The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-07
VIRGINIA NEWS.
LETTER FR0sa LEXINGTON.
Semi Annual Celebration Of the {. Din
Iccfic" Society, Virginia Military
EnstsfUsC.
Especial Correspondence of the Dispatch ]

LEXINGTON. ' A., fcb. =. 1871.
The spacious Mess Hall Of the Virginia
Military Institute was we'll filled tonight
with IN appreciative audience, who assem-
bed to do honor to the semi-annual cclc-
hration of the Dialcctic Society.
After waiting some time for the audience
TO notwithstanding which we had music
from the Virginia Military Institute band,
capDiNg from the boys. and several ANU
sing episodes which were "not down on
the bills" but were none the less enjoyed
the regular exercises were appropriately
announced by the President. Cadet Alex.
HAMILTON. of North Carolina. who in 'lrw
and fit words gracefully introduced * ora
tor Of the evening Cadet l.. {, Watkins. OF
Virginia. Mr.. Watkins Though appearing
for the first time in Il public spcech) has an
easy. graceful delivery, fine voice, and
many OF the points Of promising orator
He announced a. his theme, " The future
prospects Of the South
Briefly but wildly paintingth the condition
Of the country in the good old days before
the war, the means by which the South
was forced To take up arms, the heroic
struggle for freedom which she made, and
her treatment 10y the Federal Government
during the process of reconstruction.
$50 callrd.) he gave vivid picture of our
present condition argued that AL Is not
lost, took aflopeful view Of the future, and
made stirring appeal to the young men of
the South to come up to 1.-The duty of the
hour
He wildly sketchcd the character of the
men are need at this crisis Of our history,
cXhorted his comrades 70 prove themselves
such men. and paid a passing tribute 10 the
women Of the South, and cOncluueu clo-
quently.
MIR. Watkins took his seat amidst loud
| applause, and received the usual compli-
ment Of flowers and c.t.,ls from the fair
| auditors.
| The question announced for debate was:
"shouId the publication of lntidel works
he prohibited by law"
The first speaker on the affirmative was
MIR. ~. +. Pearson, Of Alabama. He
| Skctchcd the results of religious. compared
with lntidei puhlications-ma maintained that
the latter are dcmoralizing to the people
and the enemies of all stable government.
and that the very law Of self-preseryation
| demands their suppression. Mr.. j. S. Le-
care, Of South Carolina, followed on the
negative. he agreed in all that had been
said aS TO the pernicious tendency Of Inf
| del publications. but argued that less harm
would come by publishing and combating
them than by SURPRISING them by law.
The question would come up what is In
| tdcl: aud If the iaW-lnaking power once
enters this field men would be condemned
unhcard, and freedom Of thought and
of opinion would be forever abolished. lie
argued that to suppress these works by
| law would be TO admit that we cannot re-
| flute them, and that our religion is Il dream
that the true course is to allow their publ
cation, and then make our faith shine out
the clearer by meeting and conQucring
them. Mr.. II. VI. =. Morris. OF Virginia.
next spoke on the affirmative.
lie argued the vast superiority Of Chris
tian over !ntidcl works; that the latter not
only injure the cause Of Christianity, but
exert positively baleful influence on o.
ciety. ard that they should therefore he
suppressed by the strong arm Of tie law.
These several points were illustrated and
enforced with more than usual rtm.
Mr.. }. =. Arthur, of south Carolina.
closed the debate iii IN earnest, pointed
speech, in which he maintained that Iniidel
publications do comparatively little harm
when truth is left free to combat them, and
that the true way to suppress them is not
by lar, but b! the triumph OF truth in edu-
eating public opinion to. refuse to
read them. While we do not con-
slider the choice Of the question espe-
cialy happy (>ome more popular subject
would have been more appropriated we
were graiiii2d at the skill shown by all of
the yuung d>putants, and predict for them
success on wider fields OF debate. All OF
the speakers We're rewarded with cards.
floral offerings, *, by fair friends, and
one yOun" lady OF decidedly practical turn
I'VE doubt not that she will make IN elegant
houSekCcpcr for some nice fellow sent up
Il box OF French candies. which the young
orators seemed to enjoy hugely.
The music was good, and the whole affair
passed Oh very pleasantly, and prepared
US to give full credit to the worthy presi-
dent, who said, in concluding the cXer-
cisc> :" We have done our best to enter
tain YOU
If it were lawful TO make an adverse cri,i-
ci>m, we would respectfully suggest that
loud calling in the middle of speech
1" Third Ycticf, tu7m OUTFITS well calcu-
lated 10 emDarlasS young orator, and that
the omission or postponement ui the re9l-
lar tattoo and roll-Cail upon these ieS-
tive occasions would not seriously interfere
with military discipline, and would greatly
promote She comfort Of those interested.
Pie literary societies at the Virginia
Military Institute are in q most pros
porous and ilourlShlng condition. and we
may mention among other evidences OF this
that they propose 10 issue, 1st OF March,
monthly magazine entitled " The Cadet"
1t is designed TO be Il vehicle for the
thoughts OF TIE corps Of cadets but the
tucilr pens Of certain members III the Facul-
ty will contribute to It's pages, aud it Will
contain biographical sketches Of tue "FnI.
en- alumni" 81 the Virginia Military lnsli-
tutc, which will be at the same time OF deep
interest and OF great historic value. The
editors for the ensuing term are Cadets y.
Hamilton, G.. X. Camp, NJ. l.. Spott>wood,
and j. NJ. Jayne. We wish The Cadct i
long career Of prosperity and usefulness.
LEXINGTON.