New-York tribune., 1872-07-19
VIRGINIA.
AFFAIRS IN THE OLD DOMINION.


.itcment OF Commencement Week" at the virginia
Military Institute, and the Washington and Lee Uni
Versity" These two great institutions are ia very
hourshing condition. having had over 700 students com
ihg from all parts Of the country and making rapiu
strides every year in march Of Improvement Gen.
X T. Lee found Washington College, IN 1865, In
an almost homeless condition. The endowment
wac nearly all lost by the result OF the
war and the buildings, library, and apparatus had
been sacked by Hunters army. Even in its palmy days
the college had only three professors and some 60 10 10
students with an energy, perseverance. ability ard
tact which would have him reputation as a great
college president il he had never been heard OF
before the General went TO work, and lived see
Washington College expand until it had raiseo l's en-
dowment 60 $4,000 and had q instructors ana upWaru
Of 400 students His son. Gen Custs Lee, is the worthy
successor OF his father and the College NOW Washington
and Lee University has greatly proSpered under ms
administration.
purpr the past year the University received legacy
Of $4,000 from Mr.. Bailey OF New-Orleans, and MT
I1apder Mccormick OF Chicago determined 10 give an
observatory and telescope 10 cost at least S2OOOOO
and which Will be when completed one OF the most
perfect Of the kind in the world In 1864 Hunter
burned 20 ashes the buildings library, and
apparatus Of the Virginia Military Institute The pros
poets OF ever reyvng the Institution seemed at the close
O. the war dark indeed With buildings, no money
no credit and students. il seemed folly TO attempt
But Gen F. H. Smith, who has been Superintendent since
the first organization of the Institute in 1882 by ndomt-
library and apparatus 10 than their pristine gory
and gathered a corps OF twenty-fOUr instructors and
three hundred and seventyhve cadets, who come from
well nigh every part Of the country There was expended
the restoration the Of S2OOoOO Ihsye been struck
with the very large number of Of mark whom have
met here At the University commencement Gen q. W.
Custs the observed of all observers,his quiet
dignacd graceful bearing no less than his personal
appearance reminding one very stIlkngy OF ms
father
The chief event Of the University Commencement was
the address of the Rev. Dr. b. NJ Palmer OF NeWoe@hs
before the Literary Societies. Dr. Palmer is called the
abest man in the Presbyterian Church in the South
and his utterances carry with them great weight.
south Carolinian by birth and education, he entered
most heartily into the Confederate struggle ana
preached sermons and made addresses during the war
MAT were published and widely circulated through the
Southern armies and among the people In his address
ne other day on "The Present Crisis ana
~ Issues" he ably argued that no nation
long retains its place in history after sur
rendering the fundamental principles upon
winch its character been formed and that no people
can pass successfully through given crisis unless pos
sessng elasticity Of character enabling 1t to meet the
new issues it must encounter. He showed that we
should seek preserve the Union from drifting INTO cen
trazation and despOsm, ana On the other mana that
The people the South should cheerfully accept the
situation" and seek 10 adjust themselves TO the new
order Of things His whole discussion ably and elo-
,mently applied in solemn appeal 10 the young men OF
The south to preserve at hazard the ancestral
faiths Of the Republic and work out yet on this con-
tnent a free. constitutional, and popular Government.
Dr Palmer has fine delivery, and his address was
greeted with loud and repeated applause. 1 heard
him. IN private, avow himself in favor Of Greeley
aud Brown. Another soUtherner whom L met
il Commodore NJ F. Maury, who has won
an envlable scientific reputation in Europe.
The name of Maury naturally suggests that of his old
assistant Observatory Capt John NJ Brooke, who
Is also professor in the Institute He is one Of the most
mode retiring of men, but for all that the inventor
Of the deep sOundines the Brooke gum, and the
ron clad Merrmac," is no ordinary man. nut one VINO
oud make his mark anywhere. He is thorough sailor
and spends much Of bis leisure in rowing on the river
that flows near the town. have met here number OF
old politicians who have figured in the past, and whose
opinions may be Of interest just now have attended
meeting which was addressed by the Hon. John T. Bald
WIN Of staunton Capt Thos Whitehead of Amherst Coun
~ Il gallant Old Confederate soldier and a member
nf the Virginia Senate; Mai. John W. Daniel Of
Lynchburg. Earlys chief OF staff during the
war aud also member Of the Virginia Legislature, and
rx.Gov. John Letcher of Lexington Baldwin and
whitehead were old Henry Clay Wings and Daniel and
Letcher old Calhoun Democrats but they all met oD the
Cincinnati platform and avOwed themselves heartily in
favor Of Greeley and Brown. Mr. Baldwin gave an in
tereeting account Of his participation in the Fifth
Avenue Conference. He said that when invited TO 90
there by confidential CIRCULAR he determined to for
If there good to be done in strengthening the
opposition 10 Grant be wanted TO contribute his mite,
and the movement meant harm TO Greeley he wanted
10 know it. He fOnnd that the real object Of the
orignators of the Conference was not opposition to
Grant much opposition 10 Greeley. But somehow
Tho u,anaSers had missed their men, and there
was among the delegates from distance very
great unanimty in favor OF indorsing Greeley and
Brown AT Baltimore, and electing them by a
nous ne popular majority He said that he had replied
10 passionate appeal from Northern Democrat as to
how the Southern people could support their old enemy
whose record was all against their cherished principles
~Ohl that is very easily explained. The South will not
be Overmatched by Greeley in magnanimity. We VIII
grant him al amnesty and remove his disabilities. We
viii 20 on bond :" Mr.. Baldwin made a speech, III
which exborted his felOwcitizens TO for Greeley
and Brown, not grudgingly but heartily Mr.. Baldwin
u one the very abest in the state and will deal
ZONE telling blows in the Ex Gov. John
IAtcher line Democrat and man of the strongest
feelings and convictions, had been at first rather dis
posed 10 20 for straight-out nomination at Baltimore
but III speech the other day, IN response 10 resolu
tons of the meeting ndorsing him as candidate for
Congress he came out most emphatically for Greeley
and appealed the people 10 mmend him cordially
indorse him heartily, and vote for him unanimously.
He took very hopeful view OF the situation asserting
that the day was breaking; aud the time fast coming
when with change Of rulers aud all abolition OF the
proscrptive policy toward the South shall have and
reioioe in common country in reality well as in
name. Other politicians whom meet here such as the
Hon John Randolph Tucker-late Attorney General OF
Virginia now Professor Law ia Washington and Lee
University, aud Democrat Of the old Calhoun school
Gen s. Mcdowell Moore, OF the leaders Of the old
Clay Wings and others, themselves most heartily
for Greeley. We had, to-day, striking illustration
Of the change that has leading
men in the address OF the Hon. James p. Ho
coIbe before the Institute. For years before the
war Mr. Hocombe Professor Of Constitutional
and International Law at the University. and