Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-05
VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT ELECT BY THE
\ STUDENTS Or FRANKLIN AND MAR
SHALL COLLEGE.
From the Lancaster pa } Express, Dec. IL

From tho lancaster pa Express, Dec. J.
On Friday last the students of Franklin and Mar
shall College, numbering over one hundred, accOs,-
panied by the President and faculty, and the Fenci
bl:s brass band, paid their respect IL Mr.. buchanan at
Whentland. The occasion WAS one of no ordinary III.
f"rest, tor we believe il is the fret time in the history Of
our country that the President of the Board at any col
l~ge was visited by IL students 10 congratulate him on
his election to the highest office within the gift of
q tree people. 10 Franklin aud Marshall College WIS
reserved the IGNORED distinction UI being the first 10
have the President of its Board OF Trustees selected rs
the President of the republic; and We trust that II will
not he the last mark of high distinction which the
people will confer upon that noble institution, Of
which the citizens OF our county ana State may well
be proud.
This whit WAS kuggr-icd and arranged among the
students tbem-eives, who with common cnr..ut Ind
aside all party preferences and pr'Jud,ces, aud uuite!
in the movement By q unanimous vote. HE aPpro.
bstion OF the President and Faculty OF the College
WA. sought and obtained only after Il visit had been
AGREED uuuiI. Aud there was a peculiar propriety
m il. Mr.. Buchanan has been the President oi The
Bonrd of Trustees Of the College since their trst or
ganization in January, 1888. and has always iel' a
deep interest in its prosperity, and taken an actlVe
mari in its affairs whrlo at home, besides heading The
let of donations subscribed for the erection OF the
new ediice with u very liberal contribution. IL was
therefore, Very ua,urol and proper that the students
should feel a desire 10 tender their congratulations 10
the President Of their Board on his elevation 10 the
Presidency of the American republic.
The faculty and Students marched IN PROCESSION
from ,h. college ut three o'clock, preceded By the
band. On arriving ut Wheatlaud, they were invited
into the general reception room. Mr.. buchanan cor
dially received them, one after another, H. they en-
tersi. They were then formally introduced by Nv.
r.. Y. Gerhart, President of the College, who briefly
stated the object OF the VISIT.
Mr.. WILLIAM A. DUNCAN n. Cash'o''n, fennsyl'
wanna, delivered the cungratulRiory address.
MIR. BUCHANAN'S REPLY.
Mr.. BUCHANAN said, in reply, that he te!t greatly
indebted TO hs young friends for their visit. lie had
the assurance that, ut leu.t, their congratulations
were sincere, as they sprung from the warm hcafts o'
youth. which had not yet had time 10 become cor
rupted and hardened in the ways Of the word. In"
l,.nm of youtil was The abode Of sincerity and truth,
and il was indeed a pleasure and an honor I" receive
the warm outponrin2- OF Their hearts: no sHln ne
had always tel; q great s0lGriiude for the Interest,". ~
franklin and Marshall College; il was 4 noble iDstitu.
,ion. and n. wa. proud TO he the President OF IT'S
Board Of Directors. He was extremely grain q 10
learn it had fair prospects, not only OF q large num-
Der of students, but of great usefulness. IL was gra'
tifying to see 50 large a number oi worthy Y'unS men
a,reaHy enrolled on it. lists OF students h. referred
10 their responsibility, reminding them thar when 'he
present generation had passed away, ana been ga
thrred IN their fathers, IN them, the young NEIL ui To-
day, would rest the responsibility of forming AMI al
ministering the future government ut The country ana
of pre..rvnv intact our glorious Union ana cuhstitu'
tinn. There vas not, he said, a young man among
them, however humble hs position, who might mol
| aspire, with an honorable ambition, {" nj ihu highest
Office witnlnr Ne gut q u tn6 pcuple, "a IVA 49,
attain 10 positions OF honor and Usefulness ana as
,ipction, they must remember that everything q.
ponds upon themselves. They must carve OUT tneir
future from the opportunities Of the present. h'nd
parents aud friends have afforded them rare opportu
mites of acquiring that knowledge which constitutes
power. II they neglect or abuse These opportunities
If they idle away the golden hours allotted Tor 'he
Improvement OF mind If they are not ooedie'it 10
their professors, in all that relates I" the roo' 'n'er-
-, and success of the institution then, they might
be assured. they would have cause to repent ot ti-'r
folly through long hours of sorrow ~ H!ttr i'e' '"'
they cruid never retrieve the past. MI buihahan
said be had been n college boy h'rn'"!i, ana none "'
the best hnys. either, being fond OF iun!. IKE theHh-
saves, rn,r- were many little .cce"tr C ties IN n
lii. of n college student that might b. p'ri.''ed or
overlooked; hut there Was one habit WHICH :''m'"
Al, college or in early youth, would DING !" ih"ih
through after life and blight The i"ir-st prospects. lie
| referred 10 the use of Intoxicating qrnr-, M drcin'ed
il wnu,d be better for that youth who CONTRACTED All HP'
petite for strong driak, that he were dead "r ma never
been born; tor when he saw q young inali entering
upon such Il career, n fondnes' OF liqh"r a-ro'h'"e
with him q governing passion, he rouln see NJ
thing before him but II iif- If sorrow and II dl-h"nored
grave in his old age. Many lads, he was aware con
sidrred this practice a mark at sina'tnrss, but Ne re-
pardsd il as an offence that cannot be pardnhed,
especially in a student at college; and he c"nciun"a
This earnest appeal by expressing the hope anu belief
thai non. Of the Young m-n OF Franklin and Marshall
were addicted TO this dangerous practice. Inc
speaker then alluded TO the course and HABITS OF s,u'y
n,.c.s.ery 10 ensure success in a students life. Many
Young men pride themselves IN running over a ereh!
NAV books and gaining a superficial kho"i'uSe VI
many branches of science. This was oil no prac''cai
use. lie would urge them 10 learn Thoroughly all
they undertook to Learnt TO acquire knowledge DIS
| .inct!y-nnd then they would be able TO use II 70 some
practicable advantage in after life. They should apply
themselves with d~llgence to their allotted studies ey
day, reflect a, night upon what they hal thus acquir'
I'd, aud appropriate il ss their best capital win whlch
to engage in the struggles of life. lie had met with
many men of prominence who had looked at The III
dexes of a great many books, and had u general snat.
teriug Of knowledge, but it was all surface work, and
Of no practical use. He hoped his young friends here
present would avoid falling into this error. MIR. Buc
hanan remarked that his election had been alluded 10,
and lie might be expected TO say something ON that
point. lie had been elected tn the high and
responsible Office of President, and hs thanked
them most sincerely for their congratulations;
but whether ths, event would prove 10 be a mat
ter OF coagratulGtion time alone eau determine. With
ont saying winch party WIS right or which wcs wrong,
the fears of The father OF hi, Country had at lasI
been realized, and wo now behold q sectional party
one portion OF our Union errayed in polltica! hosti!'
ity against the o;her. The object of his administra'
ton trovk be 10 destroy any sectional party-North
or Sovkh-dnd hdrmoni-s ali sections of The onion
uadtr Il national ana conservative gorernment, az Il
ras PJIy years. CGlese this be done the time may
come when these sectional animosities which now IN
happily exist, may break up the fairest and mos; per
feet form of government the sun ever shone upon
But he trusted that The same power which had watch
/ ad oyar md nroapryed ia in tha mat. will continue 10