Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-02
COMMENCEMENT SEASON.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA.

degrees Ccnfesred-Msettns Of the sscieu
Of che Aivmni-Address Of mr.. sssaTss
Correspondence Of W Richmond Dispatch.l
CHARLoTa EsvILLx, July l, 1885.
To-day the diplomas were delivered
and the degrees conferred. A large as
semblage witnessed the ceremony. A
list Of the titled graduates has been
sent the Dispatch.
After this followed the meeting OF the
Society Of the Alumni, Of which G. NJ.
Blackiord, ESQ.,, of Lynchburg, Va, is
president. There was large attend
ance Of alumni, among whom were the
Hon. Charles Dougherty, member OF
Congress from Florida; b. b. Minor,
formerly the editor Of the Southern Lite
rory Messenger and former president
Of the University Of Missouri; Major
Horace Jones, Professor Henry Farris,
Major Smith, W. r. Abbott, Esq,
Professor c. l.. c. Minor, Professor
.Alonzo Hill, Of Alabama, and Profess
sor Richard NJ. Smith. Of Randolph-Ma-
con, who has just returned from Eu-
rome. where ne crowned successful
course of study with the doctorate Of
philosophy.
Memorial minutes Of the alumni who
died during the past year were adopted.
The neurology Of lSS4-'S5 embraces
Professors S. o. Southall, Of Virginia;
j. Lawrence Smith, of Kentucky; j.
G. Ryals, Of Alabama; Colonel b. II.
Magruder and Boiling Haxall, Of Vir-
ginia.
The alumni orator, the Hon. G. Z.
Stuart, Of Alexandria, made an address
upon the subject, " Federal Aid to the
Free-School System Of the State" He
said that il was not true, as some would
argue, that the right Of the Central
Government to aid the State govern
ments in this matter "would imply
power in the Federal Government
TO absorb one OF the inherent
rights and duties of the States,
to interfere with sphere in which the
States are sovereign and in the end en-
able it to become the dispenser of all
education, thus virtually centralizing
the present confederation. Certainly
such is not the purpose Of this address,
nor is such conclusion warranted by
the subject as stated--that subject as
analysed by those who believe that
within their respective spheres each
government is sovereign, and its scope
and power are limited. The assistance
is to come from the Federal Govern
ment because the need is general, and
the taxes from which the fund is to be
derived is as foundless as the General
Government. 1t must be aid, not
maintenance or interference with the
rights snd duties Of the States-and aid
only, because the word implies velun-
tary assistance upon the one part, but
right TO reject that aid if hampered
with improper conditions, upon the
other part.
1T is TO be extended to the free
school systems because the educational
systems Of the States to be valuable
must be open to all, without money and
without price. But it is to be extended
to the free-school systems of the States,
not to general system. not to one
controlled by the Federal Government,
but one in accordance with the policy
Of each State, directed by its own
agents under laws formed by its own
Legislature, subject to but one condi-
tion-free education to all men without
regard to race.
THE gift is voluntary, and may year
by year be repudiated if encountered
by conditions infringing upon the rights
Of the States. The vaults Of the Fed
eral Treasury groan with their burden
of wealth. levied upon and collected
from all the people Of all the States by
virtue of the Constitution. Shall it be
retained in idleness or expended for the
benefit of the public, the perpetuation
of republican institutions, the educa-
ton Of the masses? For such a mea-
sure the times are ripe and the country
prepared. Said great orator, stand
ing here thirty-odd years ago: OPP
portunity, like another winged
stced, Perseus, comes bounding by;
miss it, and you may long sit helpless
by the wayside, but seize, mount, and
ride VIGOROUSLY, and the corridors Of
time shall long reecho to the clang of
your trampling hoofs, and the pages of
history CLEAN and glow with the pomp of
your predestined march, Shall we sit
helpless by the wayside? Duty to our
selves, the debt we owe to posterity,
forbid"
The alumni banquet followed, but
owing to DR.. Davis's severe illness there
were no toastS. QUIP.