President Cravath, in a few well-chosen words, then introduced Senator Sherman. The students rose to their feet and stood in silence with eager, upturned faces, until the Senator began his address. His words were reported by one of the students, and were full of the kindest sentiment and the soundest practical wisdom. At the close of the address the Jubilee song, “Good News! The Chariot’s Coming,” was sung.
At the request of Senator Sherman, Gen. Grosvenor, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and now member of Congress, was introduced. He began by referring to the gallantry and bravery of the colored soldiers under his command, who made the desperate charge on the Confederate works on Overton Hill during the second day of the battle of Nashville, and to the conviction expressed then that the descendants of such brave, heroic men would under freedom prove themselves worthy citizens of the country their fathers fought to save from disruption. The General made an excellent point in favor of higher education by an illustration drawn from the war. He said: “When we called upon the colored men to become soldiers, we put the best Springfield rifles into their hands, for being under greater disadvantages than white soldiers, they needed the best possible weapons. So for your success as leaders and guides of your people under freedom, you need the best weapons, and so the advantages of a higher education are provided for you, and you should arm yourselves with the best discipline, for you must fight your battles under unusual difficulties.”
Gen. Wheeler, a prominent citizen of Nashville, who fought on the Confederate side, was next introduced, and spoke a few words of most cordial greeting and congratulation.
The Mayor then tendered thanks in behalf of the party for the cordial reception that had been extended by the University, and announced that the limit of their time had been reached, so that they must ask leave to retire. The whole party then visited Jubilee Hall, and thus completed the inspection of the University. A quotation from the report of an interview with Senator Sherman, as published in the New York _Herald_ and quoted in the Nashville _Daily American_ of the 3d of April, will best convey the impression produced upon the Senator by his visit: