The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-13
ROANOKE COLLEGE.
sALxM, Va, June IL, 1878.

attended by visitors at West Point
ROANOKE COLLEGE.
SALxM, Va, June IL, 1878.
At ten O'Clock A. NJ. to-day Professor 8.
G. Wells, P. II. D., Of tho faculty. de-
Iivered tho historical address before the gen.
eral reunion of Roanoke College students
He followed by Hon. John Paul, OF Virginia,
who spoke OF the imp rtance OF popuarizing higher
education and the great part already performed In
this work by Roanoke College.
In the afternoon Captain A. p Pifer OF South Caro-
lima delivered the reunion Grafton ..rhe Essen
to Success in Lie" He followed by William
Muncaster. who made a humorous address on sour
Inner Life"
GARRISON N. POTTER.
Tho oraion before the literary societies this evening
was delivered by Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, LII. D.,
and member OF Congress from Now York. Alter
euogstic words the ilustrious early history
and times OF Virginia, he said
think Northern visitor coming for the first timo
70 virginia Will also be surprised ut how little II
resembles the South rs part OF which We
class it. Tho agriculture, the productions, tho
the charming valleys, tho swift streams the bubbiing
springs here are all foreign to what we wont to
Decd the cmste oil Virginia Is more AKIN 10 the eli
mate OF England than is either tho climate OF New
southern States, with their extremes hea and as
the country was favored with productive SOIL ana
advantages.
naturally and readily TO settle here
Passing from review Of the early colonial times
the days OF tho Revolution 70 the consid ritou Of the
principles on which the fathers founded govern
mcnt, he said: -
the fathers held three cardinal principles OF gov
eminent. Upon these all their system, both Of State
ami federal authority, were based. The nrst
government should be limited against absolute
power. They had well learned that elderly consists
In the limitation Of government; !" that 'tne many,
though strong TO execute, arc often blind to
perceive" They therefore established both
ihoir state aud national governments by writ
ter constitutions, which were at once the
source, the measure ana The limit OF their
authority, and by tho distribution OF the powers
government into independent departments, and by
various details. they further provided Tor the fullest
preservation ol such Limitations. Their priu-
ciple was that the powers OF government should DO
localized SO that the men OF the LOCALITY should settle
OF tnclr principles WAS that there should tins
country no favored governing ciss, ana they tor
peiuation oil gr at estGio Now, although fathers
had come through long years OF suffering nnd
tho circumstances wnicn followed have iended 20
make their dcsce lose sight of Them. rho
hticai parties iuto winch the country was early di-
vdcd tended further 10 remove tho original princi-
PIES OF the fathers from notice.
Tue speaker then traced tue growth OF tho old par
ties the state rights question aud the spute ABOUT
slavery. On this head he said line discussion that
then grew up tended further to divert from any
consideration OF the original principles OF govern
mont; Tor II was IRON IT'S nature discussion, not
abont what government ought to tie, but
as to what, from the OF the compact between
the states we're The rights oil the States respect Of
the Territories and OF this domestic institution not
discussion Of The true principles oil government but
OF the construction OF the agreement ny which
this government was established. Tnis question pres
cnliy took precedence over all other Questons aud
compromise or settlement Of the difference xas
arrived at, II finally brought on war-a great civil
war-wpicn divided our people, Dung that war the
march o. armies set the save himself tree aud put
end forever 10 the questions out OF which the war
arose.
DANGER OF CORPORATIONS.
Meantime privileged class had gradually grown up
within the Statea Beginning with small associations,
tons had boon created and had been permitted tho
same interest 10 increase ana consolidate, until we
have come TO have class Of privileged AMI artaeiai
creatures more dangerous than any hereditary
tocracy, holding estates vasor than any noble hav-
ing continued existence, without moral personal
countaoity without conscience ana without possible
nduccmcnt to public good, having tor their best OBJ
ject the private good Of their corporatos often only
the wrongful gam oil their managers. To-Day some
OF these corporations virtually rulo The states winch
created them and exercise u controlling influence
In poiit,cs and business over thousands oil miles Of
territory. SO that when the broke out we had
already In some degree lost sight OF every one OF
the principles on which tne fathers founded tho
cover Its limitation, locazation aud tho pre-
vcntion oi privileged classes.
PRESENT DIFFICULTIES AND Evils
evils OF government What shall be the relations Of
government TO the industries OF tho couutry2 What
provision shall II make for education, what for want;
now Tar labor may DO furnished those wiling but un
able TO Ind employment; how far govern
,srosl ,mpro ~ u nov s'su wO snsu,s
else control the railways. teegrapns and
other greut common carriers; to what scrutiny II
should subject corporations; what the rig hts Of
capital aud what the duties vi capitalists what
are the rights OF labor ana iaDoring monY These
all questions which IN some degree AZ least arc
nkeiy TO have TO meet How these evils to Us
metz To do so mus abandon the prin.
cipes upon which fathers rounded
this government and hold that however good
u was Tor their day, they are suited for time
and condition. or may We vet nnd within their prncI.
pies the remedy Tor existing eviisY For myself, 1
think that IN just adaptation OF those principles 10
existing copdtions Will be found the required RENE
dic and that IL Is needless and idle look elsewhere
Tor them In the great Staies IT has been
found that abuses anu corruption In legislation
mainly the result ot private anu special
laws. Legislation by general law, which Affects
equally all the community, rarely affords
Tor private gam. But The Legislation winch lives TO
particular persons special privileges or monopolies-
whether IL be charters Tor ferries, railways or
banks; whether monopoiies to light streets, or TO
every torn Of legislation tor tho ono at
the expense OF tho wholc--sucu legislation
proves ricn la every inducement TO deception,
injustice aud evil And the only remedy which has
proved cnectuat to prevent this Is 10 be found IN
severely depriving the Legislature OF the power to
legislate Tor any CITIZEN IN preference to or
at the expense OF The whole. Year by wear
tue private and special Legislation by Congress
Increases. There have been over twelve thousand
session alone for some form OF special relief
What Is there 10 now prevent the establishment Of
courts to determine all claims against the govern.
ment except those addressed its special grace and
TO require judicial sscertainm tho facts in all
cases which are dependent upon special favor9 And
why should we not iDnibt Congress iron grant
ing favor or grace either at all Or according