The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-01
Special telegram Ia the Dispatch.

tor for nert ycar-AlunaW Dinner, dc.
Special telegram Ia the Dispatch.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA..
June 80, 1870.
The procession Of gradual eS, Faculty OF
the University, Board of Visitors, Alumni,
and distinguished visitors, moved into the
hall at the appointed hour, and the eNer-
ciscS of the Public Day were introduced
with prayer by Rev. j. 5. Lindsay, former
chaplain of the University, i'll the absence
of Rev. George b. Taylor, who was kept
away by sickness.
DR.. Maupin gave clear statement OF the
system of instruction ut the University,
the examinations, standard of graduation.
&C., and proceeded to deliver in order the
certificates of proficiency and diplomas. In
presenting the Courtney Medal, awarded
to Thomas A. Seldom, of Fredericksburg.
for original solutions of special mathemati-
cal problems, DR.. Maupin expressed the
hope that he would prove worthy OF the
honorcd name he bore. In presenting the
Miller Scholarship to John w. {. Davis, OF
Wcstmorcland county, Va, DR.. Maupln
expressed the confident expectation that he
would yindicate the wisdom of the Board
in establishing the scholarship.
During the delivery of the diplomas Hon.
George ii. Pendleton was escorted on the
stand by DR.. Schelc DeE ere. and was greeted
with loud applause as he shook hands with
Governor Walker.
After the delivery of the diplomas, DR..
Maupin made brief and exceedingly ap-
propriatc address to the graduates.
Governor Walker, being vociferouSly
called for, came forward and said that he
protested against being sandwlched In when
his nam" was not on the programme. lie
said came here not to talk but to witness
the commencement of our noble University
which we al should feel the deepest inte-
rest in, and which we all should earnestly
labor to build up. He earnestly eNhorted
the young men before him TO carry oct the
lessons here learned, and to discharge heir
duty to themselves, their God, and Their
country to be men-honeSt men. lie con-
cluded bv saving that rs the thermometer
was at $50, and he had already melted OH
ten pounds. he must be excused from say
ing more.
Governo. Walker was frequently inter
rupted with applause, aud was loudly
cheered as he took his seat.
We now had IN intermission Of an hour,
during which the ice-crcam vendors drove q
brisk trade.
Att O'Clock the Alumni escorted into the
hall the orator of the day, Governor John
w. Stevenson, of Kentucky. Hon. John
Randolph Tucker, in Introducing the ora
tor, expressed the great pleasure he had III
presenting son OF Virginia, the son OF an
old rector of the University, now the NON
ored Executive OF Kentucky, the daughter
of Virginia.
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR STEVENSON.
MIR. President and Brethren of the Alum
nil feel honored indeed III standing be-
r.. md
shadows of this venerable University, to
perform the services which your kind par
tiality has assigned NJ in the interesting
exercises of this day. feel that am but
the last in long line of Nirginia's sons who
have stood for successive years within these
halls to awaken cherished memories of the
past and to unite by burning words and
brilliant deeds and noble lives in the tu-
turc. | congratulate myself that the
success of this meeting will little de-
bend upon any poor utterance of mine,
but that the occasion Itself Will prove
its own and most effective orator. L
came to-day as no stranger TO TINS spot,
whose feet idly tread tor the hrst time these
sacred classic precincts. This Is my Alma
Mater. Virginia's fair land holds the dust
of the dead who are dearest to me. Inc
names on the register Of this great seat
Of learning are the names which have
been to me the guides, the teachers,
and the eXemplars, of a lifetime. L come,
then. at YOUR bidding to-day to renew,
after wears of long and heightened separa,.
tion. nv allegiance to this sole mother ana
to deepen and freshen the feryent love bear
NV dear old native State. We all come this
morning to lay at her feet whatever dlstlnc-
ton we have acquired. whatever allrels we
have won, whatever treasures we nave ac-
cl,mulated, as offerings of tilial love for early
blessings and privileges poured out upon
us at these shrines. we Int our voices
and unite our prayers this day for
renewed and multiplied blessings Sr,' on
this cherished old University. What
throncing. touching, memories are evoked
Nv Tetinion like this Memory bridges
over the chasm between the present and
the past. We face our youth again, ana
bathe anew in its morning freshneSs-stout-
~ refusing, however, to ask the shadow TO
turn back in the dial or to bewall the night
of wears rs the death of generous leehnS.
How many thoughts are stirred within us
as the occurrences of the day carry us back
over longer or shorter period OF time TO
our college hours within these walls how
many sorrows, disappointments. ana lall-
ures, have, in after-lite, blishted the sunhy
and unclouded remains OF our Joyous
youth When, to-day, the 1amliiar iorihs
of beloved colJegiates, of cherished friends,
Of revcred professors, who then cheered us
but now are passed away, but whose tv viz,
tues come like sweet incense from
the spirit-land to mellow and refine the
earthly communion Of their fellows, Icon.
fess am deeply touched with the aspect all
things seem to wear around me. The de-
cade just closed has been the most marked
and eventful since the fathers fell asleep.
That mighty storm of civil war which, like
u tornado, swept over it, has left memorials
of its greatness and sad traces of its bloody
track. What stern sacrifices have been
made, what trials endured, what heroism
displayed, what deathless fame won, what
lofty characters developed, what names
placed aloft, like stars in the armament
never to be eclipsed, you need not L shou l1
tell you. Nor need / remind you of the
new era in the nations life which has fol
lowed that mighty conflict. True, tht
1nchanged-the swift-tiowing rivers glide
on unchapged-the blue mountains LII
their peerless heads In grandeur towar var,