The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-18
w EST POINT.
ufcM CORRESPONDENCE Of THE HERALD.

WEsr Ponr, June IL, 1857.
From period immemoral tho graduating Glass, few
evenings prior to their departure from the Point have
serenaded the officers ana all ON duty there. and
although the dreary rain fell in torrents they
glorousiy Kept up tho custom upon this occasion
Appcles with his magnificent band placed at their
disposal and ncbly did he acquit himself As the last
note that told the hour OF twelve had died away from
the town clock the boys with their OF gray
sailed from their pleasant barracks ana visiting the
pretty white cottage Of the superintendent whore Gen.
eral Grant was staying tho sweet musc Of tho band
broke upon the stiffness OF the night with the grandest
effect calling both him and General Pitcher to the win
and retired as silently. as they appeared. House
after house was visited and ofiaer after officer
sercueded, with every conceivable character OF music
until the gray light OF. morning told them that revee
must dnd them within their quarters Tired, exhausted
mess they broke up the pleasant party with the exhiia
ating "virgna Rec" and the inspiriting Home,
sweet Home breashed most eloquently by the band,
rHn PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS GENERAL GRANT
Despite the innocent carousings Of the night all the
boys in gray and white the duties Of the
day. They consisted in arranging for the grand event
of the yearthe receiving Of the dear, coveted parch
ment for which they have struggled four long, weary
with every one in authority with whom they have
done business during their cadetship. and winding up
misapprohenslon OF the sphere Of duty during the
morning, the following
was issued and conspicu0usy posted about the Point:
SPECIAL oRDKRs-No IL.
HEADQUARTERS UsirED STATES MILITARY 1AscA,SE.r
The presentation diplomas graduating class viii
take place on Monday morning at halt o'clock The
Cadets under Of TO the
general parade where the ceremony win be follows
l FORMATION on the parade ground
Awarding Of diplomas to the graduating class OF Cadets
by Y; :. Grant General OF tue Army
g. Address aud benedction by Francis vinton g. d. of
New YORK Pres Of the Board Of Visitors.
Federal salute thirteen guns from the siege battery
T. Academic exercises will be suspended until O'Clock
: By command o. Breve. Brisadier General PITCHER
BY the appointed hour the cloud curtain which had
covered the post had been drawn aside by invisible
hands, and the sum- with its eye OF fabulous hercenes
looked down il in the prayeru hope of the
great leader Of the army that had travelled many miles
to participate in the pleasant closing Of the
examination and to the successful cadets. At twenty
minutes to twelve O'Clock precisely the hour
being extended to this by order Of General
Pitcher Pitcher the soul stirring drum summoned the
order directed in the above. They stretched like
mathematical line across the sacred green, accompa
MED BY that prince of soldiers toIone Black and
obedent 70 his command rested with precision and uni
formity in the positions noted in the octagon below
Meanwhile General Grant, Inspector General Shrver the
Board OF Visitors all the academic and military stan,
left the house Of the Superintendent and mprossvely
marched to their positions
had boon augmented by every train and every boat
The ladies dressed in al 1.-The extavagances OF the
gorgeous styles The carriage ways were crowded with
omnibuses from Cozxens, picncs had made 1t day TO
visit the Point every child and every person within
miles were there, adding strength and beauty 70 the
occasion So tho formation was complete Appees
and his band which by this hour had rested their
weary limbs, broke the deathke stiffness by
chanting music. which seemed in its sweetness TO roll
over the plain aud striking the rugged hills
beyond, echo back sublimity and greater sweetness
this rolled away in the distance Its charms resting
raj Grant, the Superintendent Major Boynton and others
arose. whom the formH presentation OF diplomas began
General Pitcher In bis clear ringing voice commenced
the list Of graduates, pubshed in the HERALD Of yes
terday, and when Runer stepped up to receive bis
eted prize, the General bending slightly, presented
RuInsr present to you this testimonial with great
pleasure, as having been won By superior merit,
placing you at the head O. your class; may Z
trust you may be foremost in the paths Of duty 10
which your country cas" The longest speech Of the
their positions and received them with the graceful mil
itary SALUTE General Grant accompanying each with
married inclination q the head THIS over and the
the now delighted cadets, the soene ever
% Be remsmbereda sosne never before witnessed "a
the history Of the Military ACADEMY worthy OF
imitation 10 future years. Az these tones died away
evey conferred upon the towering form Of the
Rev. DR.. vnton who rising In his majestic manner and
uncoveng his head delivered the following impressive,
eloquent and appropriate address,
ADDRESS vISroS, q T. D.
