The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1839-10-24

selves. But have for several years been en-.
lirely convi ccd. that armers ISmechanics were
better qualified for composing our Legislatures,
than any theoretical statesmen, from the fact that
they have greater influence and advocate soun.
der and more republican doctrines IN all iesis-
latures Of which they are members.-The only
misfortune is, they not elected to fill our leg
lstaI'lres, or to constitute majority Of them.
lfI am not greatly mistaken, one of the prin.
cipal sources Of civil and political evils we suf.
fer, is the practice of making the profession of
law so much the channel TO offices of emolu-
ment and honor. The practice presents an in.
consistency on the very face of it. It is evi.
IDENTIFY inconsistent end highly improper that one
class of men should institute laws, and execute
laws, which it may be supposed, they will do
to promote their interests, while that class con.
stitutes very small minority of the community,
though there are ten times, and probably fifty
times, as many as the most healthy state of the
community requires. The greatly increased,
the rapidly increasing, and largely dispropor-
tionate number of our citizens, who resort to
law for profession, is not probably the least
evil resulting from appointing SO many of this
profession to places of honor and trust.
Without any prejudice against the members
Of this profession as individuas-ior by an ex-
tensive acquaintance with them, know many
of them to be honorable and respectable men
am convinced as they themselves will undoutt-
edly acknowledge, that large number of laws
yers promote litigation. And no one will pre-
tend that extensive litigation is favorable either
to the pecuniary. the moral or social health and
prosperity of the community, but highly de-
structive 10 all. Consequently, any arrange>
ments or measures adopted for conducting tho
operations of society, which has tendency to
increase The number of your lawyers, which is
already entirely out of proportion with that O.
lher classes Of the community, must do an in-
jury to that community. And appointing them
to fill the seats in our legislatures, especially the
chairs Estate and in the highest seat in the ma
ton, must do double and irreparable injury
it produces bad laws, and instigates quarrels and
contentious in the observance and executing Of
the laws.
The avoid these evils as far as possible, to re-
pair the injury already done by the incons,,-
ent and anti-republican practice referred to, con.
'tituting our legislatures, aud filling our Offices
IN great measure with farmers aud mechanics,
appear to be the rational, perhaps the only eff
Iectua! measure to be adopted.
The education OF farmers in its present neg
lected state, is better fitted to make sounder leg.
lsators than arc produced by our coteges, or by
the profession of law. If farmers education
was what it ought to be, and what It might be il
they duly appreciated the knowldge they alrea-
dy possess land their facilities for greatly extends
ing that knowledge, They could hardly fail ofsee>
ing the propriety, Of availing themselves Of the
privilege of appointing fiom their own number,
guardians Of their own rights and interests.
| do not pretend that the interests of farmers
or of mechanics, or Of both, are the only inter.
ssts to be protected and promoted, nor do con-
lend that our legislatures or other Offices, ought
10 be filled entirely from these classes. only
contend that they ought to be represented in pro-
portion to their numbers, and represented by
themselves. l hold this doctrine because they
must be supposed to understand their own in-
erests better than those in other pursuits can
'or them; because, being educated in the school
of experience. they may be supposed to be, as
they are aGtually found 10 be, sounder and safer
men to be, relied upon; and because, by neg,
ecting 10 fill our Offices from the profession Of
The law, the number engaged in that profession
night be diminished, and litigation diminished
with it, and by that means the wealth and in.
telligencs and virtue of our republic greatly pro-
noted. .f.
If the education of farmers was what "a.
lional and enlightened system would make It, at
less expense of time and money than is now
incurred for the purpose, they would be entirely
qualified to perform macy kinds of business for
which they now resort to the legal profession /;
such as drawing contracts, giving power of at,
lorney, making out bills of sale, conveying uro.
perty, by deed or otherwise, and various other
acts of similar character, which would save
them great expense and trouble, and permit law-
yers to engage in pursuits better calculatedysa
promote the health of socioiy -
To ae old the evils and secure the bene =
referred to, no one need act under ihesiecting /,
Of prejudice or desire of proscriptiorsig ffoni
merS and mechanics have simply 10 j&ardiDb
appoiat individuals from their own lhdy tor
TO protect their interest and to selec.A - ~
cure and protect their rights and they .1llE ~
fail to accomplish their object mo
lrenan yours, truly and always
Idiiy1 country