Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-17
HONORARY APPOINTMENTS.


=. q. French scholarship, :. J.. Moon, OF
Virginia: Hamilton Law scholr-hip, w.
4. Armstrong, OF Teas; Howard Hous.
ton fellowship, II. \. White, u. y. oi
West NUginil.
Prize Medals; Robinson Medal OF An
cicnt and Modern Languages, b. /. Slcdd;
Robinson Medal of Philosophy and Litera-
iurc. i. '. McCaIl, Of Texas; Robinson
Medal Of Mathematics and Science, h.
T. Washburn, OF LOUISIANA.
saniinl Trizr, l.. l.. Campbell. Of Nir-
cinja; Cincinnati Grafton, j. '. Mccall, OF
Texas.
Mr.. J. V. Mccall. Of Tcx1s, delivered
the class valcd.ctory. which was an address
ont Of the usual routine OF such addresses.
well written and admirably spoken.
Upon the conclusion Of Mr.. McCalfs
speech. Hon. John Randolph Tucker hap
pily ana gracefully introduced Colonel \.
X. McCmcr, OF Philadelphia, who adj
dressed Tie literary societies.
COLONEL N'CLUGE's ADDRESS.
Colonel McCmre's theme was the Les
son Of Our Civil War" and 1t was handled
in a mastery manner. He began by deny
ing that tie war was the creation OF the
extremists OF both sections. They aldcdand
fastened the conflict, he said. Just a the
drit-wood OF the Tesi,liess current adds 10
lis momentum. They were only the white
cqDS OF the Often-anglY Suriace-WaYt5 which
bctOkcncd the restless, unfaihOmablc deep.
They were seen and heard by all, while the
profound unrest that flung them up to play
fantastic parts was unnOtcd and unapprC-
ciated. II was reprOlch to American H.
tplligpncc and herOisIn, be cOnicnded, 70
assume that mere sectional agi:atOr> could
lead the most peaCC-loVing, the most Guilt
waited and the most prosperous people 81
the earth into the blOOdicst war OF modern
history. There were rational causes arising
| from sincerest conviction, which became
too great for adjustment by sta'"Smanshlp,
and war came because OF irrec0ncllahltd dis.
putc on problems which dehed solution by
| The methods OF peace.
OWN It StaItle you,' he asked, "tO be
| told that tine germ OF discOrd that ripened
| into civil war aitertwO generations had nour-
| ished il was planned by the two most IL
| lustrious men Of our history They were
! George Washington and Thomas Jefferson,
| men who made the grandest records Of
| ursulhed patriotism, Of lOiticst heToism, OF
| wisest statesmanship. They differed widely,
radically, as 10 the true theory OF popular
! government Washington believed in q
strong centralized government. Jefferson
| believed in the supreme power OF the peO-
| pie; and the conflict between the elder
| Adams and Jefferson surpassed even the in
! tense partisan asperlties OF the present
| time"
He also denied that slavery was the cause
of The conflict. You are often told, he
| said, "that slavery was the issue that
plunged the North and the South into FRA
| ternal conflict. Slavery was not the source
! Of the war. Its interest, happened to be
most intimately interviewer with the fun
! damental dispute that cstrangcd the two
| sections; but the slavery issue never could
! have assumed disturbing proportions had
| the founders of the republic clearly decided
the supreme question OF the scope Of our
nationality. IL was the broader and deeper
| issue Of the constitutional power Of state
and nation that dcicd peaceable adjust
ment. For three quarters OF a century the
! question had been asked, Are we 4 nation
| or a confederation at will? and il had been
| answered with equal ability, integrity, and
! Patriotism, and in nearly equal numbers
! affirming cach.'
Colonel Mcclure then proceeded 10 argue
nj length that that question had TO be
settled. Both sides OF the question were
| clearly stated; the various compromises
! touched on " Butin 1861 said the speaker,
..in vain did sincere men plead for compro-
mise; the sturdy conviction and intensified
purpose Of the most intelligent and earnest
people OF the world made 1t impoS-
sible. We point to uuwise acts on both
sides, and th0ughtessly charge them with
precipitating war, but over and above all
The folies OF sectional disturbance were the
wisest and brayest men Of both sections,
who saw and accepted the inevitable, while
ceaselessly but hOpelessly STRIVING ~ avert
it,
"The sovereignty Of the state then sum-
mOned its last prerOgatye--tO sever the
Union and end the pretense Of nationality.
Pcaceable diSmembcrment or civil war;
such was the only choice presented, and
| civil war was inevitable. DO yOu inquire
why il was inevitable Let me answer In
a single sentence: | am sure that peacea-
BILE disunion would have brought anarchy
10 the North; believe that sooner or later,
and soon at the latest, II would have brought
anarchy to the whole continent.
"The issue that finally confronted the
country was whether State or nation was
sovereign, and Knocked every arbitrameut
but the sword.'
The speaker clearly defined Mr.. Lin
coins attitude in respect OF slavery, claim
ing that he respected the rights Of the
south touching that institution, and that
his emancipation proclamation was mill
tary and diplomatic necessity. Upon passing
to the lessons OF the var Colonel Mcclure
said:
"But peace came to the warriors OF the
blue and the gray; while disturbers who
are sometimes invincible IN peace, and
usually invisible in war, for a full decade
desolated the South and denied tranquility
to all. The soldiers Of both sections, who
had made American herOism the most lus
trous Of history, obeyed the command fol
peace; and, from warrior to citizen-frOm
the hoarse music OF Shotted guns 10 all the
various channels OF commerce, industry
and trade-a million and a half Of herOe.
settled down Ia dignity common citizen.
ship. In no land but ours would such
peace have been possible, and ours Is the
only country in the world whefs the sol.
ders Of civil war have been ths bulwark
OF safety for law and order IN every com
munity. When Johnston and Bucknel
stood with Sherman and Sheridan at tbs
grave Of Grant. as pall-bearers, they re.
Elected the grander herOism OF peace that
only the soldiery oisAmerica could Dor.
tray.
"lt would be sad, indeed, il the lesson OF
our civil war ended with the story Of sacri
flee, sorrow, and desolation, even with the
silver lining OF the heroism OF our peopl,
In battle and IN peace; but the lesson doe.
not thus end. The present Is full OF pro
mise; the future OF our great people Is thu
brightest OF all the peoples OF the earth
and. but for the hitherto matchess pro
gress OF my own generation, / would visit
to lag even supertluous on the stage Of &C
ton. 10 witness aud BIO an unnoted part o.
the grander advancement that must weav,
the chaplets for the g:eat actors Of you
generation.
GAS we turn back 10 Washington and
jefferson and 10 Jackson and Clay as ex
emplars OF American character aud achieve
ment, so will the people who come after u
turn 10 the two foremost exemplars OF op
posing greatness In our civil war. On,
name will leap up from the love OF every
northern heart-one name will be lisped IN
tenderest affection by every onand daugh'
ter Of the South; they are indissolubly
linked with the greatness that Is above
envy and bate. They met In mighty