The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-07-10
commencement.

Editors of South w estern
The commencement exercises of the Mansfield Fe-
male College having closed, we ask short space in
your able and very popular paper, give synopsis
OF the proceedings, feeling confident that your numer-
readers and especially the graduates and forp
students of this old and distinguished instuten Ill
be gratied to hear of its unrvaled success and pros
perty, considering the condition of The country.
During the past scholastic vsr, we lealn there have
one hundred and thirty matriculates, Of whom sixty
were boarders. The President, Rev. Chas. b. Stuart
is accomplished scholar and unsurpassed as dis
cplinaran. He is assisted by able and experienced
corps Of teachers, and the facilities for acquiring
thorough instruction in all the branches of finished
education are equal to any in the country
The examination of the different classes COM
menced on Thursday the 20th and continued till the
following Tuesday. The young ladies examined
rgidy and mpartiay and exhibited in all the classes
| accurate and systematic training. On Monday and
Tuesday nights concerts of instrumental and vocal
music were given under the direction of Dr. w. S.
Donaldson, the professor of music. By those who
were present. they were considered fine displays OF the
musical art. The annual sermon before the gradual
ing class on Sunday was delivered by the Rev. Mr..
Trppett of your city. It was one of the most beau
tlful and elegant discourses that ever heard, and
made profound IMPRESSION not only upon the young
ladies' to whom it particularly addressed
the immense audience in attendance. "Wednesday,
the 26th, commencement day, and one of pecu-
liar interest AT early hour the spacious chapel of
the College crowded to its utmost capacity and
many were unable to secure seats AT 10 o'clock the
Hon. Joss b. Elan, the orator of the OCCASION was in
troduced who spoke for an hour, in manner alto
gether, Efaanc and SUI generis 1t entirely des
titnte of ornament and rhetoric, but pregnant
with good common sense and gave evidence of clear
and well balanced mind, mature thought and extern
sive research.
The graduates were as follows, viz: Miss Ella Wilder,
OF Shreveport; Miss Camilla Thompson, Of Texas,
Miss Lizzie Holmes OF DeSoto Miss Pauline John
pf "a fec of
Miss Brautly delivered the vaedctory. It was fne
production, and well delivered. The other young
ladies acquitted themselves very handsomely, reflect
ing great credit upon their instructors. With an
earnest and impressive address to the graduating class
by Rev. Mr.. Lane, the commencement exercises OF
the Mansfield Female College for 1857 were closed:
1t has been source both of pleasure and profit to
your correspondent and he trusts that the success OF
the institution may be commensurate with its merit
and that each year may add to its numbers and its
usefulness, until its influence may be felt throughout
the entire section. SPECTATOR.
No LEGAL MILITARY GoyERsoRs.-We most en-
phaticaly endorse the following from the National In
telligencer of the Goth:
Let it be borne constantly in mind that, under the
government of the Constitution, there can be no le
gal military governors Of the people in this country:
lie Is rebel or usurper who undertakes to enforce mn
lary law on citizens within the limits of the unltea
States, no matter on what pretext or by whose com
mand. Congress no more confer despotic power
upon individuals than individuals can confer 1t upon
Congress. What is not done in subordnation to our
tree system OF laws is void and of no legal force @as
ever That system is marked by the exclusion OF a'
power which is not consistent with itself; nor woule
it be less without any constitution at all 1t IS a
great prncipe-t looks to the freedom Of the people,
and it is, in the nature Of things solemn declaration
that they shall be governed and, if governed, pro-
teeted by laws and it follows that it is national
pledge of faith to another that no despotism no
setting aside of the laws in favor Of the will and com
mand of one man, here there, shall be permitted
in this country