The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-02

L
| ,ha ho,or. ibev had won, and his best wishes
| for their future, and 10 bear his nnauatneo
| ties tIrlouy to the general good oroef anu anus, So
diousness which had prevailed NJ the ohisel'
(! sity during the past session. Inc co,nlhenII5
| MARI eYercisea proper were concluded at hall
| past L O'Clock, and a recess OF nall noun mo
/ iaken. during which the graduates recei'tu
| the CONCENTRATIONS of their friends, ana
many sought the cool shade ana fsii .
/ 70 be found on the lawn. .,
Al 70 O'Clock the Society Of Alumni escorted
/ into the hall their orator., CoIonel MARINA
| dnke Johnson, Of Richmond. he was lntfo-
dueed by B. H. Magrnder, Esq, pres,n rith pr.
| fena Of the Society, ana was greeleo WIZ ap
| pIause by the audience. 80
| Colon 81, j hnson begun by contrasting inc
| circumstances OF The present occasion WIN
other in the good old days that are gone we
come with blended emotions OF gladness ana
sadness and meet to-day as we nave never
met before. The few years that nave inIeI
yened since the Society Of Alumni had lnelr
| last reunion in 1860 embrace a period OF sor-
row and woe such as has been rarely, II ever,
crowded into the same space OF TIME; W.,
gaZed then npon happy, pros pefohs i'Ho. w
look out nor upon 4 desoluted, ruined country,
and see dark clouds all around US. Ana aits
how many vacant chairs of those who
once mingled with us in these testFe scenes
and addedi lustre TO them by Ineir plihi
| tnleu1a, II has not been simply the passing
| avay of our elder brothers, yielding 10 ma
| tnre's imperative call, but even the young
have been taken in the full TIDE OF nealih ana
| promise. What constellation OF nrisnlest
| Jewels has been torn from The diadem OF our
| Alma Mater os
\ among the many. Amongst others he spoke
| of Robert F. Scott, of Fauqnier, The nrst con
| s1itu tional lawyer and GcDaler III Virginia
| the noble specimen Of the Old Irgnia gentle
| man. who was brutally murdered while de-
| Tending his own hearthstone from poiititioh |;
! John T. Fontaine, whose brilliant talents ana
| unsurpassed eloquence opened up Ior MN u
| sure road TO fame, but who ieila ohaIPsp,IS
| braveIy standing a the post of duty; Colonel
| Lewis Minor Coleman, the brave, the Dill
| liant the good, who shined in every circle IN
whirh he moved, and whose talents ana rare
| attainment Is gave promise OF sucn useiu'iess
| in the future, who at the call OF inty lell u
| Mace of ease and comfort for the hardslilps
| and dangers Of the army, and fell ut rede-
| ricksburg one of the noblest OF sacrillces on
| his countrys altar; Colonel .John thompson
| BROWN whose varied talents and many shln-
| inr virtues made him widely known and
oved in the Society of Alumni, who Tell at
Spotsylyania Courthouse in command OF as
| noble a regiment Of Virginia artillery as INC
world ever saw.
| He spoke very feelingly of "our younger
brother Colonel Willie Pegram-who Just
as he was entering our ranks responded 10 the
| call Of his country, and after illustrating the
| character Of Christian soldier and gentleman
| by n brilliant career which made him famous,
fen at Give Forks y in those last SAD days
| which witnessed. The fall OF our Confederacy
Our brothers have fallen on every Held OF
glory from Gettysburg 10 the western ooui'o-
AIRY of Texas.
In turning from these sad "reminiscences,
these questions naturally arise: hat
have we been rs people? Where ana "hn.
ARE we now? What is TO be our future :?
| He did not propose 10 discuss the c0pStS OF our
troubles. This is no time for elimination or
recrimination.
