National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-27
DISCIPLES OF BLACKSTONE.

UlOS1I LEO VI DLAOADlONE'
ooMMENCEMENr OF HOWARD UNI
TERSITY Law DEPARTMENT.
SEVEN NEW LAWYERS - ADDRESSES BY
THE GRADUATING CLAsS-CoSfERhlNG
OF DEGREES-oRATI0NB BY EX-GOVERNOR
HIS. FoorE. OF MISSILE FAyoRs WOMAN
SUFFRAGE. AND OTHER REFORMS.
las, nigbt the fourth annual commencement Of
,h. Law depsrtment Of Howard university was
held at the Congregational church, and, a. has
been the case with the three preceding commence
mepts. il proved to be an occasion Of great inter
est, especially to that portion Of the population
whose interests as . race are identified with the
institution. The audience was large, and while
It represented more largely the cultured and In
teligent portion Of the colored residents Of this
city 1t was thckly interpreted with white per-
Sons Of accepted character and social prsferment,
embracing several OF the more prominent clergy
Of Washington. 1t is eminently proper that the
most generous expressions of public appreciation
should be extended to every effort Of this and
tmilar Institutions to raise this heretofore ne
elected portion of people to the envablc platform
Of intellectual privilege upon which they may
prove by honest rivalry their merit and spprecia-
lion of the great blessings Of civil liberty and
The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev.
'. q. Butler, Of the Memorial church. A volun-
fsry On the organ was then performed by Prof.
Bischof, the blind organst.
Mr. JAMES o. ADAMS,
Of Florida, member of the graduating class, was
then introduced by the acting president, Prof
Langston, and delivered an address on Legal
Phraseology," which was creditable in its compo-
sition. but largely weakened in Its effect upon the
audience by q lack Of perfect memorizing and its
consequent embarrassment upon the speaker.
70 wa devofed n he mat latral die
tioE. and the necessity Of the cultivation Of
choice phraseology in the profession Of law. when
lawyers will be rather "word painters than ad-
Jcctive daubers."
AMBROSE Z. WHITING,
Of Virginia Of the graduating class, next deliv-
cred an address on Government, ite sources OF
prosperity" The matter Of this address was Of
iician who has ever been prominent before the
tseared' kind, not calculated to clOthe his bold
subject with any new beauties. After glance At
the Legislative. judicial and executive tHCctions
Of government the address was concluded with
the usual touch IN Equal rights to ALL At the
planned to the audience that the speaker was
troubled with an impeachment in his speech from
firth. and cUmplmented him on his success in the
delivery OF his address.
MR. N'GILL PIERCE
Of Virginia No. 3 in the list of graduates, was
announced as detained from tho commencement
by sickness. and George W. Boydep, of Massa-
:husetts, No. !, was introduced and spoke on the
,ddress va. delivered in a most creditaSle style,
and proved interesting TO the audience as touch
Ing upon some practical ideas of the mode of set
Of high court, not requiring the suspension of
intercourse. The speaker argued that grand
international code would be the reasonable and
legitimate outgrowth OF such an international
court.
w Cromwell, of Virginia, another of the gradu- |
nfe dali az address J'eury LAWS ~ in L
which he traced the operation Of usury customs |
and statutes under the law Of Moses, under the |
times. The speaker held that governments had |
greater right to FIX usury laws than to regulate
the market price Of beef or pork He urged tina.
and supply. Uniformity of security and collateral
will gain uniformity Of interest. 1t was the old
pardIcss Of the Necessities of the loan and should
not be recognized in law. A little experience |
pmong the ShyIocks and "tenper-centers" who |
hang around the Executive Departments might |
tEange the gentleman s ideas somewhat.
