New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-02
LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES.
Commencement Exercises.

A large audience attended the commence
.nent exercises of the law department,
Uniyerity of Louisiana, held at Lyeeum
Hall Yesterday, at twelve clock. The pro-
ceedings opened in the prayer OF Rev. Is.
M. Palmer, he beseeching the divine bless
ing on the young men and their undertak-
ilgs as they were about to 60 out into lite.
In conformity to custom, the Hon. Randell
Hunt, president of the University OF Lou
isiana, of which this was the law depart
ment, then conferred the degree Bachelor
Of Laws upon the following gentlemen,
making it the occasion of an impressive
address OF few words, in which he congratu-
lated the class upon having selected the
profession of law as one they would follow:
Thomas P. Chaplin, Leonard NJ. Finley,
Samuel Jamison, Jr., Frederick y. King,
Thomas Langdon, Andrew j. Murphy,
James o. Nixon, Jr., E. X. Skinner, Benja-
min D. Tarlton. Garrett Walker, James 0.
Wright
Thomas Allen Clarke then made the ad
dress On the part of the faculty, wherein he
ceremonies in medicine, referring to the
simplicity of American customs which Or
daincd that all useless paraphernalia should
be dispensed with, and then the address
touched upon the present graduation in
law, alluding to the young gentlemen as
ministers of hope" and drawing an inde-
Unable parallel between the officer of medi-
cine on the one hand and law upon the
other. The apostrophe to law in the alb
stract. and its uses as illustrated by history.
was next the theme of the speaker, who re-
viewed the track Of the science of law from
Justinian down to Napoleon, and from
Magma Charta fso to speak, down to the
Gaines suit, and drew from the whole con-
ISOLATION to the young aspirants, who were
then pronounced endowed with the full de-
gree OF Bachelor of Laws.
Mr.. Garrett Walker then delivered the
valedictory address to the class. He at
first bid the audience welcome, and then
went into the generalities, such as the uses
and powers of education, the benefits of
applied labor, beside the advantages Of
world at large. He paid a tribute to the
science Of law, which he characterized as
goddess, before whose eyes no ways were
hidden and dark. By way of establishing
the proposition Of the speaker himself, of
the greatest works of fiction having been
founded upon events which had transpired
within the pale of law, lie alluded to the
wealth OF fiction and to the greatness of
Charles Dickens, who, by the way, can
scarcely he looked upon as authority upon
the beauty o. the nobleness of the law.
Forsaking generalities, the speaker then
came down to local events, such as the his
tory of tie McDonogh case, and a sketch of
the life OF miserable John. and the Gaines
case, with an allusion to the life and times
of Daniel Clark, besides a reference to the
HGe:atigable conduct of Mvra Clark Gaines,
drawing from these an illustration of the
truth that the study of law was not entirely
destitute Of romantic and entertaining sub
jects Of thought.
TIE farewell TO the class was conducted
according to the well understood rules OF
courtesy prevailing on such occasions.
| The address. on the part Of the Alumni
which follows. by Mr.. Samuel P. Rlanc was
! elegantly couched in good language. 1t
! appeared to be his mission to extend the
Fluctuations Of those who had been there
before to those who were now coming in
to the ranks OF profession which, to Use
his own language, lis the highway to most
Offices OF rust and profit" beaten path
tr0G By great statesmen. The speaker told
the class Of the difficulties which would
beset the first entry into practice on the
part OF the youth, and told the truth
outright. not even setting it compliments
or hattery. TIE first case OF the
lawyer would probably be loss, and he
might think himself fortunate if his client
did not cue him for damages. The speake,
was eminently practical ia the course Of his
address, and simply confined himself to thf
! truth upon the question of 'fees," his fell
! citous illusions winning with the audience
who frequently appiauded the simpi ie fact
lie welcomed the young gentlemen TO the
law in feeling manner, saying the oiC
lawyers would be the best friends of the
young graduates.
On the conclusion of the more scholastic
exercises, the band played CLONE, Swee
Home" and the audience, highly gratitied
| vent home.
| 2,Gl