The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-25
From our Lexington Correspondent.
The Annual Celebrations Of the era
ham PhilanthrOpic and washington
Literary SOcieties-A Liber"i Ne"
YArker-ElectiOnS.
LEXINGTON, VA, January q, 1867.

LEXINGTON, VA, January q, 1867.
The anniversary celebration of the Ora
ham Society Of Washington College came
off at the Methodist church evening before
last with much eclat. Despite the Dit,
ter cold weather, the church was crowded
to its utmost capacity with highly appre-
ciatiye audience.
The opening exercises consisted OF q
debate on the question "Was the execu-
tion of Charles |. of England justitiabie y
Mr.. W. Z. Colyar, of Tennessee, main
tanned the affirmative, concluding we'll
6iuested. well-delivered speech with fine
snecimen of the ad cdptand,m in parallel
between Charles /. and William u. Brown
low. athe constitutional Governor Of Ten
nessee."
Mr.. R. W. McCreery, Of Kentucky, and
Mr.. A. C. Houston, Of West Virginia,
maintained the negative of the question
in speeches which seemed very satisfactory
to their friends. The society voted in favor
of the negative-whether influenced by
their views Of the merits of the question,
or the merits Of the argument, your CORE
spondent did not learn. The orator OF the
occasion was Mr.. ]. Harvey McCleary, OF
Texas, who acquitted himself with decided
credit, making q speech of merit, which
was very we'll delivered, and elected the
frequent applause of the audience. bis
reference to Hunters vandalism in de-
stroying the library and hall of the Graham
Society, and his delicate parallel between
the founder Of Washington College and the
ano less illustriOus patriot who now pre-
sides over its destinies," were particularly
happy, and elected tremendous applause.
The Washington Society will have its
anniversary on the ed Of February. Bar
ron Hope, Esq, Of Norfolk, will make an
address, 1t has not yet TRANSFERRED who
the speakers Of the Society will be.
Colonel Johnston, the newly-elected
Professor of History, is expected to enter
npon his duties LIST Of February. There
will probably be number Of new students
TO enter at the beginning of the half ses-
sion, lst Of February.
The handsome donation by the late
Mr.. Wilson, of New York, makes quite
an addition to the shelves Of the col
lege library, depleted by Hunters yandals.
Besides this, benevolent gentleman IN
New York has offered to replace all
the books which the Yankee soldiers
stole, and the efficient librarian Mr.. Full
ler) Is now making out list for this pur-
pose. II is also proposed to make, by the
next session, large purchases ofpew books.
Work on the new chapel has been sus-
pended by the severe weather, and will
hardly be resumed before spring.
We have had quite lively time here in
the election Of Mayor and Town Council
Colonel Edmundson (the old Mayor and
his Board of Coupcilmen were opposed BY
ex. Governor Letcher and ticket Of pro.
minent citizens. The excitement ran high
The most active electioneering was resort,
ed TO; hacks were sent all over town te
bring voters to the polls, and but for the
presence OF the gentleman in blue who
presides over the Bureau here, one might
almost have imagined that we were free
people once more. A small majority oil
votes was cast for Ex-Governor Letcher
and the new Board, but the commissioner
Of election purged the polls of votes al.
legged to have been Illegal, and gave the re.
turn 70 Colonel Edmundson and the old
Board. An appeal has been taken to Judse
Sheffey, ssnd his decision Is auxiously
eWalted. LEXINGTON.