Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-07-12
The Alumni Dinner, University of Va

The dinner of the Alumni of the Uuiver-
sity of Virginia, given on Thursday evening,
was one of the most brilliant occasions of tho
kind that has ever occurred in the annals of
that great institution. There was present
large assembly of some of the most distin-
guished aud gifted men of the country, among
them Governor Walker and Hon. George FL.
Pendleton-andt the exercises were interesting
in the highestdegre.
In response to a toast to ssthe Governor of
Virginia" Governor Walker made felicitous
speech. equte from the correspondence of
the Richmond Dispatch, as follows:
Governor Walker was received with loud
applause. He said that he had stood on this
same platform one year ago, and had then re-
ceived greeting which had ever made him
feel kindly to Charlottesville and the UDivers-
ity
He brought down the house by story of
an Irishman, who being uncomfortably pressed
abou; the place of his nativity exclaimed,
''And if a man is born in stable is he obliged
to be IL horse? ?" He could sympathise with
gentlemen who speak with exultant pride of
the Old Dominion as their birthplace. Had
he been born in Virginia he would feel so too.
But if he was not born in the old Common
wealth, he trusted that he was at least born a
man, and be pledged himself to do all in his
power to advance not only the material but
the educational interests of his adopted State.
He exhorted us to recognize the new or
der of things and seize hold of the situation
and use it for our own interests. Heretofore
in Virginia mental culture has far outrun her
material development. He sounselled the
A hofh To- q ham
keep pace the one with the other.
He alluded to his canvass and its grand re-
suits, and expressed the hope that the day
would be speeded on when all shackles should
be struck off from the citizens of Virginia.
He alluded to the great issues involved in
the coming Presidential election of 1872, and
the importance of having the right standard
bearer, and asked who he should be. Voices
in the company shouted out "Fendleton !'--
"George q. Pendleton (which was received
with loud appluse
Governor Walker proceeded to say that he
had not meant to call names, but that it might
really turn out that Ohio-the daughter Of
Virginia-would give to the Union in ~
President who would not forget his obligations
to the Old Mother. "Happy man and happy
State if this shall so turn ont" EDeafeDing
cheers.7 But he mad only intended to call at
tenton 10 these great issues ana ask tnat tney
be well pondered' And he wanted to hear
from kentucky and Ohio. and to know if they
would stand by their Old Mother in her eff
forts to rescue the Government from tie
malign influences which now pervade it aud
establish it once more on those broad fonn>
dations of constitutional liberty laid by the
fathers of the Republic.
Governor Walker was fequently interrupt
ted by loud applause and cheers, and at the con-
clusion of his remarks the company rose, and
gave with will "Three cheers for the Gov
ernor of Virginia"
next PRESIDENT George VDEP PepdIeton Of
Ohio; and our next Vice President, Gilbert
c. Walker, of Virginia"