National Republican., 1873-05-29
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES,

Graduating Cluss-Specches by Profess
.or wedaswood, Richard NJ. Harrina-
ton, esq, &c, SC.
Lincoln hall was wcll.nlled last night with the
lady and gentlemen friends Of the graduates Of
the law department Of the National University,
the commencement exercises Of which took
place. Among those present were citizens and
strangers learned In all the professions, as well
"A younger members Of the community, who
had come TO bid their fellow-olass mates god
speed In the path they had chosen. The ladies
showed their appreciation OF the students, and
rewarded them with sunnlest smiles and
bouquets Of choicest flowers, happy emblems Of
the bright occasion.
The remarks Of ylce Chancellor wedpew ood
were highly Interesting In hat they gave a COM
plete history Of the movement for the establish.
ment Of purely national university as grand In
Its conception as the country, and truly American
and catholic In It's Intentions.
The yaledlctoTy Of Mr. Yeager was well con.
celyed and delivered, and received metited ap.
plause. The address Of Mr.. Harrington was by
ali odds one Of the finest efforts Of his life, and
with Its blending Of poetry, practical knowledge
and eloquence, served TO remind the audience
that the young men Of the day are entitled to be
heard as counsellors on such occasions.
The exercises were opened at O'Clock by Rev.
Or. Butler with feryent prayer, In which he
invoked Divine blessing upon the Institution
and the students.
After the performance Of some choice selec-
ilons by the band, Vice Chancellor wedgewood
addressed the audience, as follows
RENANks oF rRor. wEpdEwooD.
M. Chancellor and Ladies and Gentlemen: am
reminded by the magnitude and intelligence Of
the audience before me that this ls no ordinary
occasion. We are present this evening with the
inspiring hope that the city OF Washington will
hereafter become the Athens OF America, tho
centre OF literature, science and art TO which the
best scholars from all the states viii resort for
instruction.
II is tlme-honorcd custom among our literary
Institutions 70 appear before the people at stated
lnFs and present the result OF their laO0rs. We
this evening complete the third year OF our efforts
TO establish a university In this country which
free from sectional and UNCONVENTIONAL contrOl
aud influence. We can report progress, al
though we have not fully achieved the great OBJ
Tue history Of the National University is Co
eyal with the history Of our Government. The
idea originated In the convention which framed
our re- SnS Washington
was laid out University square wAs reserved for
Its location. James Madison recommended II In
his message In 1910. John Quincy Adams recon-
mended II In his message In 1875. lie also re0on-
mcnded the establishment Of q National OBJ
ssrvatory, either in connection with or separate
from the university. lie stated that In Europe
SKIES" while on the American hemisphere there
was not one.
In answer to this message the National OBJ
seryatory was established, and We have "light.
Justly feel proud. II was intended 70 be con-
nected with the future university, and was ac-
conllngly located on University square.
When we CONNIE need this enterprise we were
fully aware that the recommendations Of Wash
ngton aud Madison and John Quincy Adams
had been forgotten, and that public attention
must again be turned 10 II by renewed agitation.
The university had remained IDEAL, inyisl BILE
and intangible. The nrst step TO be taken was
TO render Il material, visible aud tangible by
Incorporation.
The act Of Congress providing for the creation
Of corporations Ia the District Of Columbia by
general law was approved May 8, 1870. The act
provides the mode Of establishing Institutions Of
learning OF the rank o. college OF university
In accordance with these provisions the Ma
tional University, on the 18Th day Of September,
1870, became body polite and corporate, euii'
tied TO perpetual succession, with power TO sue
and he sued; TO acquire, hold and convey real and
personal property; to have and use common
seal; 10 make by-laws necessary for the govern
ment OF the university, and TO confer upon such
persons as may be considered worthy such AGA
demical or honorary degrees as are usually con
ferred by similar Institutions. The university
became competent, both In law and In equity, u
take In their corpOrute name real and persona
property by gift, grant, conveyance, will, devise
or bequest OF any person, and dispose OF I'll,
| same for the use anu benefit OF said institution n
We made application to Congress in the ses
| sion Of 1870 and 1871 Tor an endowment. A bill
| for that purpose was introduced IN the Hous'
| and referred to the Committee on Education ant
Labor; delegation from the ineorporators ap
peared before the committee, and several abl
arguments were made, but no report wa
reached during that session.
