National Republican., 1873-06-05
TWENTY NEW LAWYERS.
GEORGETOWN COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT

GEORGETOWN COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT
brilliant As-er.binse sr Lads and Gestie-
men Friends Of the Graduaies-Aadrera
Of Attorney General wiIilams-Inre-
dactery Remarks by Ben. =. @. nsn-
croft DaVi--Beeutifai Piorui Di-play-
Father Hea iy's Parting Advice.
large and brilliant assemblaRe was gathered
last night In lincoln Hall to witness the Interest
ing, exercises Of the annual commenrement OF
the law department Of the University Of aSotge-
town. class OF lsi3. On the platform were seated
several distinguished gentlemen Of the learned
professions, besides the graduating class, and
among those who occupied seats In the audlto-
rum were General sherman and other proml-
nent ofilclals.
Judge James and Judge J. II. Ashton, OF the
faculty Of the law department, were on the plat
form, and were the recipients Of handsome
bouquets. ,..H.....
The rostrum was very tas,etuny decorated
with hanging baskets Of nowers; and beautiful
bouquets, In rich profnsion, were scattered
through the audience. intended ~ offerings to
the graduates. Tue scene was really charming
and constituted a grand ovation to the worth
aud talent Of the law department Of the vener-
able university which has done so much for the
education Of the young men Of the land.
The exercises opened with an overture by the
Marine Band-"Der Kenlg Won yvtot," by
Adam-anda march dedicated TO the class Of
1873 by n. Dausch. THIS was followed by the
reading OF the act OF Congress OF March I, 1915,
raising Georgetown College to the rank OF q
university, and choice selections from S'Mari-
tana." by Wallace.
Tue orator Of the evening, Hon. George II.
Williams, Attorney General Of the United States,
wn then introduced 20 the graduating class
and to the audience by Hon. }. bancroft Davis,
Assistant Secretary OF stats, who said;
SPEECH OF HON. ). BANCROFT DAVIS.
In the dislntegration OF the Roman Rmplre the
Christian Church became the conseryator OF the
wrecks Of the jurisprudence and law OF the
~ V much iideiity and regard for Justice ss Inc
mdeness OF the times permitted. Traces OF this
Jurisdiction still survive In the laws and forms Of
kngland where esSlssiasilcal soasts SUI 81 "
atill proven In archbIshops, courts, and where q
clerk Is stIl the principal oficer OF all the courts
Happily y or day We are nS, dspendsa' s .SS ON
branch Of knowledge. Justice Is no longer ad'
mlnlstered by ecclesiastical hands. The Church,
however, IA still alive TO rs duties. branch Of
District OF Columbia thls school for training
young men In the knowledge OF the law. wlth
truly Catholic wisdom II seeks 10 draw 10 its ser
| tlch connection. Here, A. formerly A. Gam
bridge, the Instruction Of young men In the law
occupies the care Of Justice OF the Supreme
General does not think II beneath his dignity q
welcome the graduatea Of this school into the
ranks OF the profession. r...
Gentlemen OF the graduating class, have tho
honor 70 present 70 you and TO your friends Tho
Hon. George II. Williams, the Attorney General
| OF the United States. .........0
Attorney General williams then delivered tho
address as follows ,'r.
AppREss or THE LrroRSEy GENERAL.
Some one has written beautiful allegory and
called II the "Hnl OF Science" situated on III
summit a temple Is represented radiant win
celestial light. Multitudes captivaied by tn,
glory around Its top spnrn the base Of this hill
anil start with great apparent artlor v cllmb Ia
steep and rugged activities. Some grow Wesry
with their nrst efforts and fall back; some llnger
by the way-slie or stray away Into seats OF 70.
pose, while others. overcoming all obstacles and
temptations by nrm step and steady aim, mail,
reach the shining goal OF their ambition.