HE"pisAB1LIrIEs OF MARRIED WOMEN"
was then discussed by Augustus N. Gage, Of New
Jersey. The old law debarred women from the
right even Of Inheritance; male offspring received
al. This has been done away with in modern
law, but still a married woman is known only as a
part OF her husband. Special Legislation in some
States has changed this, but such is generally
.p9siderai &c he woman's position in law. She
arrenaefs all her gsrs9npl and real property BY
make contracts In her own name. Sut is HOl even
ocked upon in law as the rightful guardian Of
he child but these are the fathers also. He has
Iisc legal restrictions over her personal liberty.
rho Law cGmpcls her TO go wherever her husband
nay dictate. He can change the dpmicl. at will |
nd rst follow. The speaker pictured
e;;' '~e for married women, which was re-
ri' wit applause.
rLINEy J. LOCKE,
u Pr: Is ,vania. was introduced, and delveredHl
IN GRAFTON on .'EQuty''-.he wants Of the people
as met ny legal enactments, rejecting the reign
h Justice and reason, and continuing brute force
have existed in all countries, and have moderated
the severity of many tribunals. In modern days
proportions. in which justice Is tempered with
mercy, enforcing 6enevolenos where nature makes
,quity, is a most divine maxim, showing equity to
be an outgrowth of necessity.
.. This GRAFTON was perfectly memoriIed, and de-
which manifested its appreciation by . we'll
neIited demonstration of applause.
~ The from iss ns ss
sentative Of the keystone State" we're eolored,
and the other graduates white.
The blind organist relieved the patience OF the
audience by another voluntary; after which the
coNFERRING OF DEGREES,
BY Professor ]. N. Langston, took place. Having
summoned the class TO the platform, he delivered
TO each diploma constituting him Bachelor Of
the tboroughness with which they have com plcted |
their studies, rejecting honor upon themselves
and credit upon the institution from whose waIIs
they go forth to practice their profession. He
urged confidence, courage and seIfreliance upon
them in their future efforts. In spite Of popular
teInsst and
most abiding integrity" building on which, yHu
bald on rock indeed" Cultivate a lively sense
Of honor. profound integrity and the largest de-
gree Of knowledge. and you have the bert guar
antee of success. "A man shall always be CON-
nended in accordance to his wisdom" whatever {
be the sphere in which he labors. In the name Of Q
haar -nl fir,I
A letter aas received from Senator Morton {
tating that foot wound, from which he severely
forbfds his appearance as engaged. IL
EX-sENAToR H. s. FooTE,
II Mississippi. was introduced to fill the vacancy
,ccasioned by the absence of Senator Morton, and
aid that he would endeavor to say few words
o the graduating class, instead Of the words Of /;
experience and wisdom on which they had ex- |
,ccted TO have been banqueted. He said they ,
Sa ana sn
fena bcset with temptation" They would be !
alel upon 20 defend the innocent and to prose-
harge both these duties with equal firmness and
ibility. An honorable lawyer lis equal to the :
most respectable man who could be mentioned"
The rolls CT their profession are adorned with q
brilliant names in this country and England, and
yet they have those who have dishonored the pro-
cssion and the generation in which we live.
Follow the course which your preccptor has so
pointed out to you. You enter Your
Profession under the most propitians cir'urn-
iances. IN d rama Vi me most enlarged iiperty. A
md at time when sectional discord is less rife
han it has been during the past thirty years
Evidences are every day being given of the capa.
,ility Of the liberated blacks. such to relieve
he doubts OF the most carping hatcrs Of your :
ace. The principles Of general reform are strongly
It work, even as to develop the true rig hts Of
Woman. and she is becoming possessed Of those
true rights" which. when once gained will be !
exercised to bring our country to its long antici
,ated state of perfect government.
You live in time Of large intellectual culture
Fhen the good are moving against the colossal
vii of incompetence. Mind and morality are be- =
ng cultivated. and ii is being recognized that our
en;Ile of liberty rests on two grand pillars the
ne is Integrity" the other cultivated indus 2
rvs 1ntempcrance is now great national Gin. !
great national disgrace and is menacng our
iyil liberties, and woman has taken up arme I
gainst it, wild applause and Is determined to
edeem the land from this sin, and ms soon as the
eoTnen OF the land get suffrage, drunkards will Q
disappear from public stations everywhere
j wish you. gentlemen, the most rnlinite ed sue
csE III the prosecution Of your profession.