Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-11-25
Address of Gen. Robt D. Lillev


the State Fair at Columbia S. c., on Thursday,
the 18th inst. The Edgefeld Sabre Club gave
successful tilt, displaying fine riding. An i'm
mense concourse of people assembled to see the
tilt. The judges stand was occupied by many
of the most distinguished gentlemen ofthe State
Just before the tilt, President Woodward an
nounced from the stand that Gen. Lilley would
deliver an address. President Woodward said :
Ladies and Gentlemen-While awaiting the
preparations for the Edgefeld Sabre CLUB tilt
you will be addressed by Gen. Lilley. of Virgin
la, in the interest Of the Washington and Lee
University. l can pass no higher eulogy' upon
the distinguished gentleman than to mention the
fact that he has in his possession autograph
letter from our noble chieftain, Gen. Robert E.
Lee recognizing his services as soldier, and
approaching his qualities as gentleman.
Gen Lilley spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen-It affords me pleasure
to meet you to-day, and thank you for the cor
dial greeting you have given me. l desire to
make my Acknowledgements to the president of
the fair for this opportunity of addressing you
and for the very complimentary manner in which
he has introduced me to you.
This is not the first time have visited your
State. In April, '6l / was in Yorkville and Co
lumbia, and arrived in Charleston just as the f.
ring on Fort Sumter ceased, and was there when
the fort surrendered. Well do [ remember the
impressions made upon my mind as passed
along the line of railway and witnessed your
gallant men moving, in organized bodies, to the
defence of your liberties. l have never seen a
more united people than the Carolinians were at
that time.
Last spring again visited your State, and saw
your people in their humiliation and distress. In
their poverty and affection, they refused to yield
to the allurements of wealth and position offered
them by the party in power, and stood firm in
their devotion to principle. Their conduct as
civilians commanded my profound admiration,
as their bearing soldiers upon the field of bat
tie during the war, had DONE
/ came last spring on mission in behalf of
Washington and Lee University, and was much
gratiied at the liberal response of your people to
the invitation to endow IN that university, a
chair to bear the name ofyour State. A number
OF your best citizens manifested great interest In
the scheme and the short time was in theState
more than $13, 600 were subscribed to the fund.
I am now here to complete the fund to $50, OOo,
the sum required for the permanent endowment
of each chair
A subscription of $3.50 entities the subscriber
to a certificate with four coupons attached, each
coupon emitting to tuition and other fees for one
session in any ofthe academic or scientific schools
of the university. The $3.50 in this way entit es
to what would otherwise cost $500 or more Five
hundred dollars entities to ten such coupons, and
81, coo to twenty-four coupons. Payments may
be made in instalments without interest, and ar
ranged to come lightly each year until such time
as it may be desired to use the tuition, when the
certificate of scholarship issued.
A subscription of any sum may be made an d
divided into instalments to suit the convenience
of the subscriber
A correct list of the subscriptions, with the
name and residence of each subscriber, is preserv
ed in the archives of the University, and where
a subscriber is Confederate his rank and COM
mand is also recorded.
The plan is to get chair endowed from each
State with $4,000 The Missourians have al
ready subscribed nearly 1000 for the chair Of
applied chemistry; the Kentuckians S25 QUO for
the chair of history and political economy; the
Louisianians $27 600 for the chair of modern Ian
guages the Texans S250O0 for the chair Of APP
piled mathematics; the Virginians $500 for
their chair and each of these States will complete
its endowment to S50, UOO
In addition to this, the Confederate soldiers and
their friends are raising fund for the endow-
ment of the presidential CHAR as MEMO RIAL
tribute to our noble CHIEF.
The university now has an endowment of $780,
O0O and an aggregate capital OF more than halt
a million dollars. Its finances have been manag
ed with such ability, that while the university
has been greatly expanded and its usefulness in
creased 1T IS free from debt. Its management
commands the entire confidence of the public
and the people of the South see that by uniting
upon it they can make it such university as will
meet most fully the wants of Southern youth
1t is attracting donations In large sums, the
late 4. FL. Bayly, of New Orleans, having be-
queathed it $50, 600 to endow chair to bear his
name and w. W. Corcoran, Esq of Washing
ton City, has given it $50, 900.
Although it is upon this solid basis, one mil
lion dollars are needed to carry out the plans of
its lamented president.
The proper education of Southern youths one
of the most important subjects that occupy the
attention of our people. Why is it that the
Southern States have ports without ships, water
power without machinery? Why is it that so
few of their mines of coal and iron ore are de-
veloped? 1t is owing largely to the fact that
S>,7t hnrr x1nrIfh nf q n
and practical education required for the develop
ment of these great interests of shipping, manu-
featuring and mining The mind power that is
wasted is worth more than all the water power
and minerals of which we hear so much, for what
are these worth without educated intelligence to
utilize them? Why should the South not man
ufacture? Why should she not build ships and
have her merchant princes, instead of depending
upon those at a distance
General Lee was a statesman as well as SOL
der anfgae saw that the only hope of our South
ern cos7xefy was to provide for the youth through
sh in the scientific and practical branches
of learning. He saw that there was nothing that
would contribute more to promote the material
prosperity of the South than men well instructed
in the application of mathematics and chemistry
civil engineers, mining engineers, practical
chemists mechanical engineers architects, ma
chinists, carpenters and master-Workmen of all
kinds-men capable of constructing lines of rail-
way, developing mines, erecting suitable build
ingssand constructing within them the most i'm
proved machinery, and of filling the positions of
superintendent, chemist machinist &c, requir-
ed in conducting successfully manufacturing
establishment. With these views. when he ac-
cepted the presidency of the university, he urg-
ed, in addition to the literary and professional
schools the establishment ofthe scientific schools
now in operation, and others to be added as soon
as the requisite funds shall be procured. He
gathered around him faculty composed of men
of high character and attainments; men worthy
to unite with him in moulding the character
principles and views of the young men Of the
South. Besides Professors White, Harris, N ell
son and Campbell, who were in the university
before the war and who have filled their positions
so acceptably, there have been added to the fac
ulty the president, eight professors four assist
ant professors and several tutors
Col. r. S. McCulloch, of the NJ cCormick chair
of natural philosophy, graduated at Princeton
College; was chemist in the United States Mint
then professor in Columbia College, New York
City, and while there was sent to Europe for tw O
years to visit the scientific schools and examine
the modes of instruction and the apparatus used.
He was chemist to the Confederate Government
during the war. and since that has been sent to
Europe by the university to examine improve
ments In apparatus and the modes of instruction,
and to make purchases for the different depart
ments of the university. He is regarded as one
of the most scientific men in the United States
Col. VIM. Allan master ofarts of the Unver-
sity of Virginia, and Gen. Stonewall jackson s
chief Of ordinance during the war, has made the
school of engineering quite a success, and there
before.
Gen. Gusts Lee, president, now has charge of
the school of engineering; he is greatly interest
ed in its development and is eminently qualified
to give instruction. He graduated first in all his
classes in the United States Military Academy,