The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-04

the tlnrivalica 5IaTlot' the peti w w,
worlds best. in every sphere In Which ne
was cslcd to act; Jefferson, the authoraoi
the Declaration Of Independence, the iouno-
or Of this noble institution; MADISON, .he
cxpounder of the constitution; Maury, tine
PATHFINDER Of the great deep;' and not TO
mention a host of others, Lee. her second
Washington
He earnestly and pointedly raised the
Question as To whether our people are ap-
rrecating their high privileges. and said:
"Thp decline has been most signIiicanl
among rulers aud the ruled. Greater stress
is laid upon the grandeur Of our material
achievements than the loitinesS of our senti'
mcni, The former must crumble ana lauc
away in few years-thc latter should pe
Immortal, The public conscience is dead
Vic, stalks unrcbukcd into high places anu
low Virtue fails of her proper rewards
Convincing evidence of all this IS iounu
throljphout the entire country; II presents
itself at every turn. The truthful historian
viii record rs one of the most darnnlnS
facts AGAINST well regulated liberty in Ame-
vic, I'm, on the eve Of the centennial OF
,hrir ioflcpendcncc. the right OF petition
was spurnrd from the foot Of the clpltol: the
President, his Cabinet, and Congress turned
. deaf ear 10 the wall Of whole States; that
month after month was consumed Iii the
hslls of Congress discussing every phase OF
IN. money question, but time could not DC
spared TO listen 10 and right wrongs against
American frecmen's most cherished rights
wron-s Of their own creation; that the 20
yernment Of the United States con'csscu
Itself potent 10 impose and mpotrnt 10 re-
move burdens from the people. no that
has in his soul spark Of that fire, which
through your great Henry lit up continent,
can >,t .>tle-s by and behold such thlnS s!
Convince me that the verdict Of the rulers
quuinst Justice, rendered within the past few
wears. is the deliberate judgment Of a ma
otity Of American citizens, ana should ioli
up the scroll il despalr.'
He ouo,cd from DR.. BledSoe a vivid de-
Scriiion of the evils that arc upon the
country: admitted that the war had settled
the see, sSion question and abolished slavery
forever. but uttered an earnest warning
a.,;n>I the malerialiSt;c tendency OF the
fiu,.>, and the danger of repetition on this
continent OF all the horrors OF French Red
Krpublicaui>m. He urged that our children
hr taught The principles and the halowed
memories OF the earlier and purcr days OF
the Republic. and that wc seek by every
means TO remove the cancer that has eaten
into the vital, Of all parties in the couutry.
He ;rrrued that we need hUmoTcneltg ol
rrjpclrle far more than homOTcEclty OF IN
tcipst, and that Virginia has Il grand mission
TO perform III bringing the other States 10
This. lie concluded his address as follows.
Here Our reporter gives long extract,
which we are forced to omit
1T the close of the address, which was
frequently and loudly applaudcd, DR.. With
cr> poon announced the Semcentcnnlai ccIe-
bIution of the Society next year, and eX-
tended 10 ull q cordial invitation To be pre-
sent. He especially invited the ladies, whose
1.-THE forms and beautiful faces had added
such grace and charm to this occasion, for
he felt sure that if they would come our
Alumni would be certain to follow.
After the exercises in the hall were over
the Alumni met in the chapel and attended
TO various matters OF business.
\ copy OF Judge kcnuard's address was
solicited for publication, and Hon. John
G0odp was elected IN honorary member of
the Society.
The chair announced the following as the
" Central Committee" to prepare for the
Semi,c"ntennia celebration Colonel c. ;.
NcnHLlc. chairman Major !. II. Darlington,
Richmond: Professor NJ. Schec DeFcre.
University; Judge John l.. Cochran, Char
lotteSYiIc: Captain William III. SouthalI,
Charlottesville: ii. Clay Dallam, ESD, Bal.
timore; Captain ". Gordon McCabe, Peters
burg.
The election Of. orators and poet for the
Srlniccntennial celebration being called up,
Hon. james {. Southali, in addition to Mr.
Hunter. was put in nomination for the his
torical address. The ballot being taken, and
Dir. Hunter declared elected, the election
vas made unanimous with great heartine>s.
Gcucral John :. Preston, of South Caro-
lima. vas then elected orator, and Mr. Dan
ei L. Lucas, OF Jefferson county, poet, by
reclamation.
There was 4 long discussion Is TO whether
the delegates from local clubs should be al
lowed 10 vote the full strength Of their clubs
in the meetings Of the General Society.
There seemed to be general impression
tat some sUth privilege should BE- allowed
them, but it was finally decided to refer the
whole matter TO i committee TO mature ana
report some plan next year.
There was no dinner this year, a> it was
thought best to reserve the funds III hand
for II i1q dthNer at the Scmi-centenuial, but
an excellent lunch was served in the Wash
ington Society hail, and the Alumni had Op-
portumty for some very pleasant social it,
lcrcOurSr.
And thus has closed another - commence
mcut week " at the University.
NlATOR.