The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-06-12
From Our Special Reporter.
PRINCE EDWARD, June =,

,;,cs has drawn 10 it's close, leaving many
,,l,.s,nt memories in the minds OF those
Mo arc fortunate enough 10 he present.
rho weather continues 30 smile upon us,
sin preserving that happy medium OF
which spoke in my last letter. The num-
her in attendance is larger than was yes
tcrday. the fatcs seem rrop'tious, ana
.Anmovcs merry as "A lnxrragc-bcll."
The event Of the morning was the Grafton
before the Union and Philanthropic Lite
rary Societies ~ Hon. Thomas ;. bocock,
Of Virginia. An orator IS chosen annuaity
bv each Hall alternately. Last year the
Rev. DR.. Hoge, of your, city, ably repre-
>rutcd the Phips, and this gear the choice
-. the Unions has fallen on tie gentleman
above named. At IL A. VI. College church
was well flied, and the exercises commenced
with PRAYER BY the Rev. y. W. pltZcr, o
Washington. ID. 1.
I,r. Atkinson then introduced the orator
and for an hour Mr.. Bocock en"h aincd tho
"ttcntion of the audience with ms "nPNS o
rloaucncc and wisdom. His SUBJECT ht
PROSPECTS Of FrCh Government in Amcrl
ra"-w;.S handled VIII comprehensive abu
it, in that manner am Slyie Whlell l''
made him one Of Nirginias most favored
speakers.
Mr.. Bocock commenced by alluding tn th'
prriod of his graduation ut this college "
>rptCmbcr, 1871, and then briefly menlio!co
the prominent political movements witch
have occurred during the last thirty yen! >
terminating in the overthrow OF coisli't u
tintIlI -ovcruInent and the establishment Of
a military despotiSm in the South. Alter
dwelling for Il few moments on the present
condition of the country he discussed the
Question whether republican government
can be pcrpctuatcd Already in the North
Voices arc heard that repuhlicanism is dead,
and that an empire must be established.
We have some discouragenlcnts and some
cncouragcmcnts. In this countr7 we nave
no conScrvatism-n0 respect LOT the p,ss ;
but how can we expect TINS respect WIZ
orr rrlnrs arc so utterly corrupt! UnieSS
This corIuption can be arrested, there l. no
hone of rcpubiicanism. The great obstacle
in the wav OF reform is the condition OF poll
teal parties. One party, when III ONCE, us
regards constitutional restrictions, and esta-
hliShcS Il precedent which It's rival carries
10 Il still greater extent rs soon us IL mas the
power. Thus bad becomes worse ualll IL
hls become proyerblal that a fepuplF
rarely rises onthc ruins of Il republic.
But we are not without our encourage
mpnts also Some of the chief causes OF COR
Illption have ceased to operate. War has
viYeu way to peace, sweeping with 1t many
OF our sectional differences. The history OF
ENGLAND after the wars between CharlcS ana
Cromwell bids Us hope for bright future.
Aftcr the Restoration, corruption became
universal. soon the hour of reflection came
south Numbered from the pulpit, Somers
elevated the bar, Addison created taste
Tor Hterature--the demon was exercised,
and Liberty again resumed her sway. Our
institutions Of learning furnish second
cause of encouragement hundreds OF
Youths are being sent forth TO restore the
truth. Our old men cannot do it, for they
have been educated in other channels OF
thought. The old Virginia civilization must
pass away with that hospitality and chlVal-
rouS devotion to principle which have ever
hecn its distinguishing traits; it has been
struck with the blight of M evil eye, and it
is beyond our power to restore ii. But we
may still hope that another civilization may
arise not unlike the turmer-thc character
i~Iic of the first was sentiment, that OF the
new must be practicahility. Above all. Ill
our new civilization there must be stern
devotion to truth. Our temptations are
Greater than those of the past, and our
means Of resistance must also be greater.
Offices, instead Of being bestowed on the
deserving, are now offered rs rewards for
c!eserton of the truth and perjury. The
>anctity of IN oath, which is the foundation
al our Government and our liberties, must
hy upheld.
OGicc-holding is not necessary for the
support of tli, new civilization. \ brave,
honest man outside of office can do more
good than the whole host OF ottice-holdcrs.
rs al example Of the otficc-holder and prl~
Natc man. see JctlreyS and hlgcrnon sidney
from whom, with John Hampdcn, the col
ic.G takes It's nance. The first Was:ln o1ncer,
and * now cXccratcd wherever his name Is
known; the second was prisoner and Il
martyr and his name is now rcyercd Is
GOOD and noble man. Mr.. Bocock then
closed with an appeal TO the young men be-
fore him to battle for this new civilization,
IL assist in restoring Virginia to her former
prosperity, and to rescue the Union from
the suicidal hands of its false friends.
III the evening the two Societies held their
anniversary meetings in their respective
halls, to which none but members We're adj
mittcd. They are both in a tlourishing con-
ditOn. Great interest is taken i'll their pro-
ceedngS, and their libraries, numbering
some i've or six Thousand volumes, are
great addition to the college. \ few velo-
cipcdcs made their appearance on the cam
i,tls i'll the evening, showing by Their Skill
lul management that their owners were 10
novices in the gyrating art, and that stu
dents can become fast " even amidst the
retirement Of these "claSsic shades"
At night the church was again well hiled
hy Il large audience eager to witness the an
niycrsary celebration Of the Phllanthroplc
society. The meeting was presided over by
one OF the most promising young lawyers III
ih" Statc-Mr. William Berkeley, of Farm
Nlllc The opening prayer was made ny tne
Rev James Wharcy. After music, Mr.. w.
". Downcy, OF Jefferson county, West Va,
TOOL. the rostrum, and spoke on the " lnllli-
rncc OF Men of Thought" Mr. ID: spoke
well in Il loud, clear voice, but would nave
produced rather better effect If his speech
had been shorter. lie was followed by the
other Junior orator. Mr.. j. Il. Wilson, Jr.
Of Cumberland county, Va, who enllsht-
Cncd the audience about "Great Men,
The best speakers medal was then pre-
srntcd BY Mr.. j. G. Painter, of Pulaski
county, to Mr.. Joseph j. Price, OF Klch-
mond, who had been honored with this high
distinction by the vote Of his tellow-PhipS.
Mr. Price responded in a short and appro-
pirate address, and then gave way To the
Ialedictorian, Mr.. James u. Blanton, Of
Cumberland county, who III well-choSen
language spoke to his comrades that sad,
sd word farewell Diplomas were then
conferred on the graduates Of the Hall by
their chairman, Mr.. Berkeley, in Il very APP
propriate address, the burden Of which was
that work is the only road to distinction.
The exercises were varied throughout by
EXCELLENT music by KcSsnich's band. The
church was very neatly adorned for the oc
ca~lOu. III.
Tomorrow is the closing day of these cX-
rtriscs, and will be occupied by the gradu-
"llmg speeches Of the seniors and the cclc-
lTation Of the Union Society. Tonight the
clouds give evidence Of rain, but it is still
hoped that it will not interfere with our
continued enjoyment. SIDNEY.
Virginia IN poets Every Nam TO DO His
Duty. ~