Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-06-27
Williams, of Nashville, in the following

= long and bloody contest, 1t ia natural thA
We should, at this, our first 9nnualfestiyal
u cast our eyes over the field and inquire 70
r, our brothers And where are ,hAy ? d.
II ley, and Peyto and KeebIe, and Carter
and Hat;on, and other gallant heroes, a
Fishing Greek, at Franklin, at Sever
) Fines, and elsewhere, amid the smoke aDC
d hame Of deadly conhiet, freely gave theil
|. lives for country they could not save, bu
j, their suns went down behind a 'darkened
west, bat "left upon the mountain tops Of
death, light that made them lovely"
l Saved from, the breach, and around
. the festal board to-day is a daring spirit,
Maj. W. FL. Williamson), with as
hasrt, soul and body--all-except that
: strong right arm that he yielded in deyo-
ton to his country, on the bloody heights
Of Gettysburg. Others are in our midst
battle SCARED, who, at Shiloh, and other
helds, poured out some Of their best life.
blood in the cause OF their espousal, and by
their "god-like acts, plucked renown even
From the spear-prOof crest of rugged danger"
4 But whether gone over the river TO
rest In the shade of the trees,P or still
with Us to gladden. our hearts by their
genial flow of spirits, and electrify Us with
their eloquence, their lives have been spent
IN support of constitutional liberty" Life
is worthless without this. Governments
are playthiDgs for tyrants and despots and
unprinoipled demagogues, without q con-
stitutiOn to hold in check their unholy
ambition and to say to the mad waves Of
fanaticism, dashed into fury by those who
hope to ride upon their crests into place
and power, "Thus far shall you come, but
no farther" t.a
There are over FIVE hundred Alumni of
the Law Department, scattered over sll
sections OF the country, and whether at the
bar, or In other and more lucrative pur.
suits, are at all times and in all places,
sleepless guardians of the peoples sacred
rights, ready to sound the alarm and to
WELD the battle-axe of truth, at the sp-
proach of the vandal who dares to invade
the temple where sits entbroned the
Goddess of constitutional liberty"
ln our own State, we rejoice that our
brothers, Tillman and Smith and East,
have been honored with the judicial |
ermine, which they will woEthily wear and |
homer in return. and to-day they dispense
justice without fear or favor, with an |
ability Of which their Alma Matar is |
justly proud. Others of our gallant band |
are struggling up the rugged steep Of legal |
distinction, slowly, il may be, but surely, |
and by their irdomitable energy and tai /
ents, and their unyielding devotion 10 |
constitutional liberty" will yet, we trust, |
give ito freedom monuments, and to a
nation fame"
You must excuse me, Mr.. President, for
referring in conclusion to one of my own
class of 1S52-the lanented Robert Green.
He was distinguished for all the noble
attributes Of humanity, and adorned with
all the qualities that make the &C. !
complished gentlemen. Naturally of feeble
constitution, he piled his energies day and
night, unremittingly, in the pursuit of his
choice. He had risen rapidly, and was
passing, one by one, the contestants for
eminence in the profession. Before the
Supreme Court of the State of Texas he
made an argument that was theRcrowniDg
effort Of his young life, and that circled
his brow with imperishable honor. But |
that wreath, 30 fresh one day with the
dews of honor, the next adorned his tomb.
ooh what a noble heart was hsre undene,
w hen Science self destroyed her favorite son.
es, he too much INDUCED his fond pursuit.
He soWed the SEEDS. but death has reapei the
the fruit. rs ..I .ssrt.. sl1'r 80
II was his own genius gave the final blow 1
And helped to plant the wound that laid him
So. the struck eagle, stretched upon the plain,
No more through rolling clouds to soar again,
viewed MS own leather on the fatal dart,
And winged the shaft that quivered in his |
heart: -ft Of ~ tT
Keen were his pangs. but keener far to feel
III nursed the pinion that impelled the steel: |
While the same Plumage that had warmed bis
nest,
Drank the last life drop of his bleeding breast"
FOURTH TOAST.
The Alumni of the Theological Depart
ment of Cumberland University; conseera-
ted heralds of peace on earth aud good
will to men" "the wilderness and the soli-
tary place shall be glad for them, and the
desert shall rejoice and blossom as the
rose," through their ministrations.
REV. NJ. B. DEWITT-The Theological
Department has but few Alumni, but allow
me TO say feel it to be an honor TO rep
resent those noble men. Two have gone
where all must go-none brighter-J. Il.
Roach and Alex. Carroll. Their memory
rests with US. Others have pursued their |
course in teaching-both male and female |
doing noble work; but the body has been |
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the long, fearful chapter of our history,
there is none more glorious than that of
those who we're heralds Of the cross, when |
they went 10 the bunk of the soldier and
administered comfort and consolation in |
his last moments. / am happy to stand
beside SO noble band of brothers as are
here, as we pledge ourselves to 90 on in
behalf of our common Alma Mater. Allow
me to speak in behalf of him who was our
instructor in the holy work. Remember
hio Of amir Ma ..l
spare him many years! II
Let US all strive to keep down every
thing which is not good for the institution.
FIFTH TOAST.
The memory of our fallen brothers
They, the young and strong. who cherished
Noble longings for the stIife.
By the roadside fell and persisted,
Weary with the march of hfeE'
Their history is their most appropriate
epitsph-lheir cenotaph is in our hearts.
This toast was drunk in silence and
and we thought more than one !
was considerably affected.
SIXTH TOAST.
The Alumni of 'Sixty-nine, fresh from
the classic halls which we once trod, we
give them heartiest graduation that they
have DOTTED the cap and gown for the togd
uirilis, and welcome them to our brother
hood with open arms.
Mr.. c. S. COLLINS OF MEMPHIS Mr..
President, right here we wish to enter our
protest We wish TO be embracsd-but
wish our choice az to who does it. Fresh
from college halle, turning our faces to the
future, everything presents bright APP |
Our aims are high and the
Alumni join in the wish that our hopes
may meet fruition. Some as we hope, will
make q mark in life. Some will reflect
credit on the class Of 80. But we will not
praise ourselves, we are against a mans
giving evidence in his own case. Marriage
is the rule with us, after all. Can't get
along without it. Though we have failed
in making impression on the obdurate
hearts of the young ladies of this place,
still we wish them we'll. They have
smoolhed the rugged path of school life.
Memory will finger ever around the city
of Cedars. We extend hearty health and
wish long life to the Alumni, and TO
each member Of the class a pretty wife,
who can make biscuits, calico dresses, and
has plenty of lucre. [Applsuse
SEVENTH TOAST. H
Our representative tonight: renowned
alike in the forum and the field, his Alma
Mater is proud ofso worthy Bon.
GEN BATE-Mr President and gentlemen
of the Alumni As the sentiment indics.es
other labor for me, it may be a breach of
military etiquette to become skirmisher
when have to bring up the rear tonight.
I NhapE for he