-chaplain IN the
Confederate army. Among the professors
aud students of Columbian College are
several ex-Confederate officers and men.
One of the marshals to-day was Mr.. j. I.
Ellys0n, of Richmond.
The distribution of prize medals followed
the orations, which were interpreted with
music First Davis Prize for Elocution, to
I IL Cnrdnn u q Sncnnd Davis Prizn