The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-13

| -'a' HAMPTON, VA, June u.
It has been raining since midnight, inter.
| fering much with arrangements and c6nten.
plated pleasures Of the closing exercises OF
Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute
to-day. About fifty visitors from the North
were present, among whom were Rev. H,
lW. Bellows, D. D., Of New York ); Rev. r,
D. Hitchcock, D. D., Of the Union Theologi.
cal Seminary, of New York; Rev. II. NJ.
Taylor, of the Tabernacle church, New
York; Rev. William Ives Buddington, Brook.
Ign; Rev. C. Robinson, Memorial Presby.
terian church, New York; Rev. B. G..
Nortirop, superintendent of Public. Schools
of Connecticut; Miss Mary Carpenter, Eng
lish philanthropist, who has devoted her life
to prison reform; Roswell T. Smith, OF
Scribner s. Co., New York; Rev. T.. K.
Fessenden, New Haven /; DR.. Coan, Of the
New York Independent; Hon. II. N. Dog
gett, Massachusetts,; q. c. Sheafer, Ecening
Bulletin, Philadelphia; George Dixon and
wife, England, member of the Society OF
Friends, and superintendent OF funds raised
by that denomination in England to educate
people In the South. T.. 80 l'..
There are in the Institute two hundred
and thirteen pupils under instruction, one
third of whom are females, and fifteen
teachers. There are twenty graduates this
session. ..1
The whole forenoon until II o'clock was
taken up with examinations of classes and
closing exercises, consisting Of addresses,
essays, Rotations, singing, &c. These ex-
ercises were very creditable to pupils and
teachers.
Rev. George u. Whipple, president of the
Board of Trustees, after Introductory re-
marks delivered the diplomas to the gradu-
ating class. ...
Rev. DR.. Taylor, of Tabernacle church,
New York, commended the pupils for their
proficiency, and earnestly exhorted the
graduates to make good character for them
selves.
General S. G.. Armstrong, principal of the
Institute, gratefully acknowledged the ser.
vices and courtesies of his neighbors, the
former masters of the pupils, and introduced
Colonel Thomas Tabb, of Hampton, who
expressed himself highly grati6ed at the ex-
hibition which he had this day witnessed
The people of Virginia wished all her chill.
iren educated, of all colors. He wished
them to read the history of slavery for them
selves, and they would then see that it was
not by accident they had been in slavery for
two hundred years. 1t was the design Of
Providence, to accomplish some great good
for the race, and in his good time to liberate
them. ... . BE-.
Rev. DR.. Bellows, Of New York, said this
was his first visit here, and the scenes which
his eyes had witnessed and ears drunk in
had filed his heart with thanksgiving. The
time was coming when in the bright rain
bow of science all colors of men should be
represented. Be faithful to your oppertu-
mites, and your greatness will come.
DR.. William II. Ruffner said this instruc-
ton was supplying two prime wants Of Viz
noting their material, particularly their agri-
cultural, prosperity. 1t is educating teaoh-
ers, which are greatly needed for our public
schools. He felt glad to say that this school
was an honor to the State, aud is what it
pretends to be, an educational institution.
The real idea of Russia and China is that every
one ought to be taught to make his living in
two ways, by head-work and hanl-work.
This is what this institution does. The
fund given by Congress in many States has
been perverted, but he could testify that no
act Of the Virginia Legislature met more
universal favor than the one which bestowed
part of the land-scrip on this college. VI-
ginia entered honestly into the work of
educating all her children, and means to keep
at it. He who says otherwise speaks in
ignorance, or from worse motive, but it is
beyond her present ability to do it as it
should be done. The Federal Government
is under the highest obligations 20 aid the
southern States in educating the freedmen.
1t is hoped that the friends of education will
aid in securing grants from Congress next
winter for this purpose. This school has a
great future before it. 1t has been properly
begun, and only needs to be supported in
future as in the past to make it a great leader
among all the schools OH this continent in
educating colored persons. 49,.
Rev. DR.. Buddington, of New York, al
luding to the remarks Of Mr.. Tabb, was
glad to hear the proposition of distinguished
gentlemen Of Virginia offering to clasp
hands over the bloody chasm and educate
and protect these. colored people. We pro.
mise that from our affairs and our homes
there shall come streams which shall aid
them in doing this great work. Some now
before him were to, begin q work which
should redeem Africa, the land Of their
forefathers, and put her in her proper place
in the procession of the age.
Rev. George F. Adams, of Hampton, said
that as all who had spoken had been either
northern or southern men, he should speak
as one who occupied position of between
ity. Born in Massachusetts,, reared In Ohio,
he had literally become civilized in Virginia.
He said this institution was solving the ques-
ton which had perplexed the minds of phi |
lanthropists and philosophers two hundred
years that Is, can the negro be civilized ?
He thought they could be, but it might take
o century to decide the problem. He intro
duced Illustrations to show that the minds
of negroes may be improved. His advice to
the colored people about to 60 out from the
Institute was srIcb as does honor to him and |