The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-26
wade Hampton. . 81 II. Nsrsinia.

wAsHINaToNCo COLLEGE, LEXINGTON.
The correspondent of the Charles
ton Ne,cs, writing under date of the
18th, says:
T. To-day was the great day Of the
week. At an early hour the church
was packed to its utmost capacity,
and large numbers were compelled to
go away for want of room. General
Lee presided with that quiet dignity
and grace which SO eminently distin-
guish him. He introduced the speak
ers in few, but we'll chosen, words,
and it seemed to afford him great
pleasure to confer the honors OF. the
college upon those who, had SO fairly
won them. Inotice among the "dis-
tinguished pro6cients" the names of
Frank A. Waddill, John II. Inglis
and Edward T. 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
our great struggle. but we love him
more still for his unwavering devo-
tion to principle since the war, and
his bold utterances in defence of the
heroes who fell battling for the "lost
cause" He was received with O
deafening applause when introduced
by Gen. Lee, and spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN: In compliance with
the invitation your societies have
done me the honor to extend to me,
L have come to participate in the
agreeable ceremonies Of this occa-
sion-an occasion which, f-.sught as
it must be to you with the highest
interest, is scarcely less interesting
to myself. To you these commemo-
rative days of your honored alma
Mater mark important epochs in your
lives, for each ono in its annual re-
currence brings you one step nearer
to that goal to which youth looks
with SO much impatience, and with
such bright hopes-an entrance into
the great world. On each anniver-
sary of this day, part of your num-
Der leave these halls forever to
assume, with the toga nmis of man
hood, the grave duties and RESPONSE
bilities of the citizen. These cir
cumstances cannot fail to lend to this
scene absorbing interest for you,
while in my heart it wakens many
and deep emotions. Looking on
your bright and joyous faces, re-
call those of your kinsmen-my
bronzed and battlc-stained comrades
of Virginia. Contemplating this
grateful scene, over which peace and
learning combine to throw their
softening and benign influence, I
contrast it with that when embattled
hosts confronted each other on this
soil, and remembering who it is that
now directs your steps along the
paths Of virtue and knowledge,
memory brings back the time when
L, too, had the honor to serve under
the same great chief. Stirred by
these Notwithstanding in this
presence once again, on the ground
of this grand old commonwealth
ground hallowed by as precious blood
as was ever poured out for liberty on
battlefield or scaffold-surrounded
by the brave sons of Virginia and
her fair daughters-need 1 tell you
how deep an interest this scene pos
sesses for me, or how willingly I
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 veneration for your
illustrious President, whose deeds in
war have shed imperishable lustre on
his country, and whose conduct in
peace has shown that "peace hath
her victories no less renowned than
war;" You may readily understand,
then, how great pleasure it gives
me to respond to your fattering in
vitation, and how earnest is my So
licitude, not only to show my appre-
citation of it, but to make this occa-
sion as agreeable to you as it is to
myself. Let me hope, too, my
young friends, that the same kind
ness which prompted the invitation
may induce you to accept the coun-
sci L give in the same spirit with
which it is offered. The associations
connected with this occasion have
naturally called up the past great
history of Virginia, and it has struck
me as significant fact, one we'll
worthy of your consideration. that