Excerpt from Address, Delivered on Occasion of the Opening of the University of the State of Mississippi: In Behalf of the Board of Trustees, November 6, 1848

All things are now ready, and in the name of the State of Missis sippi, this day we dedicate these buildings and these beautiful groves to the cause of learning and science. How strange and how strik ing is the contrast of the present with the past! Twelve years ago, on the spot where stands this grand and tasteful temple of the god dess of wisdom, the, rank grass waved in its luxuriance before the breeze unharmed, save by the tread of the wild beast and the foot steps of the savage, in pursuit of his game. Unbroken stillness brooded over the hills and valleys. Here and there could be heard the scream of the panther and the more, fearful yell of the red man. Here the man was distinguished from the beast, only by his capacity to circumvent an d destroy him. All alike, were content and happywhen their thirst was'slaked and their appetite satisfied. Now as the star of empire is on its westward march, how changed! Here we raise an' alter to genius and learning, and on it we expect these to make sacrifices who feel and know the Superiority of the mind over the body, who prefer intellect to brute force, who appicciate the value of the immortal over the mortal man To this altar we invite worshippers from all classes and conditions m society. Would to Heaven every youth in the land'could command the time and the means to hang and hold on to its horns, until he could snatch there f1om a live coal and bear it th1ough the land to warm, elevate, refine and cheer the hearts and instruct the minds of our people; the one in pointing the way and making plain the paths which lead to the bl ful re calm of immortality; another, in expounding the law and ad ministering justice from the bench; another, in pleading the cause and defending the rights of the injured citizen at the bar; another, in examining the human system and extracting those essences f1om the vegetable Eband mineral kingdoms, w hich shall cool the burning fever and heal up all manner of diseases; another, in engaging in the use ful and henmable task of 1ea1ing the tender thought and teaching the young idea how to shoot; another, in the skilful cultivation of our generous soil, by which the largest yield of the useful plants is gathered ln return for the smallest amount of labor; another, by the applicationof science to the mechanic arts, so as to make the vely elements obedient to the behests of man, and thus contibute to the wealth and comfort of society.

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