Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-09

! was absent in Europe on that mission, sue.
cecdcd by others which it was the pleasure OF
! the first President to confde to me, for seven
| years. Returning then to my native country,
again commenced the practice ofmy profession
in Boston. But in the first year, was again
selected to an office which no longer admitted
ofmy practicing at the bar. From that time,
now upwards offorty years, l have appeared at
the bar but once--and that within the last two
years, in the Supreme Court of the United
States, on the occasion to which you have al
uded sir, in terms SO much more compliments
ry than deserve and embraced that occasion
! to take final adicu orthc profession.
! In the course of that period of time, have
/ gone through great variety Of public Offices,
among which was the highest political station
/ that can be conferred by the people of the U.
States upon any citizen. And yet, it may per-
haps furnish TO some of the younger members
of the bar who now hear me, food for serious
meditation, to say, that if it were now permitted
me to pass another lfc commencing in the pro-
lesson of law, as mine did, and it were put to
me, after passing three and half or four years
of the first part ofn,y life as n lawyer, whether
would pass the remainder nf it as have done,
entirely in the public service, and to the cxcu-
sion of the practice of that profession, or con-
tinue that profession as | began, with such
powers as it had pleased the Creator to give
me, aud such industry and integrity in the ap.
plication Of those powers, as have been spoken
OIL now solemnly declare, that SO iar as per-
sonOl happiness is sconcerued, would infinitely
prefer to pass my life as a member of the bar,
in the practice Of my profession according to
the ability which God has given me- to that
life which have led and in which have held
places of high trust honor, reepectability, and
--obIoquy.
say not oboquv, now, for the purpose Of
complaint. Fit were trur, that all the public
servants ofthc United States, it had been my
fortune to suffer more of the i'll opinion OF the
world at various times, and from the variety Of
estimation, high and low, which public servants
must undergo, then say, that if it were my
fate TO share greater proportion Of those evils
than any other man lvng,--rhe scenes of the
last six months, my reception by my fellow w-cti-
zcns OF this city alone and the prospect now
before me, would more than compensate for all.
Brethren of the profession of the law--pcr,
haps my estimation of the profession, notwth.
standing what have said, may not be so high
as that which many ofyon make. So deep is
my impression Of the natural equality of man
kind, and of the fundamental rights which that
natural equality conters upon every human be-
ing, that have been accustomed, and have &C.
customcd myself, to transfer that principle OF
equality To all the professions OF mcn-the
honest professions adopted by men IN the great
and various pursuits of life.
,, Itis common 10 say that the profession OF the
Law is the highest, most honorable, and most
dgnfed, that can be exercised by man. Pos,
sibly some of you may think so. 1t is possible
that you may have entered upon the Professor
with that impression. Bat that impression is
not mine. do believe that the liberties Of 4
country depend more upon the members of the
Bar than upon any other profession common tc
man. Yet DO not consider it, III point OF dig
!
Shoemaker, or the Tailor, or the llouscwright
or Mason, or any mechanical profession. | con
slider it not superior to the profession of th'
; Healing art, destined 10 alleviate and remove
the physical evils of the human race far less DE-
| consider il superior to that profession whlci
connects u,an with the future and with God
Perhaps some among you entertain the q
! pinion that this profession alone may have 'lp
:, same claims 10 honor and dignity. Brethren
:, my own opinion upon that subject Is, that tn
>, profession of Divinity stands upon the s'm
II ioundation as the profession of the Law. Th
!. professors Of both arc bound by the laws Of ma
tGrc and Of God, to pass lives ofpurlty and in
h noccncc, doing all The good they can To thei
- fellow creatures on earth. And fit is the pr
q. vilegc OF the professors OF Divinity to stand a
= mediators between God aud man, it is equal
: that of those of the Law to maintain at all h,
n. yards every individual right conferred upon ma
ne by Nature and God.
20 would say, therefore, that we ought TO n
m fer the whole question OF the relative dieni'
and importance ofprofessions and trades, to thi
~ sacred principle OF natural equality which is Il
ho law of nature between man and man.
u- deem it unnecessary to enlarge further {
lie. this subject will not discuss the right OF d
or ferent classes, to make pretentions TO the sup