The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-01

FRIDAY............ -. MARCH I, 1867.
Special correspondence OF the Dispatch.
Celebration OF the Washington Lite
rary Society, &c.
oRATIoY--D EB ATE--sUsPESsIoN of Len
TuREs-soop ORDER AMONG STUDENTS AND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR ARMS EN-
ponsrp sY AGENT OF THE PRESIDENTS
arpsAu---oNE FREEDMAN SHOT BIZ An
orurx--coLLEeE ExAMrNATroSs--SEw
pxoyrssos--N STUDENTS" CONCERT
or PRAYER FOR LLEGEsn-dESEKAI
LESS INTEREST IN THE RELIGIOUS VEL
FARE OF THE STUDENTS. EvT
LEXINGTON, VA, Feb. %, 1851
The anniversary celebration OF the wash
ington Literary Society OF the College
passed off last night very pleasantly, and
very creditably to all concerned. -,
The Methodist church was at an early
hour crowded to its utmost capacity with
the literatti and beauty Of Lexington. The
orator Of the occasion was Captain N. B.
Feagin, Of Alabama, q gallant officer of the
old Fifteenth Alabama regiment. His sub
ject was the Symmetrical culture Of the
three elements-physical, mental, and
moral-of mans nature" He handled his
theme skilfully; his delivery was good,
and his speech was we'll received by the
audience. To illustrate the Importance OF
moral culture, he introduced parallel De
tween Stonewall Jackson and william l.
Sherman. and made q beautiful ailusioh 10
stwo great rebels" George Washingtonan anu
Jefferson Davis. He closed with an earhes -
appeal to the young men OF the oo"'n ~
cast aside dependency ana gloom, anu
with willing hearts and hanos prepay
themselves to meet and discharge the duty
of the hour. aw,s
THE ouestion for debate was Would
,be INDEPENDENCE of Ireland be promotive
of her prosperity 2" The disputants were
Observation-Disclosures. Eaton Of Tennessee
and Chandler of Virginia; Negative
Messrs. Ewing of Tennessee and Dunlap
of West Virginia.
II q no disparagement to the other
sneakers TO saw that the speeches of Messrs.
Eaton end Ewing were particularly happy
far above what isgenerally heard uponsuch
occasions. Mr.. Eaton's exposure of Eng
lands hypocrisy in wailing over the we'll
and at the same time holding in far worse
bondage the millions Of Ireland, was very
whitening, while his culogy upon the heroic
Irishmen who fought for southern indie
pendence, and his parallel between the
condition Of Ireland and the present con-
dition Of the South, was touchingly elo-
auent, and elected the heartiest applause.
On the other hand, Mr.. Ewing's argument
that the Irish people are incapable Of self
government was exceedingly ingenious,
and we'll put. He referred to the dissen-
sions among their leaders, the different
factions of the "Fenian Brotherhood" SO
called, and illustrated the position that
"iberty" was mere name with the Irish
by the patent fact that there was far
larger number Of Irishmen in the Yankee
army than in the southern army duringthe
late war. His speech, also, was well re-
ceived. The question was decided in the
affirmative by vote of forty-seven to
forty-two.
The audience dispersed, feeling that
they had spent an exceedingly pleasant
evening, and wishing for the cold Wash"
return Of many such anniversaries. Lee
lures were suspended at the College las
also at the Institute) in honor Of the day,
and the young gentlemen enjoyed without
abusing their holiday. Indeed, the writer
has never seen q more orderly set of stu
dents than those connected with the Col
lege and Institute. The cadets are par
ticularly noted for their sobriety, good
order, and general gentlemanly deport-
ment. | understand that the agent Of the
Freedmen's Bureau here has recently
written letter heartily approving OF Ge-
neral Smiths application for arms for the
corps of cadets, and saying that he has
never seen q more orderly set of young
men. The arms have thus far been with
held on the ground that "the people of
Rockbridge have been too turbulent to
have arms trusted in their county" Your
correspondent has discovered nothing of
this spirit of lawessness, but, on the con-
trary, regards this as an exceedingly quiet
and Law. abiding community.
A shooting affair occurred here the other
night, in which one "loyal freedman !"
was shot, seriously but not fatally, by an
other who was with party OF negroes
firing pistols in the street for amusement.
The offender was fined ten dollars, and
had his pistol forfeited according to
town ordinance) and | doubt not that
Sumner will have the affair in his scrap
book as another proof of "rebel injustice
to the freedmen"
The intermediate examinations at the
college have been recently concluded.
They consisted of both oral and written
examinations, were very rigid, and showed
high standard Of scholarship in the diff
ferent classes. Many of the students
passed exceedingly creditable eSamina-
tiOns those found deficient were put back
into lower classes.
Colonel johnson, the new professor OF
history and literature, has entered upon
his duties, and is winning golden opinions
from all who come in contact with him.
There have been about thirty new matricu-
lates since the first of February-making
the whole number from three hundred and
ninety to four hundred.
The pastors of Lexington have agreed to
unite In union service next Thursday
the day Of "concert of prayer for col
leges (which, it is hoped, will prove
both pleasant and profitable. General Lee
entered heartily into this arrangement, and
seems very anxious that it may result in
good to the young men under his charge.
He seems deeply concerned for the moral
and spiritual interests of the students, and
Is always ready to use his example and in
fiuence for that end. He is never absent
from the daily chapel service, which is held
alternately by the several pastors OF Lex
ington, and the interest taken in these
exercises is largely due to his influence.
But am writing too long letter.
LEXINGTON.