YOUNG GENTLEMEN THE GRADu AnNg CLASS ANnC0Rrs
or CADETS OF TIE UNITED STATES MnrrARr ACADxMY-
We gathered together on an occasion OF peculiar in
and sacrednes The transition from youth the
ureences or manhood is always crisis in which s4he
mind looks afore and after with hopes and memories
There Is kind Of soiemnity in this hour You remem-
Der with what citation you have anticipated the ncicA
joys of the time OF your graducfon and that the
moment Is come, you saddsnod and subdued, and
you wi ssmsmDsr thu. p.rAag. when you are crown
lfe in which the limoges ~ your companions and your
personal experiences viii again take the shapes of sha
dowa In this proseut Interval Of intense
the past and the future may be- buried But both will
have resurrection so this critical living hour is
dead What than, does the past reveals Il tells Of
academic instruction. and OF knowledge, amid scenes
both historic and magnificent. Here, on the spot
consecrated ~ .ho traditions Of the Revolution, our
fathers lived Aers the black crime OF
masked and erroed forever Here the virtues OF
sm honor honesty and truth have been incucated and
ovinced Yondsr hills have echoed back no sound but
man. the laws In physical nA,ugY md N the human
conscience and ia organic kocety have been the themes
Q, Instruction and Of isrning And yet better disc
tssd-he c,s oe SoS sonyro II Il be true that he
,h tuiys hS self Is nober than he who takes CITY
sa t " ssfdiscpne Of this military education inc
mhkaD 1t achievement which you have accomplished
we most useful power which you have acquired ths
81 acknowledgment OF your country's favor winch
you in gratitude can bestow ON society You. eaamp
OF loyalty 10 the State, 70 the Avs and 20 soe
will be guerd0n 70 our country when VII ~
pay her for your training al her expense Some persons
have argued that loyalty Is not compatible with free
due TO person representing the majesty OF the throne
But better ethics and better definition of the card.
nal virtue Ii derived from the etymoogy of loyay-it
allegiance 70 the sovereign law and the sovereign Law
has its embodiment and s throne in the constitution Of
the nation To this august imperial sovereign you
sworn supporters Tue OATH the oath, calling God 70
witness and 10 record your fathfulncs has bound you
by all the bonds OF earth to heayen TO be loyal unto
death the Constitution OF tho United States This oc-
cason therefore, when you have received your diplomas
OF academic excellence, recommending you for commits
sons IN the army, and introducing you TO the awful
sanctions OF the oalh 10 crisis OF peculiar sacrednsss
being the point OF life which the soul poses
itself In august consciousness OF duty sustained by the
wings Of memory and hope In your personal history
this hour shall be sgnaed by It's conceptions OF the
events OF the past with the purposes Of the future Of
your days Tho circumstances OF this occasion are spc
cally worthy OF record and remembrance. These diplo
mas your academic sdperors have been presented TO
you BY the General Of the army He is come here for
this gracious ministry 10 dignity and to adorn the cere
mony The giving Of the diplomas 10 the graduating
class has heretofore been simple thing unaccompanied
by any token OF the supreme which such testino
malls ought to possess Sometimes they have been Is
suedsometimes called for the continuous ceremonies
OF the military course secm 10 have collapsed all al once