The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-06-23
WADE HAMPTON IN VIRGINIA.
HI. Address at the Commencement of
washington College. Lexington Va.
A isP BE;NDID EFFORT.
IrRoM ouR SPECIAL REronTEH.]

LEXINGTON, VA, June 18.-To-day was the
great day of the week. At ON early hour tne
church was packed to ita utmost capacity, and
large numbers we're compelled to go away for
want of room. General Lee presided with tina:
| quiet dignity and grace which 30 eminently
| distinguish him. He introduced the speakers
| in few but well chosen words, aud it seemed to
afford him great pleasure!o confer the honors
of the college upon those who had 30 tariy
won them. -....i.,-. :.
Mr. Seth Shepherd, B. L.. Of Texas, deliver
ed the Law-clsss grafton; MIR. j. Harvie Nc
Cleary, a. B., of Texas, tho f'Cincinnah" ora
ton, md Mr.. Robert L. Brokenbrough, A. b.
OF Virginia, i the valedictory address. The
Cincinnati Orationn-named in honor OF the
society which followed the example OF wash
ington in it's benefactions 10 the college ls
conferred upon s.sthe most distinguished
scholar" among the students.
The honors of tho college are l.. 'tDistin-
Euished" in any class at either intermediate or
final examinations; 2. Certificates OF Distlno-
ton; s.. Certificates of Proficiency; 4. Certifi-
Gates of Distinguished Proficiency; 5. Diplo-
=.
mas and Degrees.
I. T notice among the distinguished prof.
clients" the names of Frank A.. Waddill, John
H. Inglis and Edward F. Malloy, OF South
Carolina.
But, of course, the great event. OF the day
was the speech Of General Wade. Hampton,
We had loved him for his heroic deeds during
NJ
our great struggle. but we love him more sssst
for his unwavering devotion to principlesince
the war, and his bold utteratces in defence OF
the heroes Whoofell battling for the "lost
cause" He was received with a deafening ap-
plausewhen introduced by General Lee, and
spoke asfollows:i o. a'ss =
Gentlemen: In compliance with the invita-
tion your societies have done me the honor to
extend to me, I have come 70 participate IN the
agreeable ceremonies of this occasion-an oc-
casion which, fraught AS il must be to you
with the highest interest," is scarcely less inter
cst1ng tomyselF. To yon these commemorative
daysof your honorod Atnad Mater mark impor-
sant{ {epochs in your lives, for. each one 10 its
annual recurrence brings you one step nearer
to that goal to which youth looks, with 80 much
impatience and with such bright hopes -an en-
trance into the great world, On each annlver-
sary of this day part Of your number leave
these halls forever to assume, with the iog1
nul,a of manhood, the grave duties and re-
sponsibilities OF the citizen. Those cir
cumstances cannot fail to lend to this
scene absorbing interest for YOU while
in my heart it wakens many and deep
faces, recall those OF your kinsman-my
bronzcd and battle-stainod comrades OF Vir-
ginia. Contemplating this grateful scene,
over which peace and learning combine TO
throw their softening and benign influence, L
contrast it. with that when ombattled hosts
confronted each other on this soil, and renem-
bering who it is that now directs Your Stops: a,s
ory brings back the time when L too, had the
honor to servo under the same great cher.
Stirred by these memories s-standing IN this
presence once again, on the ground. OF TINS
grand old Commonwealth ground hslloWod
BY as precious blood as was ever poured out
for liberty on battle field or scaffold-
ed by the brave sops Of Virginia and hor fair
est this scene possesses for me, or now
willingly ] obeyed your call hither. Had
any other inducement been needed to
bring me here, it would have been found
in the opportunity thus offered to me OF
manifesting my profound respect and venera-
.tion for your illustrious President, whose deeds
in war have she'd imperishable lustre on ibis
country, and whose conduct in peace has sho Sn
thsti'' peace hath her victories no less renown-
ed than war" You may readily understand
then how great pleasure it gives me to res
bond to your fattering invitation, and how
earnest is my solicitude, not only to show my
appreciation Of it, but to make this occasion as
sgrepable to you as it is to myself. Lot me
hope too, my young friends, that the same
Kindness which prompted tho invitation may
induce you to accept tho counsel give In the
same spirit with which it is offered. The asso-
Citations connected with this occasion have nat
urally called up The past great history OF
Virginia, and il has struck me as o significant
fact, one well worthy of your consideration,
that the men who made, that history 80 glorl-
,ous did 80 not moro by the greatness OF their
actions than by the high principles which
prompted them. It seems to me, therefore,
that no theme could be more appropriate or
more instructive, on such an occasion as this,
and to such ON audience, than ono which seeks
to impress on our young mon, by the great les
sons and examples OF the past, that to achieve
true greatness, or to secure lasting happiness,
they must adopt as the principle tu govern
their lives q firm, constant aud uncompromls-
ing devotion to duty.
You, who are gathered here from all sections
OF the c0Antry, to acquire knowledge, to seek
truth, and to learn virtue, rs disciples OF old.
attracted by the fame OF It's teachers, hocked
to the school of Athens, to listen 10 the words
OF Socrates, Of Plato and of Aristotle, are soon
to have committed TO your charge the fame,
the honor the welfare Of your native land, and
you will be held accountable through all
succeeding time, for ihe manner in which you
fulfil this momentous trust. You enter upon
the great aroma OF life at time of fearful peril
to the country and under circumstances OF
most anomalous character. Short as have
been your lives, you hay. been spectators. OF
mighty events. You have seen ancient and
time-honored constitutions swept away by the
storm Of fierce fan aticism which "fears not
Godluor regards man." You have seen goy-
ernment framed by the highest intellect,
guided by the loftiest patriotism, torn down
by arbitrary power, which has eel up in their
stead others, that, like the gourd OF the
prophet, have sprung up in night. You
have seen great States blotted out OF o1istanco
and stripped even OF their names; naTcs
which they had made illustrious. And YOU
have seen all these things done in the namc OF
God and of Liberty! These grave. scenes,
which have passed before you in such
rapid and startling succession, may we'll .arous'
you to sense of the solemn duties you arc
soon to assume as citizens, and may well m
splre an earnest desire to discharge these du-
ties 30 as to promote the welfare OF your
country, or, at least, to rescue il from the rum
that seems impending. Destiny has placed
you upon the stage i'll the midst OF mighty
revolution, which threatens 10 sweep away and
obliterate forever all that has boon achieved by
tho courage, the wisdom, aud the l'atrlotlem
of your fathers, and it will bo yours to arrest
and roll back this fearful avalanche, or TO DO
crushed into the Garth as. it sweeps OH IN It's
direful aud relentless progress. 1t Will be
YOURS to repair tho shattered fortunes OF your
State; to heal tho wounds inflicted on her By
savage war, and to build up and maintain new