The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-19

the eR1hestres DHnd Irom
Rissmond enlivened the secession with very
fine musies A
M. TB. Mtbh, of Aiabams, president
Of the Washington Society, in q neat little
speech presented to Mr.. j. VI. Dunlap, OF
-Yirsinia, the medal awarded the best De-
hater. f.sf s5tia : S-s-I -
Mr., Dunlgp thanked the President for the
kind terms in which he had spoken, ana
ssaidiif he we're; required to pay the debt or
gratitude he owed the Society he should be
hopelessly bankrupt. He would continue
TO cherish a deep interest in the Society,
and would treasure this medal as proud
memorial Of the past, and a strong incen-
tivegfor future exertion. Ia 80 .s,s'i !. = 2
Mr.. Peters, in behalfof the Grshaui 30
ciety, gracefully presented medal 70 MI.
J.. Harvie McCleary, of Texas, as their
chest debeter and most efficient member"
He presented it as the highest honor of the
Society, which was proud Of her son, and
would watch his career with deepest 1nte'
rest. 80. -.ss. \ - -. ST.. -
his words Of tod partial friendship, and
the Society for this the highest honor he had
ever won. Tt excited mingled regret and
cratitude-regret that it has been so poorly
deserved, and gratitude that the Society
had taken the will for the deed. he would
always q guard this trephy more closely
than the golden apples in the garden Of the
Hesperides :" but it needed no remem-
brancer, for the Graham Society is written
on the enduring tablets of his heart n,
After on allusien to the origin Of the So
ciety and tribute to the tiatde Of Wash
ington, inscribed on the medal, he con-
cluded as follows " How sweet the memo
ries of days gone by There will be q time
in the unfathomed future when this bright
scene will live only among the thoughts Of
by-gohe years-when the eyes now burning
with the fire Of youth, and looking eagerly
to what lies before, will be dimmed with
age and turned back again to gaze, perhaps
with sadness, on the .shadoWyy ,past-then
will remember the givers of this talisman,
and on the altar Of my heart lay the fond
prayer, May heaven bless them Yes,
fell6w:mefhbsts may ytu BE champions on
life's ffattle field as famous as Hector with
the glancing helm, but more fortunate thar!
he-conquerors in every conflict, welding
the darts of eloquence and protected by the
shield Of TRUTH . go 50 AsAi4.s 'I''
Mr.. McCleary has had honors heaped
upon him. Last year he was anniversary
orator Of his society, and got the boots OF
the Ugly Club. This session he takes the
degree of A. B. and gets the "Cincinnati
Prize Orntion," which is regarded az the
highest honor il, college, since It Is bestow-
ed upon the best scholar. And not the
least of his honors (in his own estimation)
suspect, were the beautiful bouquets sent
by fair hands tonight.
Mr.. Webb introduced Mr.. j. B. Weller,
Jr., of California, the orator Of the Wash
ington Society: He announced as his theme,
"A Glance at Freedoms March in Europe"
he spoke Of the universal love of, freedom
as shown in the struggles against oppression
in all ages, and cited the feudal system as
atype Of oppressionof the poor, which " as
introduced into England by William the
Conqueror. He then. traced the gradual
march of freedom in England until the pre-
sent efforts OF reform are likely to make
her the freest natibn oh the globe. He
held up Ireland, Hungary, and Poland as
warnings against misdirected efforts in be-
half of freedom, and closed with an earn
est expression of the hope that our own
land North and South) may cherish the
love of freedom and be united in her de-
fence.
Mr.. Weller was greeted with frequent
applause, and at the close Of his speech
with number of bouquets. He only spoke
twenty minutes, and his speech was re-
freshingly free from politics. His delivery
is very good. His speech seemed to give
great satisfaction to his friends. ~.
Mr.. Peters introduced Mr.. John s. Bar
low, Jr., of Kentucky, the orator of the
Graham Society. He announced as his
theme, &" The Advantages of Literary So
ciety.'' He showed the benefits of such q
society in giving young man confidence in
himself, but, above all, in showing him his
need Of knowledge and inducing him to
seek it. He quoted the remark, Reading
makes the thinking man, writing the cor
rect man, speaking the ready man" !;
and showed that the literary society pro-
notes all of these. He spoke of the espe-
cial need of all of these characteristics in
these. days, and closed with an earnest ap-
peal to his Society. Mr.. Barlow has agood
voice-though he speaks too rapidly-a
commanding person, and very easy-fow-
ing, poetical style. He spoke for only o
short time, and was frequently interrupted
by bursts Of applause from his FELLOWSHIP
dents. At the close of his speech he was
overwhelmed. with bouquets. s.a.rla--
A very striking and commendable fea-
ture in the speeches, generally tonight was
their freedom from spread-eagle curls about
"the late war; which we have had 30
much Of within the past two years. And q
not less striking feature was that all Of the
young orators were brief. L oh Ia
The Society Of Alumni Of the college
hold their annual meeting tomorrow, and
are to be addressed by Major. j. Horace
Lacy tomorrow night. . gntrgG -
Letter from Halifax. g.