Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-24

Ao,A C''.. lHey VIII receive subscriptions
and contract for Advertisements for the Time,
and Gazette.
THE BAR.--Looking yesterday into our
fine Court House, we found the court and law.
yers moving on in their usual quiet way of dis
posing OF the business Of dull term. AL.
though there was nothing of much interest on
the carpet, we were pleased to observe. as we
have often done before, the traits which dis.
hnguish our lawyers from those we have seen
III too many other places. There is no bar,
we venture TO say, where the courtesy and
honorable department of gentlemen are more
habitually observed than at our own Its mem
bers are men of educated minds, and far above
the petty tricks which, in some places. are con-
sdered the highest achievement of the profes-
sion. The rude insolence towards witnesses.
and the snappish petulance towards each other.
which are sometimes cultivated as merits, are
here almost unknown.
But other reflections connected with the bar,
occurred 10 us, which we are now about to
give to our readers. These gentlemen of the
robe are the rivals OF the press They. more
than any other class, practice that art which
divides the empire of the press over public
opinion in this Countrywide art Unpopular
speaking. Indeed, SO large share have they
in addressing the people on all questions of
OF public, and especially of political interest.
'hat The opinion Is very commonly held that
their profession is more favorable than any 9th
er Tor the cultivation of this faculty. We
believe this is mistake. They have some
advantages, II is true, but il they were not IA
'ored by opportunities apart from their pro-
lesion, and common to- all citizens, we are
net sure they would be very well fitted to
address popular assemblies. IL men of other
pursuits were as carefully educated i'm youth,
and would practice speaking in our numerous
meetings. they ought TO excel the LAWYERS in
that art.
1t is true that the habit of addressing uries
Is favorable to this kind Of excellence. That
is a popular tribunal and il has to deal with
Important ISSUES. Upon the decision of these
twelve men often hang our dearest rights. AT
their hanls the multitude of suitors expect
wealth, or liberty, or life, or dread the doom
OF poverty, the prison, or death. On them
rests the duty OF sitting truth often by pro-
cess which only the greatest intellectual effort
can well accomplish. Yet these responsible
functions are frequently committed to men
whose reason can but feebly resist the arts of
ingenuity or the assaults of eloquence. Thus
II sometimes happens that the scales of Justice
are seen TO vibrate with the breath of alternate
advocates
though rarely, arise to elicit the highest genius
and most consummate eloquence of the Bar.
II is true also that to the members of this |
profession are habitually laid bare the secret
springs OF human conduct, and they learn TO
detect with practised scrutiny and to touch
with familiar hand the ruling motives of
those whom they are called upon to address
But to watch the tides of the heart is not al
ways to sway them. To exercise this control
over large assemblies the orator must be pre-
pared to disarm opposition by persuasive and
graceful manner, to dazzle his hearers with the
light OF brilliant fancy, to win them with
attractive and unwounding wit, to fire them
with passion or melt them to pathos by the
glowing pictures of skilful artist And for
oil this what is there in the daily routine. the
dry plodding detail of a lawyers Office to fit
him?
In ms most essential studies the dull ouaint
iollos oil Coke are more familiar than the dec
iamations of Demosthenes, and he copies the
special pleadings of Gritty instead of the son.
orous periods of Cicero. His most eloouent
oratorcal efforts are the urgent appeals which
he makes as dun, and in these his exordinm
isoiten awrit and his pcroration an execution
Inc eloquent specimens of his literary STYLE
appear IN uncouth pleadings or in certain EMS.
Ties from the loving Richard Roe NOTIFYING hi.
friends that the Unsuitable John Doe is time and
again setupon him. Here, too. all the branch.
es oil the profession are united in single Nor.
son-embracing that of the attorney vLict,
IN England is proverbially salt TO wbet dow,
the intellect TO invisible sharpness, and that of
'he special Pleader which, there, by long wears
OF monotonous and technical toll s,in. AID
weaves the brain into cobwebs. If ono ,oa,,
could master all the branches Of the profession
ne might boast with Lord Coke that 4" tho
sparks OF all science is gathered I'M from tho
"'s Vi 'he law but we fear that the spark
OF eloquence would glimmer with very dim
nenl IN brain filled with the ashes Of tech
nical lore. 'o'''-
H. therefore, the greater number Of o,,, Nom.
u'aI sPeakersare lawyers it is not because tbn;,
profession is more favorable to the ar, d.
Others, bat because men in other pu,.p;t, L.,
not prepare themselves for il by esrlv -
NfasI ....l. =
oi'd industrious practice. Indeed, We might
snow that the habits Of the Bar have actually
ri'iated the style Of our popular speaking. and
mat there is need Of improvement. such ..
VIII only be made when other citizens more
carefully turn their attention to il