The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-23
The Consolidation Banquet-Mr. Reeds
Speech

Philadelphia upon the occasion OF the banquet given by
the consolidation committee 10 the governor, members OF
the legislature. and other distinguished guests Amongst
the speeches made at the festiva-all of which were
characterized by briancy and ability-we have been
particularly struck with the remarks of w b. Reed, esq
United States district attorney, in response to a toast to
"he bar of Philadelphia" His remarks will be par,c.
ularly interesting 10 the legal profession everywhere,
and by all who have read the late speech of of the
Pennsylvania representatives in Congress. adverted 10
by Mr. Reed, will be readily appreciated well-merit-
ed compliment. The following is Mr. Reeds response to
the toast:
Dir. Reds Remarks.
Mr. President | am highly honored by being selected
to acknowledge toast professional brethren
grateful ia behalf OF my profession, at finding that
In your arrangements you have first honored and
beed other pursuits OF active e and thar placed
here in relation, in painful equivocal
dependent but ceequa neither far behind all
ahead OF othet modes Of honest industry Mine is purely
representative profession Our and honos
closely entwned with the and prosperity and hon
the great social community around As pros
per prosper We where doub BIT,
fol rights be maintained We your advisers,
your guides, your friends bat in any your supe-
ors therefore thank you oT posponing u.s. the repre-
sentauves, ill you have honoed those classes Of industry
which constituents II the great you cell
citrate night benefit other occupations, IL will benefit
surely cannot IN inure the bar by enla
ing the Of clients. confess have little of the
sorrowul feeling gracefully alluded to by Mr. Dallas
the 'od city" but, mere matter OF Interest my
prole on have repugnance the one. / sill.
ing to be very hopeful. tAppause
But in direct acknowledge ent Of your sentiment, am
little a loss what To say The instincts Of good
admonsh speak OF the great de ad or living
who have reflected the this city The time
honored phrase lost in antiquity, which
in Europe and at home, as TO puzzng Philadelphia
lawyer atests our traditional lame, and have other
word say about IT, But Of the bar Of Pennsylvania
side the cily limit) In this company do wish speak
and speak with pride Its influence past times
has hardly been appreciated do ask to refer
lonial times, when law students regularly to finish
their studies at the Inns Of Cour-happy mes when law
yeTs rode In their coaches and ourmes, must be per-
mited say Tor have no admiration for proprietary
nasof pseudo-arsiocfac domination and Of feeble per-
plexiiy which in ninety years produced really
grea and which were years Of cry control. for
there was really civilized country. But may refer
to revolutionary times Tor the Influence Of the country
on the city. Had the Of the revolution, with
sharp and irregular processes, and its disturbance Of
theories depended only mainly the pity law
yers lie progress would have been slow, indeed. When
IL I776 the fret republican consultation penned,
the bar irowned Il, and stood aoof The psot
party bad TO send New Jersey for attorney GEN
era and 10 Delaware for chief justice And in 1880
dark period ss the saw-he executive Of the State
appointed his chief adviser young Of twenty
Ave years Of sge who practising law Liuls York
and who, rising steadily up 10 the sradsons OF proes
sona and political distinction. died, tie ssry age Of
or,y Attorney Gene raj 20 President wsshtngon sude
10 Mr. Bradford Daring Washngton's administration and
thai OF his there lawyer statesmen in Con
eress from Pennylyanianen Of lofty bearing and high
toIscua stature such Jsmes Ross, OF Alegheny-
a man OF great prominence Hnywhere-and Samuel Sit.
greavet, u Northampton. Nay, Mr. Chairman, coming
down nearer times, who amongst i iguoran, Of
tho high professonal-puTeY ptoiessionalsmo Of Thos
Duncan and David Wats, Of Cumbs land the las leaving
lineage OF distinction the bar behind him. tspplauss
and Charles Smith aud James Hopkins, ol Lancaster
and have been iold-for only knew them IN another
uncton-that few advocates bad greater power The
trial OF cause (uo small prsise) than Charles Huston and
Thomas Burnside Of Centre, q believe saw here thi,
evening his heir ta,,) and Others both OF whom in
THAR later years may venture 10 call my irends-men,
with all theiy namltiss, OF bright parts and vigorous
power-Riohard Coulter, Of Restmoreland, and John
blanchard, Of Centre [Applsuse
Such has been the lame and such the influence in past
time OF the bar OF Pennsyyans and here, the confines
OF the living generation, | admonished TO pause.
Whether we botier than those who have gone
be fore uswhcher their example practically Influential
TO raise standard, il IL not for say, ! very
sure in the ranks OF the profession many
Of sonnd technical learning and high cholarsh pmen,
too whom the historical ssoestions Of the past
operative, and who feel that the honors of history pro-
icssous and social inhsr,iaocs 10 be proud Of
could name such, were II proper ndivduage, among
houoed guests to-nght and, within the last month,
Pennsylvania man. Fayeue-couny lawyer, has delivered
public bene6cence which, all the elements Of states.
msnke ability, OF varied study and praeca manly eo.
qpenoe, is worthy OF all praise IAppsuse Had II come
from Massachusetts Vginisu lips, the echoes Of sp.
plause would be crowang FOUND him. and he would be -
vone son." indeed As II is, his honors more pre-