Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-03
Law, LAWYERS and Courts.

The only reason for the establishment OF
Law, is the security Of justice. A commu-
nifty may be judged by its laws and the man
ner in which they are administered. The
wisest, the most prosperous and the most
happy communities are those in which justice
is most secure. Perfect Law is the very
order of Heaven, the law oflove, the extreme
opposite of anarchy and injustice. The
administration of the laws of a community
should approach as nearly as possible to the
perfection of the administration of the moral
or natural laws. They are made and admin.
istered in mercy and love, for the real benefit
of man, and not in vengeance or hatred, for
his injury. But they are as infexible as
their Eternal Author. Mans acts are causes
in the moral and material laws from which
the effects invariably follow. The good or
evil acts Of men carry with them, as a con-
sequence, their own reward. Although we
may not expect this perfection in the making
or administering of human laws, yet it should
be our constant effort to follow its teachings,
and just in proportion as we can approach
its perfection shall we confer blessings upon
all who live under the influence of;our laws.
LAWYERS were intended to be aids in the
administration of the law for the greater
security of Justice. The profession is a
most responsible and honorable one, and we
are gratfed to believe that the great MAORI.
ty of its members are worthy Of the position
which they hold. We regret to say, however
that there are members who do not seem to
understand the responsibilities or duties of
the profession. They do not seem to think
that they have any thing to do with the right
or wrong, the justice or injustice of cause.
They seem TO recognize u distinction, wide
as an impossible gulf, between their public
and their private characters-they are will
ling to do as lawyers what they would never
do as men or private citizens. They seem
to think that they are bound TO take the case
and fee of client, even when they believe
him to be wrong, and that then it is their
duty to do all they can for the success OF
his cause that is, that they are bound to use
their learning and their influence, to pervert
the law and the testimony, and to impose
upon the minds Of jurors, so as to destroy,
instead of aiding truth and justice, and to
make the wrong appear to be the right
We do not understand the duties Of a
lawyer. We think that the practice of the
profession does not necessarily involve any
duty or'obligation inconsistent with caudor,
integrity and the promotion Of the ends OF
strict justice. A client who is in the right
should be aided by all the proper means in
the power of his lawyer and client who
is wrong should be advised and aided to set
tie his controversy upon principles of equity
and justice. If it be said that this course
would curtail the business of the profession,
then we ask-shall suits, and discord, and
burdens upon the community, continue
among citizens, that lawyers may thereby
get more business? Certainly not-wil be
the response of every right minded man,
To Intentionally pervert the ends of justice
in the capacity Of a lawyer, sworn to support
the Constitution, would involve, besides
other crimes, that of moral treason to the
Constitution.
Lord Bolingbroke said Of law, that it is
in its nature the noblest and most beneficial
to mankind, in its abuse and dcbasement the
most sordid and the most perricous." Judge
Blackstone, in describing the necessary
qualities Of a great lawyer, says they must
have not ouly "qualilies of the head" but
those OF the heart" a zeal for liberty
and the Constitution, sense Of real honor
aud well grounded principles of religion
Such are hundreds of men now in the pro.
fession, and such men will be great in any
profession.
But the Court is after all the great guar.
dian of the rights of the people, and the only
real security for the just administration Of
the law. So long as this sacred office shall
be filed by pure and right minded men, even
bad lawyers may be tolerated and the lights
of the people be still secure.-Albany Pa
frint