The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-28

Won t3se Es5a 90 ss
sct0af am0dk e had been, bJ ms OWE re-
.qacs e1ca.sga frasr PRIZE
.9rasior, eoniesfpd Oh Me stadaats NiS prsls1fs
est aratfpH 20 Tire Fssait WAS siaa dsifvsrsd
py 1zEsJ, Lewis, B, i :. M TruRessee Seiectir9
is his theme Affairs of sacrifice, he mada an exee
lent drysa, In which he drew yfsid contrast f-
tween me altafs Of, mems own erection and those
oil. fl,e true God General Lee next confsEreti the
degrees on usoee who fad won them. This cxerrise
was greeted Win 1ond applause, ana many OF he
graduates received as they returned TO their seate,
boiqnets and cards, which they seemed 10 prize eyen
more highly than their diplomas The honorary
appointments were next announced aiid the prize
medals conferred. The yaledIctory address was
thou delivered by MIR 8. H Chester, OF Arkansas.
who feeiingly alluded to the parting hoar and
earnestly and appropriately spoke OF the duties
and responsibilities Of the young men Of the South,
and babe farewell 10 the citizens Of Lexington, The
ladies, the preses,ors, his feilowssudenss, and his
fetiow-graduates. SIr. Chcsterh address Was well
conceived. happily expressed, and well delivered;
Of the very best We have ever heard
He took hts seat amid loud applause. The band
played very sweetly Goodbye" and so far as the
young men were concerned the exercises weTeover,
but yse now had the event OF the commencement In
the address Of Rev. DR.. B. N. Palmer,of New Or
leans. - - 5
rare trent was anticipated in the address Of Rev
Dr. b. ri. Palmer, of New Orleans. wlto, since the
death OF Rev. DIR. Thnrnwell stands nj the head Of
the Presbyterian ministry in the South. Selecting
as his theme sThe Present CRISIS and its Issues.
Inc opened with the statement that epochs are the
landmarks dividing the provinces IN the domain Of
history Their critical nature was shown as pcriodsof
transition, and the question raised how people COM
Ing to the end Of cycle may safely tide over the bar
and rench the deeper sess room lylng beyond. Upon
this point two cauos were brought TO Bear-the FIRST
that nation long retains its place IN history after
surrendcring the fundamental principles upon which
It's character has been formed the second, that no
Unless possessing eiasticisy of character enabling
t, meet the new Issues 1t must encounter These ca
mons were amply illustrated by well-chosen exam-
piles In the past :: ant their special applica.
ton to oar own country and age formed the
pody of tie address Under the first the danger was
shown OF silent hut certain snbvcrsion OF the Co
was founded TO 20 iy default. The eauses were emu
nerated which tend 10 centralize the power 1t was
the object OF our fathers to dffuse This was fol;
lowed by u clear statement OF the original
sented chiefly in Mr.. Jetfersons own Ian
nfs must depend The fsr9ent prayer was
uttered that the institutions of our fathers might be
thcr principles might survive as necessary to the
life OF liberty itself Under the second canon the
distinguished orator presented the problems which
Immediately cOnfrnnt the people OF tho South
showing what we should eudcavor to retain from
the past. and whit we should cheerfully surrender
nrSL problem IS OF rtStNCt tO
he deliberately and ably discussed the Indispensable
necessity OF preserving Its purity without commH-
turc. -, .'.sta-
rne second point illustrated the Importance OF
personal devotion to labor distinguished from te
mere observation-disclosures Of IL rs wrought Dy otuRIs;
The third point was earnest prntesi hc
debasing utititaranisn that measures nj! lnilEs Wy
a muteraI standard, and on Insisting ta! we siioud
cnrry into this labor I'LL the gentlehaniy nstlncts
which have hitherto characterized our people.
Tho fourth insisted upon the preservation OF that
,p,liviilualty of character which hls always distin
ruished the South, and without which there Is
longer the possibility Of virtue.
The fifth and Last point w;is the absolute necessity
for n patriotism born of adversely and trial. more
pure and intense than that Of the prosperous past.
The whole discussion WIS then ably and eloqnently
applied In 4 solemn appeal to the young men Of the
south to preserve at every hazard the ancestral
faiths of the republic, and To work out yet on ts
continent free, constitutional, and popular Gov
eminent.
The above outfi,.o e.-s--.os. very fmrrrecr idea
Of the address. which WAS characterized by that
freshness of thought, beauty of diction and rich
ness of illustration SO characteristic OF DR.. Palmer
We only regret that your crowded columns Viii not
allow copious extracts from the address.
DE-. Palmer has 4 clear, ringing voice. He tie
ycrcd his address with but little reference TO bis
manuscript, and made q profound Impression on
the audience, who applauded to the echo, espe-
cIaIIy his closing appeal to the young men. The
audience was dismissed with the bcnedeton by Rev.
A. II. Barron, of Lexington.