The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-07-07

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.

public lDstltulOn. as well matCef OF Pceu-
liar personal enjoyment, have brought me
annually to .his head-centre of education
in our State. / cannot well resist the temp
tation to come; and, indeed, in this connec-
ton, have not felt inclined to offer the petit
ton, @lead us not into temptation" Among
! the items which determine the success OF
these Commencement occasions, is the at
tendance of visitors from different parts OF
the State. The presence of large audiences,
at such times is inspiring and encouraging
to students and teachers; and it is to be re-
GREETED that we see annually on the campus
but few of Mississippi's most gifted sons
Professional engagements, no doubt, inter-
fere in great measure. l am asked, espe-
cially, why it is that the capital of the State
is so shy in this respect. Her Harris, Yer
ger, Hooker, Johnston, Wharton, Anderson,
Withers, Potter, Shelton, and others, would
each receive a most cordial welcome, and
| the annual presence of such and other we'll
known citizens of the State would contrib
ute much to the popularizing of an institu-
ton that has already given Mississippi some
of her most gifted and polished sons.
| The local attendance is as large as usual,
and the exercises so far as l have witnessed
them are quite as interesting as those of late
| years. Still there is something that de-
presses-a sort OF indefinible apprehension Of
evil to the University, which seems to have
settled on the minds of all. The absence Of
the Annual Catalogue, and the absence from
the rostrum of all of the old Board of Trus-
tees, with three exceptions, together with
the changes recently made in the Board by
nomination of the Governor, have naturally
unsettled the public mind as to the future
of the University. The old Board of Trus-
tees are certainly continued in office until
their successors are duly qualified, and why
they have absented themselves is a matter
doubtless, best known to themselves, but
certainly bad in its effects on the Universi-
ty. prefer rather the pluck of Gov. Ben.
Humphreys, who held on to his trust until
he was forced out of it.
1t is to be regretted that noaction has, as
yet been taken by the Senate on the nomi-
nations for the new Board made by the
Governor about ten days since. l am in
formed that five of the Old Board are to be
retained, if this list is confirmed, to-wit:
Ex-Gov. Chas. Clarke. Gen. A. NJ. West,
Col. John Duncan, Judge r. A. Hill and
Col. T. f. B. Pegues; and that the new
names are Hon. c. w. Clark, of Washington
county, a member of the Legislature; Judge
Jason Niles, of Attala, Rev. DIR. Lyon, of
Columbus, DIR. T. d. Isom, of Oxford, and
Messrs. Simrall, Tarbell and Peyton of the
Supreme Court. This Board, as a whole it
must be conceded, is a good one; but it is
to be regretted that the partizan demands
of the hour should involve the removal of
such men as Walthall, VIM. Yerger, Judge
Howry, and others who have not only de-
voted their time but hard labor, in the cause
of the University. For one, however, am
disposed to hope that the new Board will
take no step that will jeopardize the inter-
ests of the University; and if they should
succeed in infusing increased life and ener-
gy into all its departments, by the addition
of new professorships, new apparatus and
the erection of some necessary buildings,
the improvement of the grounds, ETC., who
will not be willing to give them the plaudit, |
swell done, good and faithful servant
We shall see, and shall note accordingly.
The Commencement Sermon was preach |
ed on Sabbath morning in the University |
Chapel, by Rev. DIR. Lyon, of Columbus, /
who also preached at night in the Presbyte- |
rian Church. Both sermons are spoken Of
as eminently worthy of that distinguished |
divine.
Not being present on Monday, can only |
indicate the exercises as find them in the /
printed programme of the day. a very
neatly printed programme it is, by the way
but there seems to be no good reason why
the Sophomore, Phi Sigmas and Hermeans
should have such printing DONE annually.
in Memphis offices.
Monday is the day for Sophomore prize
Defamation. Twenty young orators, Sc
lected equally from the two Societies, con-
tested for the prizes. which consist of gold
medals, of first and second grade, appropri
ately engraved. The following is the list
of speakers and subjects:
Prisoner at Neutrality-suspicious. S. Collins
Memphis.
America--John w. Caldwell Sardis.
Death OF Lafayette-G George A. Searcy,
Tuscaloosa.
Lone Star of Texas-Thomas McNeal,
Caldwell County, Texas.
Mahmound the lis. S. Scales, Lowndes
County Miss.
Necessity of Education in Republic
Horatio +. Simrall, Woodville.
Our duties to the Republic-Charles ID.
Newman, Vicksburg.
Spartacus to the Roman Envoys-Ihom-
Is B. Garrett, DeSoto County.
Morris on the Judiciary-Sidney r. More
land, Homer, La.
Ruins of Time-Tederick Clark, Beulah.
Barbarity of National Hatreds-C. c.
Ewing, Aberdeen.
Shall our Laurels Wither-James c.
Clark, Attala county, Miss.
Pollok's Vision of Hell-W. L. Clapp,
Memphis.
Spartacus to the Roman Gladiators-Ma-
hew C. Harper, Jefferson county, Miss.
Reform in Parliament, by Erskine-John
L. Davidson, Homer, La.
Mississippi Contested election-William
. Gayden, Beulah, Miss.
Parrhasias-Robert X. Evens, Oxford.
Hiss.
Invective against Warren Hastings-Jerry !
Vitherspoon, Columbus, Miss.
Washington and Clay-G- Lyon, Okolono
Hiss.
These speeches were, Of course, inter-
persed with music, splendid brass and
trinp band from Memphis being employed I
or Commencement week.
On Monday night the Phi Sigma Society :
leld its annual meeting. Hon. J. J. Hooker,
# Holmes county, presided. III. c. Harper, {
# Jefferson county, delivered the Salutato- I
V address; z. A. Parker, of Holmes county
he Valedictory. and was responded to by