Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-11-16


sion of law, as miue did, aud il we're
half or four Years OF the first uart of
ny life lawye whether would pass
the remainder Of it as have done, en-
tircly in The public service, and 10 the
exclusion OF the practice OF that profes
sion, or continue that profession as I be.
ga,', with such powers as il has pleased
the Cr-aior to give inc, and such indus
try and integrity in the "a pllcatian of
those powers as has been spoken of
now solemnly declare that so far as per
sonal happiness is concerned, would
Infinitely prefer to pass my life MS a
member OF the bar, in the practice of
my profession according to the abilities
which God has given me, to that life
which hive led, aud in which have
held places Of high trust, honor, respon u
sibiiiiy, and-o5Ioguy.
4 say not obloquy. now, for the pur.
pose OF coinp'a int. Ii it we're true, that
Of u the public servants of the United
States, it had been my fortune TO suffer
more OF the ili opinion Of the world al
various times, and from the variety Of
estimation, high and low, which public
servants must undergo then say, that
u u were my tate To share greater
proportion OF those evils than any 9TH
er man liviag-the scenes of the last
six months, my reception by my fellow
citIzehs OF this city alone, and the pros
pect now before me, would more than
compensate Tor all.
Brethren Of the profession OF the Law
Perhaps my estimation of the profes
sion, notwithstanding what I have said /,
mry not be SO high as that which many
OF you make. so deep is my imp re ssion
OF the natural equality OF mankind, and
of the fundamental rights which that
natural equality confers upon every hu-
man being, that have been accustomed,
and have accustomed myself, 10 transfer
that principle Of equality to all the pro-
les ions of mcn-the honest profession S
adopted By men in the great AMI various
pursuits OF life
1t is common to say that the profes
sion OF the Law is the highest, most hon
orable and most dignifed that can be ex.
ercised by man, Possibly some Of you
may think SO. Ii is possible that YOU
may have entered upon the profession
with that impression. But that impress
sion is not mine. l do believe that the
Liberties of a country depend more upon
the members of the Bar, than upon any
other profession common to man. Ye,
do not consider il in point OF dignity.
IN point OF imporlance. beyonl that OF
the Shoemaker, or the Tailor, or the
iiousewright or Mason, or any nechan
zeal profession. | consider il not supt,
rior 10 the profession OF the healing ART.
destined TO allevia'e and remove IN
| physical evils Of the human race-fa,
less do conslder il superior to that pro
iesslon which connects man with the fu-
ture and with God.
Perhaps some among you entertain
The opinion that this profession alone
may have the sa ne claims TO honor and
dignity. Brethren, my own opinion up
on that subject is, thai the profession OF
DIVINITY stands upon The same founda.
lion as the pr fession Of the law. The
professors of both are bound by the
laws Of nature and OF God, to pass lives
of purity and innocence, doing all the
good they can to their fellow creatu res
on earth. And if the privilege Of the
privilege of the professors Of Divinity
10 stand as nediaiors between God and
man. IT IS eq'ally that of those Of the
la y TO maintain ut all hazards every in
iividual right conferred upon man by
hature aud God. would say therefore
that we ought to refer the whole cues.
ton OF the relative dignity and impor.
lance OF professions aud trades, to that
sacred principle Of na'ural equality
which is the law OF nature between man
and man.
| deem it unnecessary to enlarge fu.-
ther on this subject. | will not discuss
the right Of different classes, to make
Pretentions to the superiority Of their
respective professions. If there is nav
one profession which can claim SUPER
ority over oil the rest, it is that Of the
culIivator Of the earth. For him. more
than once that CAIN has been asserted
But 10 him ! should assign precisely
equal rights with all the rest. Because
he IN NUMBERS counts more than all the
rest though his profession numbers
more than ten to one Of all others To-
gelter-l can not admit superiority on
MS part over the mechanic, thu mer-
chant or the lawyer.
IL Is truly an agreeable circumstance
to me, to receive this address on the part
.oi brethren Of my profession. The
manner in which il has been pronou need
the terms in which the honorable
gentleman has spoken to you OF me
would furnish me language ofeloauence,
VI language Of eloquence were mine. for
the remainder Of this day. But this
would put your patience to severe tri.