The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-07
Interview Of the Georgetown Cadets will
the Presidens.

Interview Of the Georgetown Cadets with
the Presidens.
The cadets of Georgetown College called upon
the president on the LIST, at the White House, and
we're received by his excellency in the east room
of the mansion, where they went through the
manual of arms and showed much skill and pro.
fciency in the knowledge Of rudimentary tactics.
There were good many spectators at the recep-
ton. The following address was presented to the
president by Capt. Sheridan, Of the cadets:
Mr.. ,President-As the representative of the
Georgetown College cadets, l have the honor Of
addressing you on their behalf, and expressing the
high regard that they have ever entertained for
your exoellency. We have long desired an OPP
toward our venerable Alma Mater. and The irte-
rest you have always taken in her welfare.
During the past few years We have all witnessed
the many eminent virtues you have displayed,
both in your private and your official capacity.
and now, on the eve Of your retiring from the
nigh Office you have SO ably filed, we feel assured
that YOU can review your past course with the
proud satisfaction of having discharged your duties
faithfully and honorably. In conclusion, Mr.
President We thank you for your kindness in re.
ceiving Us to-day, and we trust that in the ne W
and humber sphere of life you are about to enter
you may ever enjoy that peace and constant sat
jsfactisn whichis the reward of life usefully and
honorsbly spent in the service Of our country.
Tho president In reply said:
thank you for this visit and for the kind and
courteous address you have presented me. You
are young and intelligent, and starting out to
begia the struggle OF life. At this particular
juneiure l may be pardoned if make some re.
marks, TO which / invite your consideration, as
being Of that character and importance you will
sooner or later learn to appreciate. In a short
time the care of the Constitution and all that con-
Germs the government, lbs administration and
laws, pass into your hands. 1t must then be
incumbent on your part to prepare yourselves
seriously for this high and sacred duty, and to
do SO 1t is above all things essential TO place
your thoughts upon the right basis. As you
have deemed ii proper 10 allude to my public
career IL will not be amiss If l make some alluson
here to the fundamental tenets that laid down
for myself in yielding strict adherence to the
Consultation OF my country, and to that Constitu
tion invite your attention on this occasion 1t is
important IN taking charge OF this government
that you should draw marked distinction be-
tween its organic and its statute law. Bear ever
in mind that il was framed not for the few bat
the many, and that we acknowledge no superior
but one. Instead Of having q sovereign in one
man we have sovereignty in all. The people are
the masters, and individuals elevated to places Of
trust and power are but their servants. Let
me also impress on your minds that the Consttu-
ton, in which more human wisdom is en-.
braced, than in any other instrument that was
ever framed. recognizing the infrmity Of man and
drawing experience from the lessons of history,
places limitations on the exercise Of power-for
one man is not to be trusted. Hence the fore
thought of the trainers in extending protection TO
the rights of minorities. How deeply important
it is 20 shield this great charter Of liberties
from undue encroachment and unprincipied attack
must at once strike the mind when it Is for mo.
ment considered that the Constitution once broken
down and trampled upon the barrier of repub.
lican liberty is overthrow and the day of free
dom closes in night forever. If ii is to be amended
let it be done in the manner prescribed by the
Instrument itself. No Intelligent person sup
poses it was designed to remain forever
unaterable; but any one can readily perceive that
it was made TO adapt itself to every condition of
the country, subject to the will of the sovereign
people ana done 10 the manner and mode pointed
out by itself. Any change wrought in the Consti.
tuition that does not conform to this rule is fatal
ZION first and finally destroys their liberties. II
/ could make a lodgment of the principles of the
Constitution In your minds, to be taken up and
dgested hereafter, l feel that should have done
q great deal of good. / think there ought
to be q professor in every college in the
land to teach its pupils q correct under.
standing and appreciation of the princi-
pies OF the Constitution, and to hold IL next
in reverence and Importance to the Bible, for 1t is
as much the groundwork Of our government as
the other is the foundation of our holy religion.
Then, let it be your study. IL represents all the
States. Ii is our political Bible. IL is the basis of
our political system. Let all OF US come up cheer
fully TO- it's support, and prejudice and party
malice throughout the land will soon subside. Let
us lay our differences on one common altar and
say the Constitution must be preserved though all
things else sink in the DUST / thank you for the
very kind and courteous illusions you have
made to my services. A man should be very dull,
indeed, and his mind very barren of sentiment II
he did not feel some patriotic inspiration at seeing
so many intelligent and ardent young men coming
up to the support of their country and Its govern.
ment. You are beginning the journey Of life;
am drawing near its close. You are ascending
the hill side, with its dazzling summit before you
have arrived at the foot Of the other side will
now conclude BY thanking you again for this
manifestation of your kindness. Is
The cadets went through some further exercise
in the manual of arms, and then marched around
the room to where the president stood and were
each introduced to him. Mr.. johnson appeared
greatly delighted with the exhibition, and was