During the session OF the last Congress a bill
/ was introduced In the Senate by senator Howe
| which broad In liza agODN and liberal In II
/ endowment. II provided for a chancellor, witt
the same salary AZ the Chief Justice Of the Su
preme Court OF the United States, There wer
to be twelve faculties, Each faculty was to b
composed Of q president and from fifteen :
| thirty professors. The presidents were to re
ceiye salary equal TO that OF the Associat
Justices Of the Supreme Court, and the pre-
fessors a salary equal to the judges OF the bis
trict Courts.
The time to accomplish the course OF studlc
close OF which period the he student, u after pSssin
| q searching and satisfactory examination, wa
entitled TO degree from the university. Tn
degrees TO be conferred were Doctor in seienc,
Doctor In Philosophy, Doctor In History, Doctd
In Languages and Literature, Doctor In Ar
Doctor In Law, Doctor In Medicine and Surger!
Master In Agriculture, Master In Military scicnC
and Art, Master In Naval Science and Art.
No report was made during the last Congre'
on senator Howes blll but another blll, fe
weeks later In the session, was introduced In u
House and referred to the Committee on Educ
ton aud Labor. This bill. after careful consl
Grafton, was unanimously reported to the noui
and Its passage recommended.
The committee, " their report, state that tht
have no hesitation In saying that while the 70
| elgn Is superior to the American uniyerHltle
, neither the one nor the other Is q true unyerst
They describe the leading objects Of true IN
yeruity, and say that as far as any Institute
| falls short Of these objects, 50 far does It "a
short OF q true university.
The committee say that the deficiencies th'
Previously existing. ior he Following reasons; reasons
l. That none hayethe essential pecunlary 7
) sources.
. 9, That none are entirely free from section
and denominational objections.
1 Q. That the national university must be
: neutral ground, and under the exclusive contr
a OF the general government.
The bill provides that the national unlyersl
Z shall be permanently located at the national ca
y ltal, where the representatives OF every secttl
OF the country annually assemble, where u
' and where the Government has 1nquestion
/. authority to establish and maintain such an
$ stitutlon.
v The plan Of endowment Is for the Goyernme
!. to issue certificates 10 the amount OF twenty m
lions OF dollars, bearing interest at per Gel
: per annum, amounting TO one million dollars,
: be expended In establishing and maintaining /
| university.
In the manner have described the attenti
: OF Congress and OF the people at large Is turn
q to the accomplishment OF this great obje'
which will prove TO be the crowning glory OF /
uTht century VI OuT cAlbttuCt.
This city. In few years, under the skill
!, management Of the Board OF Public Works, "
II become one Of the most beautiful aud attTaoti
n cities on this continent, aud II Ia In the pow
n OF Congress by the permanent establishment a
liberal endowment OF tho National University
y make our national capital the intellectual cent
e Of the nations.
y The ynledlctory.
l. Thomas d. Yeager was then introduced, a
II delivered the yaledictory address, In which. Af
/. referring TO the noble profession Of the law,
!, said We are aware that the desire Of WashiI
II ton to establish national university at the ca
- tai Of our nation has not yet reached Its fulf
" ment. Yet we feel assured, Judging from
l. efforts OF the founders In these, the nrst yei
Of the work, II will ere long take Its rank as v
contemplated by your illustrious pTedecesso
], Mr.. Yeager then returned thanks TO the chi
L celOr, vice chancellor aud faculty for their unt
ing Efforts In the course OF their instruction, q
C concluded his remarks by feeling allusOn TO
d fellow graduates, who were about 20 sepan
and bid farewelltO the university they all loy
80 well.
Remarks OF Judge Casey.
The graduates then filed upon the stage, a
I, were addressed on behalf Of the faculty
|, Judge Casey, who said his duty, although llg
was a pleasant one. II was TO assure them Il
y during the two years Of their study they h
conducted themselves In such 4 manner as
a win the regard and respect and confidence OF
!, faculty. They now send them forth with /
oflical charter Of the University TO labor In /