Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-05
Speech from Mr.. Buch hansn-yi,itf f-om Cal.
lege Students-Advice 20 YounR Man

speech from Mr.. Buchanan-visit from COL
| iege stuoents-Advice to Young Men.
The students Of Franklin and Marshall Col.
| lege, Pennsyly anis, numbering about A hun.
| dred, paid Mr. Buchanan a congratulaterv
visit at Whestland few days since, Tbey
were received at his residence, and Mr. VIM.
b Duncan made a brief and felicitous con-
gratulatory address, TO which Mr.. Buchanan
replied at some length. The following sketch
| of his remarks is given by the Lancaster Rx.
press:
Nh. BUcHANAN's REPLY.
Mr.. Buchanan said, in reply, that he felt
greatly indebted to his young friends for their
VISIT. de had the assurance that, at least
their congratulations were sincere, as they
sprung from the warm hearts Of youth, which
had not yet had time 10 become corrupted and
hardened in the ways Of the world The bosom
OF youth was the abode of sincerity and truth,
ana IL was indeed pleasure and an honor 10
receive the warm out pourings Of their hearts.
he said he had always felt q great solicitude
Lor tne interests OF Franklin and Marshall
college; 1t was a noble institution and be was
proud TO be the President of its Board Of Di-
rectors He was extremely grati6ed to learn
tnat IL mad fair prospects, not only Of q large
number OF students, but Of great usefulness.
LIZ was gratifying to see 90 large q number Of
worthy young men already enrolled on its list
| OF students. He referred to their responsible
| generation had passed away, and been gath.
| cred to their fathers, on them, the young men
of to-day, would rest the responsibility of
forming and administering the future govern
ment Of the country ana Of preserving intact
cur glorious Union and Constitution
There was not, he said, young man among
them, however humble his position, who might
not aspire with an honorable ambition, To 6I
the highest office within the gift Of the peopIe.
but in order to attain to positions 81 honor AMI
usefulL ess and distinction, they must remem-
Der that every thing depends upon themselves
Ihey must carve out their own future from
the opportunities of the present Kind parents
and friends have afforded them rare opportu-
| mites Of acquiring that knowledge whicn con.
stitutes power If they neglecs or abuse these
opportunities-if they idle away the golden
hours allotted for the improvement Of the
mind-f they are not obedient to their pro-
fossors In all that relates to the good interest
aud success Of the Irstitution-.hen, thew
might be assured, they would have cause 4,
repent Of their folly through long hours of
bitter sorrow in after life-fOr they could never
| retrieve the pas.
Mr.. Bnchanah> said he had been n Collage
boy himself, and none Of the best Of oovs
either, being fond Of fun like themselves.
There were many little eccentricities in the
| lie OF a College student that might be mar
doned or overlooked; but there was one habit
which, If formed at College or iu early youth,
would cling to them in after life and bliebs
the fairest prospects. He referred 70 the use
OF intoxicating liquors, and declared it would
be better for that youth who contracted an
appetite for strong drink that he were dead
or had never been born; for when he saw a
young man entering upon such a career, a
fondness OF liquor becoming with him gov.
| eTnlng passion, be could see nothing befnra
him but a life Of sorrow and q dishonored
grave in his old age. Many lads, he was
aware, considered this practice mark OF
| smartness, but he regarded it as an offence
that cannot be pardoned, especially in a atm.
dent at College; and be concluded this earn
est appeal by expressing the hope and belief
| that none OF the young men Of Franklin and
Marshall were addicted to thi, dangerous
practice.
The speaker then alluded 10 the course and
habits OF study necessary to insure success in
q stuoents hfe' Many young men prided
themselves IN running over a great many
oooks and gaining superficial knowledge If
many branches of science This was of no
! practical use. he would urge them TO learn
| Thoroughly all they undertook 10 learn to
acquire knowledge distiuctly-and then they
would be able to use it to some practical ai.
vantage In after life. They should apply
themselves with diligence to their allotted
studies by day, reflect at night upsn What
they had thus acquired, and appropriate il a.
their best capital with which to engage in the
struggle Of life. He had met with msny mem
OF prominence who had looked at the indexes
OF great many books, and had a general
snattering of knowledge, but it was all sur
faee work, and Of no practical use He hoped
Hls young friends here present would avoid
failing into this error.
Mr. Buchanan remarked that his election
mad been alluded to, and he might be expect
ed 10 say something on that point He had
been elected to the high and responsible Office
| ot PRESIDENT, and he thanked them most sin.
cerely Tor their congratulations but whether
! the event would prove To be a matter of con.
graduation time alone could determine
| without saying which party was right or
which was wrong, the fears of the 9" Father of
! his Country lad at last been realized. and
| We now behold sectional p3rty-uns portion
OF cur Union arrayed in political hostility
| against the other. The O5Jeef Of his admin
FGt'oH aco"t@ be 20 destroy any SsctiORak
| Yayty-NOrfh or Southland karynsnts, aIl
SsettOHs Of The Union aatdeT q national and
| coHSsJVatIsc government, as az scas fftv
/ ySGTS ago. Unless this be done, the time uay
come when these sectional animosities which
now unhappily exist may break up the fairest
and most perfect form Of government the sun
ever shone upon. But be trusted that the
same Power which had watched over and pre-
| served Us in the past will continue 10 smile
l
and happy people.
In conclusion, he said that il he could ia
any degree be the honored Instrument of al i.
| laying this sectional excitement and restoring
the Government TO the principles and policy
| Of the fathers, he would then feel that he had
not assumed the arduous duties Of the ofise
| in vain.
At the conclusion Of Mr. Buchanan's TO
marks, of which we have given but rapid
outline, shis guests retired, each one receiving
cordial shake of the hand. After they al
| re formed in the order OF procession, three
cheers were proposed and given for the PresI-
dent of the Board Of franklin and Marshall
| College and the President eject Of the United
| States.
L-Y9 Franklin had a capital method Of de-
| ciding difficult questions be took a sheet Of
paper, ruled line down the middle in red
] InE and than anterad eithar sida tha ALL.