Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-14
The President and Party at Chapel HILL
speech of Governor Swafn-Re plies of
President johnson and Secretary Seward,
Postmaster General Randall and Gem
eraI Sickles.

CHAPEL HILL, June 5-Noon.
The President and party arrived here this after
| noon and were welcomed by Gov Swain, Presi-
| dent of the University, who IN the course of his
remarks, said that in the republic of letters there
| should be no parties, and paid high compliment
to the honesty, integrity and administrative abil-
| ity of the Executive
| President Johnson returned thanks for this
manifestation Of friendship, not only from the Fac
ulty and Scholars of the University, but the large
| concourse of friends here present. He would be
false to the State Of his BIRTH he to say this
| demonstration not peculiarly gratifying to
| him.
| No matter what advantages might be conferred
by institutions Of learning and kind friends a man
| to succeed must rely upon himself-upon his own
energies. He rejecting while walking along
| the road, and conversing with Cavalryman, that
| forty-one years ago he walked over this came
| ground alone, and, LIE was going to say, almost
| penniless with scarcely money enough to pay his
| expenses, although he could not boast, as many
who now heard him, of learning and although he
left his native State for crime but to seek his
fortune elsewhere, he could say in all the warmth
of his heart, that he was still proud of old North
Carolina, and loved her still. In returning among
his friends, he claimed no honor, but an earnest
effort to perform his duty. His object had been
to sustain the institution of free government He
had laid down fundamental tenet, that MERIT
alone, in the broad sense of the term should con-
stifute the distinction in society, and that when
undertake to perform our duty we should have a
good conscience. He had always made the public
good his aim and the Constitution of the country
his guide. He was for sustaining the Constitu-
ton made by our fathers, and cemented by their
blood, in it's integrity. When we depart from the
Constitution our institutions will relatively suffer;
the government which has no power to enforce the
laws fails in its great object, and public rights arc
all at sea.
He trusted one of the leading studies Of this
University should be the principles of the Consti-
tuition and free government. He loved his coun-
try, and regarded the Constitution as the Palla-
dunn of our safety and our liberty; and by it, in
the future as in the past, he intended to stand
Our principles Of government were, if properly
understood, sufficiently expansive to embrace not
only all the States Of this Union, but the entire
civilized world. He had been invited to Chapel
Hill, and would tomorrow be proud to witness the
University Commencement.
In conclusion, the President encouraged the
pupils of the institute who we're here attentive
listeners, to works of usefulness, reminding them
that the paths to honor open to all.
The PRESIDENT frequently interrupted by
applause, and an instrumental band performed
several patriotic airs.
Gov. Swain, the President of the University, in
a few appropriate remarks, called out Mr.. Secre-
tary SEWARD, who made short but patriotic
speech, exhorting his hearers to forget the disa-
greeable events of the past and lend all their ener
gies to consolidate the public good. at the present
time there was an eclipse passing over our con-
stelation, and hiding from view the Southern
limb. do not believe, with the savage, that an
eclipse can obliterate The Constellation It is the
principle of American people to extend our Con-
steation not fearing that some Of the stars may
drop from heaven-give me and us your Southern
support and when we come to Chapel Hill again
we will show you our Constellation is not only
complete, but embraces the stars of the Southern
Cross. The Secretary was repeatedly interrupted
by applause.
Postmaster General RANDALL made few re-
marks in response to call, saying, among other
things, he could not assent to the correctness of
the remark of the President of the University
that the President of the United States returned
to his native State like the prodigal son. The
President never was prodigal from his fathers
estate. (Laughter.) The State gave him nothing
and his father was poor. He went out almost
penness. and came back with plenty and loaded
with distinction. The propelling spirit, stopping
at nothing where duty calls, led him to his present
position.
General Sickles, after the applause and music
had ceased, was introduced He said he had no
responsibility in the enactment of the measures
which he, as Commander in the Carolinas, was
now carrying out. 1t was pleasing duty to bear
testimony in the presence of his Chief, as he had
elsewhere, that in the difficult, and, as he might
say, arduous duties he had to discharge, he had
had the aid and encouragement, and had been
sustained by the opinion, countenarce and coop
Grafton of a vast majority of the citizens of the
Carolinas; and, be could add, no people Of whom
he had read, and among whom he hadlived, could
bear themselves with more honor dignity and or
der than they had exhibited under the peculiar
circumstances.
The ceremony of the reception here closed. The
Commencement exercises at the University take
place tomorrow.
From Rale1gh-Speech of Chief Justice
RALEIGH, June 6.
At the opening of the United States Circuit
Court this morning, in the State Senate Gambler, a
large number of distinguished members of the
bar were present. Before proceeding to business
Chief Justice Chase made the following remarks:
Practitioners, Gentlemen of the bar, before pro-
ceeding to the regular business think it proper