The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-03
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THB pIspATon.]

Medal, &C., &c.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THB DIsPATCH.]
LEXINGTON. July 1.-The Virginia Mill
ary Institute commencement opens to- |
night, with the celebration of the Cadets
society, and the address before the two So
ceties by Hon. W. Porcher Miles, late of
South Carolina, now of Nelson county, Va.
Mr.. Miles was.chsirman Of the Committee |
on MilitaryAffa in the Confederate Con-
gress, and man of high reputation. lie |
begun his address by raising questions
which young men about to 60 out to the ]
struggling arena of the world arc expected
to ask, "What do I propose to do
"What is the desire of my heart"? GLOW
can l best efrectuate that desire"f And |
insisted that upon the proper answer to |
these questions depends, in largo measure, !
their success or failure, happiness or mis-
cry, honor or shame.
He argued that the young man should be
largely Influenced in choosing his profess
sion by natural aptitude and inclination
that he should not enter any profession I'M
less his heart and soul is in it but what
ever the choice Of profession, the question
remains, What Is the young mans desire?
What is the goal at which he aims3 lie
stated the objects of men to be most fire.
quently sensual pleasures, wealth, reputa-
ton, glory. and power. He then took up and
discussed each one of these, showing that
sensual pleasure can never bring true hap
piness, and that the pursuit of wealth.
though legitimate to certain extent, is not
true basis Of happiness. He had 10 SYM
pathy with those who invejghed against
wealth; but 1t is lamentably true that,
while we have here and there Peabody or
Corcoran, men OF wealth do not, as rule,
use their means so as to bring happiness
either to themselves or to others-that
wealth has certain concomitants which are
| not calculated to make one happy. He
quoted the classic proverb: "He is rich
who is satisfied, and be who is always
grasping is always poor"
He then considered the pursuit of repu-
tation in various professions; showed the
| shame to which men resort in order to at
tain it and that it will not bring happiae>s
when attained. He next passed to consider
power and glory as means of happiness,
aud showed by well-chosen historic exam.
plies that true happiness is not to be found
in the path of glory. lie would not assume
tho office Of the preacher, and argue that
all earthly things are emptiness, but he
would urge i'll one word the means Of ob-
tanning the greatest happiness in this life
duty. He eloquently and ably argued that
1t was their stern sense Of duty that ec.
waited Washington and Wellington above
Napoleon and Marlborough, and that this
was the browning glory. 1t was the true
source of happiness Of our own Jackson
and Lee.
He quoted Jackson as writing to him
when chairman Of tue Military Committee
Of the Confederate Congress: Merit should
be the only basis for promotion. A true
patriot will not desire an office for which
he is incompetent, and mono but true pa
triots should have office. Officers should
be ready to ignore every idea Of personal
ease and comfort, and to place our cause
above every earthly consideration. He
vividly showed how jackson himself acted
on this principle, and how it brought him
JOY, peace, and happiness. He pictured
Lee as making duty the guide of his life,
his polar star through the dark days OF war :,
and in his more glorious achievements OF
peace, and held up his example for imita-
lion. He next ably and eloquently urged
that duty should be discharged for its own
sake, and not simply for its rewards, and
that the young man could desire no proud
er epitaph than Here lies one who always
did his duty"
He eloquently appealed to the young men
present to seek to do their whole duty, and
concluded as follows:
"When at the close of the great battle
of life you retire from the contest, whether
Us victor or yanquished, whether the cause
be lost or won, may you sheathe your
sword as Lee sheathed his at hppomattoX-
its brightness undimmed by a breath Of dis
honor, its lustre untarnished by one un-
knlghtly stroke" I.
[sEcoND DIsPATOH.]
LEXINGTON, Va, July 1.-The mess-room
was fttediupas an audience room and taste
fully hung with evergreens. The V. M. I.
Band made very sweet music, and there
was the usual chit-chat until Cadet VIM.
l.. SpotsWood, of Va, "President." greeted
the audience to the thirty-first valedictory
celebration.of the Cadets Society, and an.
nounced as the recipient OF the medal GAS
best Orator and Debater," Cadet G. r.
Camp, of Ga. MIR. Spotswood i'll brief and
appropriate words presented the medal.
Mr.. Camp deplored his inability co express
his thanks, spoke of the bright memories
which in future years this prize would re-
call, and touchingly and earnestly babe his
society and comrades farewell. AS he took
his seat he was loudly applauded, and had
bouquets and cards showered upon him by
the ladies.
The President then presented " gratis
diploma " to MIR. W. Ell. Mite hell, of Va, as
having been the most useful member OF
the society during the year. mir. Mitchell
gratefully accepted the honor, which he
would cherish as one Of the brightest of his
life, and spoke few yaledictory words to
his society. ..sl
The orator of the society, Mr.. R. B. Ma
thews, Of Louisiana, announced as his
theme "The Genius and influence OF
Woman" lie illustrated his subject by