Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-05-28

rated bic puny dignity. for my business -
not with ~onensity. but with "Observer,"
who is man Of some Influence in our CON-
muni,y, ard whose sayings necessarily have
some weight with his most devoted adhc-
rents. .Observcr" made a serious charge
against an honorable profession, and il his
charge be true. the cisizsns Of Scott county
may Justly be alarmed, while leaving their
mos, important interests in the hands OF
that profession denied the accusation
and charged its author with eliminating
our bar for the detachable purpose Of graft
flying 4 vaulting ambition and thirst for po-
li,icsl prefermen,. We expected that the
waters would soon be agitated By "Obser-
YER" for the August election is approaching,
and il has been his policy. and the policy Of
the fusion leaders of our county, to be ari.
mated BY inspired zeal just on the ev, Of an
important election, only. "Observer" has
clothed his communication in the fern Of
dialogue. and will take up the same form
of discussion laying down few fan
damental principles Of human right sacredly
guaranteed in every free form Of govern
ment First. every man is presumed honest
and innocent until he is proved to Do guilty
BY competent evidence. No other rule
could prevail in any community. except
among Arabs and pirates. Second, every
person charged with public ofFense has the
sacred right OF being tried by jury Of his
peers. who on their oaths are bound to pre-
sumo prisoner innocent until proof es;sh-
fishes his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Keeping these salutary rules IN view, let US
narrate an event that might occur, and If
observer was lawyer. would be pre-
sumcd to occur, did we not know his ardent
love oft "root Of all evil"
observer" enters the Office of an attor-
ney one morning, escorted by the Constable
as a body guard. and enter Immediately
upon the object Of his visit:
Obs.-"Good morning, Mr.. Lex. have
been arrested on a charge Of violating the
liquor law, and being wholly innocent of
the charge. have called upon you for your
professional assistance at the trial, which
takes place this afternoon"
AHy,-"What is your occupation, Mr..
Observeri"
Obs.-"I keep grocery store on the cor.
ner Of Main and Front streets, and as
sure you, that the charge against me is en-
tirely false and unfounded."
Aay.-"Mr Observer, caanot under
take your defense, you are aware that it is
an ofense against the laws of our State to
sell intoxicating liquor by the dram, and
you mus, suffer the penalty of,he law"
Oas.--"But tell you am no, guilty
I am in respectable business, enjoy the
confidence ofmy neighbors and friends. and
must have your assistance. Every man
is presumed innocent until proved guilty,
and | trust you do no, presume me guilty
merely because | am accused of crime"
Ahy.-"I know the law to be as you
state, and that you are good citizen; but
there are large number Of our citizens who
frown upon liquor selling, and few vensl
politicians, wearing the cloak OF reform.
who would denounce me as dishonest If
undertook your cause. and my professional
business might be ruined By IT,; besides,
these men unite in villifying any lawyer
who does advocate the cause OF these
charged with such an otTense. You must
look elsewhere for professional assistance"
O5s.--"Bu, am not well acquainted with
the other attorneys, and knowing your abl-
ity and integrity, have called upon you to
defend me-"
Aty.-"I cannot doit. know you have
right TO fair and impartial trial, to be
I presumed innocent until there is proof OF
| your guilt, TO be defended BY an attorney
| appointed by the Dist. Court. if too poor to
| pay for one yourself; but if undertake your
defense, Hiram Price and his satellites will
openly and secretly defsme me, insinuate
against me false reports, advise all stran.
gers to avoid my office, call me a whskey
lawyer. tell me am trsmpling upon moral
ity, and let loose their hounds of detrac,iop
and abuse to wrong nae with their internal
ISLANDERS. So long as the community in
which live sustain such men in their war.
fare against the dearest of all human rights
the reputation, dare not peril my bushes
BY advocating the cause Of the accused
am sorry for you, but cannot help you. u
Observer leaves the Office, sad and defect
ed, and failing to procure the aid OF an .t,or-
ney, he goes before the court for trial.
The information vas lodged against him
BY man wholly destitute of character,
ard to crafty private malice. The wit
nesses were his enemies, and the evidence
is doubtful and vague. But the attorney for
the prosecution rises up, and eloquently
denouncing liquor sellers, rcfers to widows
tears and orphans signs, and poverty and
ruin wrought by the nefarieu. business OF
liquor selling. His eloquence captivates
the court and jury and EFFORTS tears from
the bystanders, and his denunciations and
inyeciiVes against those no do violate III.