Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-07-28
Gen. Sherman's Speech at Dartmouth
College.


We copy below the valuable remarks of
Lieut.. Gen. Sherman, to the Alumni of Dart
mouth College, at the commencement exer-
cises last week. Gen. Sherman was called
upon by Chief Justice Chase, President of
the Alumni, and said
Mr.. President, / was in hopes, of course,
that anything l had 10 say would be said in
wonder building. where the ~jinglingof glasses
and plates might have covered up some of the
DEFICIENCIES Of mr. rwQrds. CLaughkerA But
these old gentiemeG arr cunning - have adj
lOurned 20 this tent, now so beautifully hlled
with ladies aud gentlemen, who probably e1-
pect of me more than | can give. almost
feel abashed on attempting to speak IN the
presence of the chief justice and many men
Of learning, aye, of the very boys, who but
a short time since were speaking in language
far more appropriate than could ever hope
to utter. / am simply a plain soldier, and
can say what | have TO say in a few words,
direct to the purpose and If L had any
special subject whatever worthy OF this oc-
casion, l would endeavor TO pursue it, but
for want of a better, | will express the very
great pleasure | have experienced to-day and
| Yesterday, in seeing not only the intelligence
of the Young men, whose graduation we have
| come here to witness, but the spirit of kind
| ness and reverence which every one of them,
| and all, in fact, have manifested toward the
| President of this College, toward the aged
| men who direct its interests, and toward the
cause of learning. Learning of all kinds is
entitled to our veneration. whether 1t be at
Dartmouth or Yale or Harvard, at West
Point or in the common schools. Learning
is living, it improves US all and we never be-
come too old to learn. We learn to-day, we
learn tomorrow, and l suppose we shall
continue to learn to the very last hour OF our
lives. We cannot tell, it is for God alone to
say, on which day we shall make the most
progress. l am not and do not profess to be
learned in books, learned in art, or learned
in mere words but in deeds | do profess to
have some knowledge of forming men into
Organizations, where their physical power
as well as their mental power may produce
| its full effect. You here have an Organiza-
ton, you here have a system, which you may
call civil but it is military. The authority
of every one of your professors is defined, and
they group you into classes, they group
classes into other classes, and even after you
leave the institution they have a hold upon
your affections, which makes you a body
with a single soul which the man who
wants may move to some common purpose
as though it had been a military organiza-
| ton. We combine men by hundreds, thou
sands and tens of thousands, all animated by
one purpose and guided by one mind, SO that
their concentrated purpose and will may
press forward to the accomplishment of any
object. If that object be the salvation of a
nation, then the cause is glorious and enlIsts
the feelings and challenges the admiration OF
all mankind. loud applause. Therefore,
in that sense i, too, profess to be a teacher,
simply in the lesser art OF organization
| simply in the lesser art of combining units
into tens and tens into hundreds, and direct
| ing them in the interest of the government
| which commands me to do that which is heI
| pleasure, and which is my pleasure too. IRE
new ed applause.
1t is a common feeling among civilians that
soldiers are men of violence. There is moth.
ing further from the truth. appeal to the
history of America, to the history of oul
country, from Washington until the present
moment, to show that the military men Of
this country have always been subordinate t
the law and subordinate to the authorities
that be, never setting up their own judgmeni
in antagonism to that of the nation, but ex
tecut;ng its will when that will had found ex
preston in law, with a fidelity beautiful t
behold and so long as L continue to hole
power and influence, | shall ever direct tina
power and influence to the end that the mill
tary of this country, whether a small fore'
scattered all over the nation, or a vast arm,
of volunteers, gathered for some special pur
pose, shall sustain the laws of the land ant
support the authority you may place owe
me.
Therefore, I feel the same interest in edu
cation that you do. 1t lessons my task 1
~lessens the task of every governor and OF tn
6 chief Justice, when throughout the land, IL
New Hampshire, Massachusetts,, Florida ant
Ohio, schools and colleges are founded, an
men are taught what law means, what orde
means, what civilization means, what refine
ment means ; for it is far easier and NOR
, pleasant to govern intelligent men than t
govern unlettered men. The one acts from
a high motive and principle, aiding and sup
porting you in carrying out your purpose
: without confusion whereas the other mus
be driven to it by force. Therefore, L hav'
a personal interest in education. l hope /
: will pervade all America, and when 1T doe
there will be no need of armies and yer,
little need of courts. [Applause.J Gentle
men, L thank you for the many compliment
f you have paid me, and especially would
1 hank the young men who have alluded t.
me in three or four passages of SURPRISING
compliment. 1 would also express M
thanks to the president and other officers o