The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-06-17

Washington City. His subject was
"The Condition, Progress and Prospects
of Christian Civilization" Dr.. New
man is well known as Que OF the most
eloquent speakers in the country and
the theme afforded a fine opportunity
for the display OF his splendid powers
On Wednesday evening q public
meeting of the West Virginia Historical
Society was held in the Methodist
Church and an exceedingly interesting
and valuable paper on the early history
of Monongalia county was read by
Senator w. T. Wiley. 1t has not
been generally known Of late that as
at frat organized, the county OF Monon-
gala, or Mouongahely as it was then
styled, embraced nearly if not quite
half of all that is now the State OF West
Virginia. Itwas organized in l7S3 and
embraced all that territory that is now
in the counties of Harrison, Marion,
Taylor, Upshur, Tucker, Randolph,
Preston, Lewis, Doddridge, Webster
Richie, Writ, Wood, Tyler, Roane,
Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Jackson,
Gilmer, Peasants, Cabell, Wayne and
Lincoln, in West Virginia, besides two
thirds of the county OF Greene, about
one-third of Fayette and a portion oi
Washington county, Pennsylvania
The county seat OF this immense terri
tory was located at Morgantown, where
the District Court for the Western Dis
trict OF Virginia was held for long
time. Senator Wiley has devoted a
great deal of care and research to the
matter and submitted, with his paper,
maps and other documents Of great
value in connection with the early his
tory of this portion of the border:
They will be preserved and published
by the Historical Society which, by the
way, has now collected sufficient mat
ters OF interest to form a handsome
volume and has resolved to have 1t pub
lished during the present summer,
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
The Commencement exercises proper
were held in the Chapel OF the Unlver'
sity on Thursday in the forenoon. Al
nine o'clock the hall was filled by the
audience and, after music by the Nor.
gantown brass band and the reading oil
the Scriptures and prayer by the Pres
ident of the Faculty. the two young men
who constituted the graduating class
delivered their orations. The first was
Mr.. o. II. Ollie, son of Judge Ollie
Of Morgantown. His subject was "Ihe
Spirit OF the Age" and, barring little
natural embarrassment that was appa
rent in his manner, he acquitted HIM
self with much credit. He will proba
bly devote himself to the study anC
practice flaw. The other graduate wa:
| Mr.. VIM. f. Jolliff, of White Day
Monongalia county, whose theme was
"The Progress OF Mind The oratior
was a very good one Of its kind, and
was concluded by a valedictory to the
school. | have not learned what art
Mr.. Jollif7s intentions for the future.
After these orations had been heard
the degrees conferred and diplomas de
livered to the graduates, by DR.. Martin
a very interesting and we'll written ad
dress was read by Professor j. b: Sol
omon, who had just been elected ant
installed as Professor of English Liter
ature and Principal Of the Preparation.
Department of the University. Th'
address was exceedingly well read ant
was characterized by earnest thought
1t was sort Of protest against th'
purely Unitarian tendencies Of the ag
and a plea for the combination OF TIT
beautiful and the aesthetic with tn
useful in life. twas a kind Of inaugn
raj address and thoroughly evinced tn
talent and high culture ofits author.
DINNER, ToAsTs AND SPEECHES.
After the conclusion OF the publi
exercises, the audience dispersed abou
the building and grounds and foun'
much to admire in the completeness ant
convenience of the one and the natura
beauty OF the other. AT one oclocl
the Board of Regents and number o
invited guests were summoned to dinner
in the dining room OF the boarding.
house connected with the University
, and enjoyed a splendid repast Docto
+ T. II. Logan, as President Of the Boar
: OF Regents, presided at the feast, and a
it's conclusion, stated that the Regent
felt highly gratified at the condition
and prospects of the University Ii
efficiency and success was matter 70
sincere congratulation, and on hehalf
the Regents, he thanked the Presiden
and Faculty and citizens Of Morgantow
and all concerned in the welfare OF tn
school, for their efforts in its behal
He thought its prospects were most Ell
couraging and that it gave promise
great usefulness to the State and tn
country at large he alluded TO tn
:. fact that two years ago the corner ston
of the University building was laid b
: Governor of The State, and that W
,, were now 'honored by the presence {
Governor Jacob, and concluded by prt
posing, as a toast, His Excellency, tn
E Governor Of West Virginia
Governor Jacob responded N an al
= propriate speech Of about five minute
duration. He said that it was custom
AIRY sometimes upon convivial occahor
: to use a beverage somewhat warm'
:. than water, but although the water wa
cold his heart was warmly dispose
toward the University. He had nj
!, had the honor of laying the found'
l ton stone, but hoped to have som
thing 10 do with rearing the superstru
ture; not OF bricks and mortar. for ii
elegant and imposing building Of Ii
, University showed that that had alread
been done Handsomely and well; bt
> the superstructure OF a great education'
E institution that should bless and ador
the State. He trusted that this migl
become an Institution OF which all Il
... Iool ,,oud nj vladrad