The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-22
JUSTICE HARLAN'S ADDRESS.
He Speaks mt the Dedication of u
Law school Building.

1
The exercises began soon after the nooi
hour, when students assembled on TIL
; campus to greet guests. including severa
justices Of the Supreme Court of the Unitet
States, Attorney General Griggs. Solicito
General Richards, Federal judges iron
New Jersey. Delaware. Ohio. Maryland
Massachusetts,, and many of the most dis
tinguished members OF the judiciary OF tn
State of Pennsylvania.
After inspecting the building the mem
bers of the faculty, guests. and students as
sembled In Mexican Hall to listen to tn
addresses. The first speaker was Deal
William Draper Lewis, OF the Law School
who was followed by Provost c. C. Harri
son and Samuel Dickson, Chairman OF til
Law Committee of the University.
THE vocation of the Law Professor wa
the theme OF James Barr Ames. dean
the law faculty OF Harvard University
Among. the other speakers of the day wer'
| Sir Charles Arthur Roe, representing thu
University of oxford, England, whose ad
dress was mainly on the colonial system
| of government of Great Britain from a c)n'
stitutional aspect.
At the meeting at the Academy OF Music
tonight the principal addresses were de-
livered by Associate Justice John Harlan
of the United States Supreme Court, Sill
| Charles Arthur Roe, oxford University
and Mr.. G. d. Finch, Cambridge University
England.
| Justice Harlan said:
81 congratulate the people of this great
| Commonwealth. especially the provost
trustees, professors. and students Of this
famous university, on the suspicious char
| acter of this occasion. We are assembled
| to manifest our interest in the dedication
| of new and magnificent building for the
| use of those who in this university irl-
| part and receive instruction in the science
| of law.
when | accepted the invitation to de-
| liver an address on this occasion my first
thought was to trace the history OF the
University of Pennsylvania and say some
| thing of the men whom II had trained and
sent out into the various walks of life.
But that thought was abandoned because
it was found that those who were grad
uated from the university and who had
shed honor upon its instructors were too
! numerous to be mentioned upon any one
occasion.
ut finally occurred to me as appropriate
to this meeting to speak Of the public ca
reer of James Wilson. and particularly of
the principles of constitutional law for
which he stood when the present Union
was e5LeDllSntGs dln IuONbu " Nlls ny
the fact that he was the first professor in
a college of law which was established in
this city in the last century, and was sub
sequently merged into the University of
Pennsylvania. 1t Is an interesting fact
that President Washington and his Cab
met and the leading members of the Con-
gress of the Confederation attended the
opening lecture of Prof. Wilson. Those
lectures have been preserved and are IA
uiliar to every student of constitutional
Law. But he was not distinguished alone
as a pioneer in American Jurisprudence.
He was a member of the second congress
that assembled in this city in May, 1II5,
continuing in that branch of the public
service for some years; a signer of the
Declaration of Independence; prominent
member OF the convention that framed the
present Constitution Of the United States;
and by appointment of Washington. an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court OF
the United States. When the University
of Pennsylvania is mentioned we OF the
legal profession at once think of its most
eminent professor of law.
And as the university is about TO enter
upon wider career OF usefulness it is
well to recall some of the services rem
dered by that remarkable man, and refer
to the principles by which his public Ca
any reference to his earlier life. except to
say that in IVA, when only thirty-two
years of age, in q pamphlet relating to
the legislative authority OF the British
Parliament. and which attracted great at
tention. Wilson disclosed the broad ground
upon which his political faith rested by
declaring that all men. not some men,
not men of any particular race or color.
but all men are by nature equal and
free'-the same great principles subse-
quently embodied in the DECLARATION OF
independence
1T was in this city. in building stu
standing. Independence Hall, that the
convention met that gave to America the
matchless Constitution under which our
people have lived for more than CEN
tury. In that historic hall James Wilson
was often heard in support of the essen
tial principles Of stable government He
was recognized as the most learned mcm
Der OF that notable body. Webster said |
that justice was the great interest Of man |
on earth. OF justice as illustrated by the |
science OF the law Wilson had been an /
earnest devotee FROM his early manhood. |
in the highest and best sense he was a |
great lawyer. Still more. he had become /
a master in the science of government.
Ho was. therefore. pre-enineutly quail |
fled to take part in laying the foundations
of institutions under which the rights OF
man would be secure against the assaults |
Of power. What privilege IL was to look
upon that convention of patriots and
wisest assemblage of pub
lie servants that ever convened at any
lime in the history of the world-no one Of
them wiser than james Wilson.
THE closing scenes OF The convention
aust have possessed extraordinary interest
V,,.rt -, 81 ,llIr !
yates signed the Constitution. the vensr-
bile Franklin, then past eighty years. fear
ne that some hesitated to sign, said; The
,pinions have had of it's errors. sacrifice
0 the public good. Within these walls
hey were born, and here they shall
(Iet us examine for few moments the
inguishing features Of the old Gov
rnment that Wilson assisted in displac-
ng and the new Government that he aided
n establishing The Articles OF Confed-
ration were addressed to the State gov
while the Constitution speaks to
as well as to the States. In
er the Articles OF Confederation 1t was,
We. the States while under the Consti-
ution it is. We. the people of the United
tates.' The Union crested by the Con
titutlon does not depend upon the will of
ny GtAN1 Va communications VI 'tiNto- II Nd.l- I
oc be laid aside at pleasure. 1t has with
4 itself the means of peTpetuating its own
xistence. Its hand reaches to the remot-
st corners OF The Republic and its power
ompels obedience to the Constitution as
he supreme law Of the land. anything in
ne constitution or laws of any State to
he contrary Notwithstanding. When the
overnment of the United States acts with
the limits Of The powers conferred upon
}. it acts for all the people of the United
tates. No State can stand between any r