Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1843-07-29
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CANnT
DATES.

On the approach Of an election. ~.
truly amusing TO witness the shifts on S1
and turns which are resorted 10 hv s ,S
friends Of the various asprunts in o, suo
to place their claims in q prominent IaS.
before the people; but it is to be repre,isS
that very frequently too little regard =
paid to qualifications for office, wbIs
personal predictions and sinister mo ,'
tivcs are suffered to govern the feelinos n
the advocates Of certain individuals ~
BY some it is asserted that It's ah.,
Iutely dangerous 10 have our Iegisl0,vs
councils composed Of many LAWYERS hr,
that they should be composed Of rarmsr'
and mechanics. Whilst we enteytsO
the highest regard for the moral worth
and integrity Of the mass Of The two la.
ter classes, we see no good reason WIN
they should be entitled TO preference i
the councils Of the State or nation, Va
are free to admit that there are MANY
farmers and mechanics who possess
high order of talents, and that their pa.
triotism and love Of justice is rarely sur.
passed by those Of any other profession,
but those do not comprise all the reQu,
site qualifications for good legisalor-
Ii cannot be denied that the Legislative
power is the law making power, andthr
The more legal knowledge is possessed BY
that body the more pure and wise are lis
enactments.
1t has been once asserted by an emf
nent member Of the British Parliament
that law could not be framed by that
body through which q barrister couldnG
''drive coach and four" lfthis be true,
how are we to expect a Legislature com
posed solely Of farmers and mechanicsO
enact correct code Of laws? We BE-
lieve il will be generally admitted that
every man of whatever calling, is gener
ally proud Of his own ability 10 his peca
liar vocation or profession. The farmer
is proud Of his taste and management 10
agricultural pursuits. The mechanic
prides in his ingenuity and inventive
faculties. The Doctor is proud OF his
power of discovering and healing disea'
es. The philosopher Is proud OF his dis
coveries, and the lawyer is proud olhs
legal attainments. Then we should think
lit presumable that the best judges OF law
are the most competent persons to enact
them.
But ii is asserted that lawyers are no!
candid in their recommendation OF Ger.
tain measures, which we think an unfair
presumption, for it cannot be reasonably
supposed that any lawyer would recon
mend the enactment Of a law which h
Ibid not consider tenable, and which h
woudno be ready and willing to defend
There is no reason why it should b
otherwise, for all classes of the commune
ty alternately become the clients, aad
consequently the supporters oil the law
yer, and the impertections and mlscon
structons Of the law as frequatly produce
litigation as the intended violation Of
them; and we therefore contend that
statute framed without the aid oflawyer'
would be productive gilmore real profit Z
that profession than all other causes
combined.
!! is not reasonable to suppose that .
farmer or meciia13i,; has -siieeiler time OF
opportunity to become sufficiently &C
quainted with the intricacies OF law,@
be capable Of framing them without tn
aid Of large number of the profession
who are SO often unjustly charged VIII
being the enemies of other professions
We hear it frequently said that lawyers
are Opposed to mechanics" This can
not be true, for there are many instances
in this country, where the most emlnen
members Of the bar are mechanics them
selves, and the sons Of mechanics, theI
why suspect them Of being opposed
them.
But the great secret Of the matter Il
that little contemplate jealousies are 10
often suffered to creep into the baliO
box, and in the place Of examining calm
! Iy and dispassionately the qualification
Of candidates, we ask what profession NJ
belongs to. But before we suffer on
feeling to be swayed in this way, w
should reflect upon the Importance o. tn
solemn oath which every member o. 'n '
Legislature is compelled to take bolort
he enters upon the discharge OF the t = y.
confded to him by the great body Of ' e'
people, and Judge fairly ofthe acls ..
representative before we dare to ACCUSE
him oil impureor selfish motives. -,
The time was when it was co1slaese'
an honor to be member OF the Le5's ~,
ture, but unfortunately 1t IS not w
case now. What has caused TINS chausTI
it IS not because the people are less lni u
ligent or the office less worthy ol' W '.
cause 100 little regard is paid 70 w so y
lection of candidates; and such mas ooO'
the ncompotency OF majority Q, " y
legislatures, that it becomes the dey =
one set of representatives to repeal am ~
correct the errors OF their preddecses'oa, o
and thas the iimo and money oil Ine P :"
pie is consumed without any gooa allo ,aa
from it, and all these evils are cnss 81 81
Bile upon the people themselves WY al. Az
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