The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-19
ADVICE TO STUDENTS
Gen. Harrison Tells WOuld-Be
Lawyers to Keep Out of Politics.
Farewell Address to the Class of STAN
ford Observation-Disclosures Of
State Constitutions.

NEW YORK, April 1S.-The Worlds San
Francisco correspondent says that EXPIRES
ident Harrison babe the students Of the
Stanford law class goodbye Monday in an
address of twenty minutes, in which he
gave the young men some sound advice.
The first and most important thing" he
sad lis to acquire a thorough knowledge
of the principles of the law. Do not try TO
be a great case lawyer at the start, but de-
vote your energies to the complete mastery
of your profession. Another thing" he con-
tinued; do not get into politics. Devote
your entire time to your practice. If, after
you have thoroughly established yourself,
political honors should seek you, accept
them If you see fit; but never seek the Of
flee. Above ALL" he concluded guard the
fair favor Of your noble profession as
jealousy as you do your honor, and never
be drawn into any affair that will reflect
on either in the slightest degree"
General Harrison expressed himself to
the World correspondent as much gratifed
with the result of his experiment as a pro-
fessor of law, and said that while he had
made no arrangements for his return TO
the university next year, 1t was not at all
unlikely that he would do so. If ne did,
he would devote less attention to historical
facts and take the students deeper into the
intricacies of the law
The ex-President's last lecture in his
series was devoted TO 1.-The Institution OF
State Governments" He said, in part:
THE institution of State governments was
a most important and necessary step in the
development of the Republic. Independence
been inaugurated and local affairs were in
disorder, with no government excepting
that of temporary committees of safety. A
more formal organization was necessary,
especially in Massachusetts. 1t was under
stood, however, that no step could be taken
except in union with the other colonies.
Massachusetts asked Congress for explicit
advice respecting taking up and exercis-
ing the powers of civil government and
declared her readiness To submit TO such
a general plan as the Congress made di-
rect for the colonies The advice was given
by Congress, and closely followed by Mas
sachusetts, her action being FIN observ-
ance of the resolve or the Continental Con-
gress
New Hampshire, South Carolina and
Congress advice as TO the formation of
State government. In May. 1916. however,
Congress resolved: That II be recommended
to the respective assemblies and conventions
or the United Colonies, where no govern
ment sufficient to the exigencies of their
affairs hath been hitherto established, to
adopt such government as shall, in the opn-
ion of the representatives of the people,
best conduce 10 the happiness and safety of
in general
"Of his resolution, John Adams, who
drafted ii. says; 1T was indeed. on all
as equivalent TO declaration Of independ
ence.' All the state constitutions. adopted
before the confederation. assumed a per
manent union. Connecticut, in continuing
her charter In force, resolved that all the
free inhabitants of this any other OF the
United States of America shall en-
JOY the same justice and law within this
State Delaware resolved that all acts of
assembly in force i'm the State on the 18th
Of May last, and not hereby altered or
s Should continue. Georgia recited the reso
luton of Congress of May Is, and referred
to the independence OF the United States
OF America New Jersey refers to the
Continental Congress as the Supreme Coun-
Gil of the American Colonies North Caro-
lima, Maryland and Pennsylvania reserve
the right Of the State to regulate the in
''Ehese State governments were not sep
arate and distinct ventures; but grew out
of the Union The sovereignty assumed by
them was OF local affairs only. Except
South Carolina no State suggested by
provision OF its Constitution its power TO
treat with another State or with a foreign
power. In these first State constitutions
we have the first systematic expression of
the American republican form of govern
ment. Bills of right-laTEeiy restatements
Of former addresses to the crOwn-accom-
panied most of them. The most formidable
objection to the Constitution OF 1857 was the
absence of 4 bill of rights. In the bill of
rights of Maryland We find what NAV be
taken as a good general example IL de-
clared the people 10 be- the source of govern
ment government 10 be for the public good:
public officers to be the trustees of the pub
lic:' that the legislative. executive and fu-
dicial functions should be kept forever
separate and enumerated other special
OF a free people, took the place of the
king.
the supreme legislature in all the states
except Pennsylvania and South Carolina,