The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-16
THE UNIVERSITY.
COMMENCEMENr
Reported Specially for the Standard

until the Bird of March last, and all the M
| pills in attendance had entered at -.
time, and consequently had not comn,otos
year at that institution, it was resolved ;.
hold commencement on the 10Th instant
and a meeting of the Board of Trustees w.'
accordingly called, to assemble at Cban.l
Hill on that day, to formally inaugurate
President Pool and take a personal survev
of the field before them. In pursuance &c
that call the Board of Trustees met at tho
University on Thursday morning last.
A special train conveyed passengers from
Raleigh to Durhams' carly Thursday morn.
ing, and returned next day. Among the
passengers were Gov. Holden, Judges Rod.
man, Dick and Settle of the Supreme Court
Judges Thomas and Watts of the Superior
Court, Hon. John T. Deweese, Gen. BrogdeO
| of Wayne, Col w. A. Moore of Chowan
and Senator Willie D. Jones of Wake. to
getheE with large number of ladies and
gentlemen. The cars, which were built at
the shops of the company, were in excellent
condition, and the train, under the direction
of Albert johnson, the gentlemanly SUPER
intendent of the load, passed rapidly en- The
smooth track to Durham's. From Durham,s
to Chapel Hill wagon road and horse
power supplies the place of the more rapia
and comfortable railroad and steam car Az
the commencement next year, railroad will
have superseded the stage coach. During tile
morning the weather was threatening. and
for some time after arriving at Chapel Hill
slight rain fell Notwithstanding the
rain, visitors from distance and crowd of
people from the surrounding country filled
the new chapel of the University when the
bell called the assembly.
The exercises were commenced with the
singing of "a hymn by the congregation and
prayer by Rev. F. P. Brewer, of the Faculty.
Rev. S. S. Ashley, Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction, delivered an address to the
Trustees of the University Mr.. Ashley took
the ground that the University was a neces-
sary part of the grand school system for the
education and elevation of the people; that
the common schools could not exist without
the University to educate their teachers;
and said that the people had adopted Con-
stitution, which they alone could alter, re,
quiring the organization of school system
of which the University should be part,
setting aside certain moneys, and such reve-
nues of the State as might be necessary to
the establishment of an irreducible school
fund, which should be appropriated for the
establishment in this State Of system of
free public schools and for no other purposes
or uses whatsoever; that the University
should be held to an inseparable connection
with the free public school system; and that
it was made mandatory upon the General
Assembly to provide that the benefits of the
University, as far as practicable, should be
extended to the youths of the State free of
expense for tuition. With these provisions
in the Constitution, the University must be
sustained, for the benefit Of the people. This
is but a brief outline of his arguments, which
were very forcibly expressed and listened to
with marked attention.
Rev. Solomon Pool, President of the Uni
versity, delivered an address on the subject
of youthful culture. Stating that the de-
sign of youthful culture was to improve the
moral, intellectual and physical powers, he
said that in the cultivation of the moral fac
ulties, sincerity and truthfulness, honesty
and integrity, 6rmness and moral courage,
united with magnanimity, formed an impor-
tant part. In intellectual culture there
should not be more acquisition of knowledge
than power to apply and use it. Habits
of correct and vigorous thought should be
cultivated as well as grace and elegance of
diction. Breadth and compass, originality
and independence of thought should be
early instilled into youth by giving short
lessons, which should be well learned, and
in the languages without the use of transla-
tions. A good physical constitution was
essential to long and successful study, and
neglect of this was an evil in many of our
colleges. To excess in eating, arising from
the emulation of boarding house keepers and
to idleness, might be traced many such
vices as the game of cards and the injurious
use of stimulants. The character, duties
and responsibilities of the teacher were
briefly set forth, and the speaker closed
with the great Importance of instiIling reli-
gious principles as safeguard of individual
character, and as conducive to the national
veal.
This is a brief and very imperfect outline
of the speakers positions. There was not
the least attempt at gaudy display, but it
was plain to every listener that the speaker
had given the subject of education deep at
tention, and came to the task with scholars
zeal. His points were concisely stated, his
diction chaste and elegant, and many who
came to criticise were forced to praise.
President Pool was followed by Governor
Holden, who spoke.as follows:
| Ladies and Gentlemen 1t is Just eighty
| years since the University of North Carolina
was established. During this long period
it has conferred great benefits on the State.
1t has sent out annually educated men, who
have spread knowledge and the love of let
tiers among the people, and who, with some
who had educated themselves, and others
who had been educated and trained in other
| States and countries, have contributed in a
very large degree to the formation of that
good character for our people and our State