But The stubborn fact stares ms in the face
last nv
jn vain for the fragments of the Constitution,
| which are utterly dsregardcd by mihtaFy
dcspotism that the Legislature has absorbed
the other departments OF Inc no ~
of military officers, who, while tHfy may
here and there have some regard 10 1ustice
nrc alter ali governed simply by their own
| will IF any one doubts this let him look to-
| day Mt the condition Of our once prosperous
| old Commonwealth. Her glory is everywhere,
| but her privileges and liberties are gone l1cr
| legislative acts may be nuliilcd, and the right
| of h0Jfus cOrDuS and of trial by jury may be
| virtually set aside at the will of some military
| subordinate who may be well posted In mill
| tary matters, the cut OF a coat, the proper APP
| pcarance in !he ballroom, &c, but whose
| breastpiu NAV outweigh his brains, ana VINO
| "knows no more about civil law than hog
| does about holiday, who may enter lhe
| court room with the airoi II detective or W'tn
| the nornposity of one clothed i'll authority
| which yve devouty pray May be brlel-and IN
suit our Judges ~ lie sets aside their DEGREES.
| The speaker then alluded 10 the former eX-
tent of territory OF the "Old Dominion" 10
her magnificent grant OF territory 10 the e.
dpral Government, which was reared into
States which now help her opnrcssors, aud 10
the cruel and unconstitutional division OF the
State during the var.
! He would not have alluded to these things
but for the important lessons they teach.
They call loudly upon all 10 bend every energy
10 the work of " Reconsideration III ITS broad
est SENSE. We are members of The United
| States, and musC continue SO either as heWers
of wood and drawers OF water, or rs equals
with the North.
| He spoke OF the power Of the educated men
of the country TO shape and direct popular &c.
ton, and earnestly urged them to come mp &c
their duty III persuadin@ the people 10 Sc
about the work OF recOns lruction. lie made
also IN eloquent appeal 10 the young men JUST
entering life as those who were 10 shape the
future destiny of the South. 1t is neither
wise, nor manly, nor brave TO stand sun ana
grierc over the past All is not lost; our rich
laud broad waters. and mineral resources re-
main We still have brave men and noble
women and while we are proudol tue past
let us not lie down in apathy, but come up no.
Div 10 meet present duty Let MS enter The glo
rious pa tbs of truth and virtue, and by earn
est toll show that - Peace main Her victories
| as well as war;
He drew u hopeful sketch of the future, and
elounently urged that we rally around our
dear old mother and make Virginia hereafter,
|
can cons telluton.
The orator then passed 10 speak at some
length Of the paramount Importance OF educa-
lion under our present circumstances ana
closed with IN earnest appca! TO the alumni 10
rally around the University and help her 10
continue TO be The great centre OF the southern
republic of learning.
At the close Of Colonel Johnson's speech,
B. j. Barbour, Esq, who WAS OIL the plat
form, WAS loudly called for.
He came forward and wiItily remarked that
it seemed that everybody's voice Except ms oeca
he was quite koarse) was in favor Of his
speaking that he did not know how he could
accomplish it unless he could borrow one of
those sweet voices tofa LADY, which were then
| unusually silent.
But W would tax his voice and the patience
Of the audience sufficiently TO express his
warm approval of and 10 reiterate those sem
tments which took hopeful views Of the con-
dilon OF the country Despair is not right.
| Jehovah has not vacated his throne, and there
| is yeta bright day coming for our land. But
in order 10 hasten that day there must be inu-
| tual concession and compromise. Let Sltu,
peralion cease in both sections. Let " heoei
| and " Yankee" cease to be used as terms OF
| reproach. The question is not whelner one
| North or South shall govern, put now oo.i i
can best live under IL common SoNerhueit 'ii,,
enjoy 4 common heritage. Inc North us WIZ
as the South must show spirit OF coillio
mise and Cancellation. If we are 10 i've I'M
der the same constitution, then give MS 4 part
in The constitution. If the same flag must
w over us, then give us reason 10 respect
and love it. !" Let as haze not only a stdr for
errrv State butd StateJor every St0r.
He closed with an eloquent appeal 10 The
friends of the University TO rally around her,
keep up and elevate her standard, and make
| her what her great founder intended she should
| be. The enthusiastic cheers OF the audience
showed that he struck Il chord 10 which every
heart responded.
There were matters of interest attended 10
! by the Board of Visitors and the Society Of
| Alumni; but must reserve q notice OF them
| until 10 morrow. ALuMSCs.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
Registration In Charlotte.