Science aud law are so nearly allied that "a
| illustrate the pursuit Of one Is TO describe tho
pursuit Of the other. Fame In the legal profes-
sion, like truth ln science, admits none but faith
ful Votaries to Its temple. Great number
choose the practice Of the law as vocation with
expectations that are soon and sometimes rudely
dispelled. Not few imagine that the law lead
its disciples away from the necessity OF labor d
fields OF enjoyment and ease, where fortunes ant
honors fall readily into their handS. Nothing Il
more certain than their disappointment
Pieasure-seekers make but little advance Int,
that profound and comprehensive study In whicl
is found 4 satisfactory knowledge OF the law
shrewdness In preparing and eloquence In pre-
senting causes to courts and uries distinguish tn
legal profession In the popular mind, but under
lying these Ii an idea too grand and sublime TO
human conception. Let one who Ia preparing Il
become q lawyer take into his mind, as "a
as he can, the great thought tha
In general sense all things are gov
erned by law, and the immensity OF the learn
ing before him oyerwhelms the understanding
This Is the foundation idea. Millions Of world
that wheel through the regions OF space traye
their orbits and perform their revolutions &C
cordiug to law. Millions OF creatures are brouph
into existence, live and move and die acoordinI
TO law. Myriads Of eerth's productions GERM
grow bear tssI, seed and pass away &C
the grain Of sand Invisible TO the naked eye, ant
al inanlmate things are alike the subjects o
law. Man, created In the image OF his Maker
and the most ephemeral and minute worm tha
crawis In the dust. and all intermediate exist
enoes, depend upon obedience TO law as the con
dltion OF their being.
There ia no difference In this respect betweeI
the sturdy oak that denes the tempest and thi
blade Of grass that Ia moved by breath. speak
ing upon the subject OF law, an eioquent write
its voice the harmony OF the worii." Pope ha
said, with what Ia supposed To be q pOetoa
license, that "whateyer IL b right;" bat the ex
L nothing irregular or accidental il the world
Righteousness B perfect conformity 10 th,
laws Of the moral universe. the dlsobedlenc,
q which, we we are ~ sSd SSousa, ,S death ln1
tions, Developments, changes and events o
human society bear the impression Of law
Taxing generstionA together, and It WI b
proportion to each other, and the same Is ALA
true Of the sexes. Marriages, though under tn
nokle god OF love, when aggreEated for oonsid
erable periods seem 70 be made according 10
general aud slightly varying rule, and, strang
as Il may seem, statistics and careful observA
tlon prove that insanity and crime are regulates
gy upon Tits subject, ald u may safely be COZ
4 Guided that oil the mysteries and incompreheu
alble phenomena that we meet are governed b
would explain and make them Underwood
Looking from this standpoint IL win be seen tha
after lifetime spent In the stndy OF Law on
ss :s m W sass ssTaSa ss s ss "a. ssr oS 81
gathered grains Of sand from the great cream .
human knowledge. To be added 10 thosr law
snrs sna fsralaaons % WITCH nam MAKES for % n. % Ss
goyernm snL aud which constitute what Ia com
monty called Jurisprudence.
GROWTH oF THE LAW.
Lawyers, more than any other class OF pei
sons, have to do with the formation OF mualcipa
law. Take from the ordinances OF goyerDmen
and society what has been suggested or estaf
liShed by them In the various capacities 0
authors, judges, legislators and advocates, an
the remainder would he broken and incongruou
fragments. Much that Is recognised and er
forced as law has grown out OF the exigencie
Of society under the plastic hand Of judlcii
care, as the wild and Acrld plant with cultlyl
lion comes to be a growth Of beauty and AWee
ness. Wise legislation Ia dsdaced from the lei
sons OF experience and therefore the furths
, back the iawmAker can trace the operations {
! the principle involved the greater will be n
store OF knowledge he can bring TO the periorn
ance OF his duty. Speaking OF the common laV
Z Sir Matthew Hale saldI at Is not the product
the wisdom OF some one man or society OF me
10 any one age, bat Of tho wisdom, counsel, eI
perlence and observation OF many ageS .! vii
. | and observing men"
no be concerned In the admlnlstra tion Of jui
Z tIce Ia the high and responsible duty OF laWye
| This leads him 70 q broad aud compreh enslv
r | held OF labor and usefulness. Truth and err
! | everywhere maintain q perpetual cOnnlct, Ou
= great battle ground II In the courts OF juatic
| An judicial proceedings have for their primal
Y object the ascertalDment OF truth. Right an