New-York tribune., 1875-05-13
LEGAL GRADUATES.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE COLUMBIA coll
LEGE LAW SCHOOL.

ADDRESS BY JUDGE THEODORE W. DWIGIfr-LHR
AWARD OF PRIZEs-LIsT OF GRADUATES.
A large and appreciative assemblage COM
pletey filing every available space In tho Academy OF
together last evening" the occasion being the
sixteenth annual commencement Of tho Colum
bia College Law School. Among those present
and the platform were President +.
A. =. Barnard, Professors Theodore w.
Dwight. John w. Ogdronauy, Judges John
r. Brady Samuel Blatchford. and Curtis, ex-Judges
Mitchell and Peabody, Edward Prtterson, william II.
ArnOnx, Governeur NJ. Ogden. Hamilton Odell. C. r.
sandford, Stephen Nash and Others in addition 10 the
Trustees and Law Committee Of the College, DR. Barnard
occupied the chair The exercises Of the evening
opened with the performance OF musical selections
by the orchestra aInder tho leadership Of Grs
fulla. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr
DufHc chaplain OF the College. Prof Theodore
W. Dwight then delivered address to tho graduating
class who occupied In the front portion Of the audi
torium Immediately behind the orchestra Prof Dwight
on rising, was greeted with applause lie said IL wS
with no ordinary emotion that he appeared before tho
students to utter few words OF greeting and farewell
During the In which he had been brought into
contact almost daily with them he had formed attach
ments which It painful to break Continuing tho
speaker said that TO reach the higher ranks OF the
fessOn the greatest ability and the utmost diligence OF
application necessary. This position IL accorded
only to the very few In any country. few soore
will number all tho truly great lawyers In Engish
~,
high grade of excellence In order to achieve dignity or
responsibility OF to emnenty useful, while In city
like our own, only q small portion OF the legal
profession can obtain public recognition, thers
Is o very largo number OF men OF honor and
respectabity who woIld to do mean act and to
whose hands all ordinary legal business may be inr'sted
with the that 1t will be transacted with fidelity
and success The speaker charged the students not o
suppose that their studies henceforward to be- inter
mted It would not be sufficient for them to learn the
printed pp ges their law books but they must read
assduousy the open page upon which the action OF
men inscribed. You will have, said he TO struggle
with the bold to pierce the conceament OF fraud, TO
truth from the unwilling witness to convince
tho reluctant or adverse juryman or judge. to
inform ignorant and TO win the confidence OF the eau
ous and reserved You will have TO overcome In your
own nature the suggestions of slOhulncss and mental
ease to wreste. perhaps with the shrinking of nati
raj tmty to assert your personality aud to make your
way among men, =.
some sharp glowing words. II the truth told
OF lawyers" said Prof. Dwight, their eptaph
expert in legal dnesse outwittng his adversarie-.
hoOdwinking his clients, and making uso Of
confidential communications for his own advantage;
lie entered hundreds Of snap Judgments and abounded
in legal devices submitting TO many rebukes nom the
court with becoming cOnp0sure, making no rash reply
ana rcfranng from any expression that would noriero
with the Iuturo performance Oi similar acls
gratifed heirs have erected this monument Ia
sugg st to those OF his generation that never knew
Al n II
enced his favors VIII not fail to remember him. To such
~ r1itaph this VINO would bc bold enough 10 add
and ~ sdch is tho klho olJM VI LEA 30. Lausht''
H. 4. manly tonc she fpcal er urged the graduates
to value professional success II achieved only a. iDea-
valuable only far as IT developed their ow mai ares
far the ends IL accomplished MOI Only m'hta
excellence but moral character II nrcersay lbe hwyors
relation ID of idnciaTy character Inc
notion Og trust - always uppcrmOst ana the memories
clinging round IL should always be reelrird l'rnf
Dwight congratulated the students On the arrival oi the
time when they had come to the begln nZ of q busy
career. They had for years been following our
the paths that others had Laid ont Tor tLrm
They were out paths ~ their own. The
epomo their could De- summed up ~ mo
the law in 80 far that he has nothing eft To learn
They should know the law thoroughly, apply II con
scientiosy and then act earlessy All great lawyers
hal of high moral character n well, ana tho
speaker trusted that they would act ~ Ia cast no re-
proach OH the institution which sent them forth.
Frederick W. UnricNs delivered the NalcdctOTy al
dress bidding farewell Ia the instructors AMI Trustees
and concluded with feryent WISHES for thr sto'sr Of
the graduating class. lie was followed by James ~
Blanchard delivered the Alumni Grafton, tan n Tor
his subject The Ethics or the Legal ffoieSSion LILO
COMMITTEES on Prizes made the following awards:
prize $3.50, Sutherland Tenney OI New York CITY;
prize $50, T. - Fdlcs or Brooklyn thrd prize
SlOO, Robert Dckey Of Chicago Tue following gentle
received honorable mention: Inoinas liiici"r,
George W Hale, John l.. sweeney, William II. Doin-
blower and John G. Gulick. The committee on awards
consisted of Edward Patterson, Hamilton Odc, ana
Hamilton Cole of the NewiOrk bar. The prizes were
given excellence in the departm ut OF munica Law
Dy the merit OF written sSsay, and distinct
written examination upon general leSal topics
Diplomas were aterwarI conferred on the following
members OF the graduating class, 2lO III number, ~
President Barnard:
The following are the names of the graduates: