New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-18
AN ADDRESS
TO THE
GRADUATING CLASS OF THE LAW SCHOOl
UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY,
ny DAVID DUDLEY FIELD.
Differed March %, 1855.


tace of class Of young men just finishing ioeir pre-
paratory studies and about to enter upon the woro.
The competition Of the class gone, the excitement OIL
studies in common over, they are passing IRON tue
condition Of scholars to that of actors. Oar magma
top follows them into the future. We see them en-
bark now for the frst time upon the open sea- where
they sre oftsn tossed by empess and often oecaeIi
who're some are drfed ashore, Others nundered and
fvy ride prost erousy with favorinc winds ana swell
ing sails into the desired haven.
Such Is the spectacle presented TO US tonight a
seminary OF learning founded by the Lea ana ioressu'
of emiI cnt men who. judges and lawyers, nave
illustrated the advantages of study and whose love OF
Inowledee has prompted them TO take upon them
selves the office of professors ami Teachers here as
misses IFS graduating class WIN ,ne ns. "O"' 'A'
To us no are assembled 10 see them art on TINS
vove0e of life TO bid them God speed, and perhaps
nfer some words Of counsel there shoad seem ~ De
no filter topic with whch TO occupy ourselves TOT tle
bour we mss together than the obligations which these
xo,iug eentemen are about 10 assume AS lawyers
toward the community OF which they are 10 FORM
mart ssly as lawyerS because AN 10 speak OF me
PECULIAR obligations OF that procession ani aii 90,
tt.orJ ne coggmHHifv because | am to dscuss, not
their duties 10 their clients, but their duties to the state
and confne myself to that part OF their obligauons
which results from tie present condition OF her pro-
fssion and the subject of IT, and which relates 10 the
advancement OF both.
The tonic therefore TO which this evening beg TO
call your attention is legal reform in it, most general
acceptation that is say, Reform IN the LegaI Pro-
fcssion and IN the lars.
and conscientious legal profession is almos as neces
sarv as a well-devised system Of laws; iof "a uhih-
strucied and dishonest body OF lawyers woid go iar
TO uuy the wisest code that was ever framed by the
vi of man.
Let us first consider the profession. Its present con-
dition We all know. We see aud regret It's failure, as
body fulfill the whole of that high trust which y
reposed In il and to satisfy all the expectalons "nIn
it nil ht Justly raise Far be 1t from me IN saying tns
10 assent to those terms of obOquy with which some
deicht to assa il, or 10 include all It's members
in the ceusure 10 which profession tear We mn,l
submit Ourselves. Bat every candid person must az
nit that lis condition at he present is not such as he
would wish il to be. Although it be numerous ana
powerful though s members occupy nearly all the
offices of the land though sees IN It's ranks Ia
rronoron of the talent and leaning among u.s. II IS
never theess true that it's standard OF learning Is 700 oM
H. views of its duty TOO narrow, its aims too hu nple
and s voice too weak. The regret with which TINS
confession is made is all the greater that the oppor'u
Mite for usefulness were never before 80 manifested
Foremost in political assemblies, exclusive IN the
courts of Justice controlling in the halls of legislation
performing nearly all the functions OF maglstracy'
tue lawyers have the amplest mecns OF influencing
legislation and opinion. II Is not too mucn 10 say tnat
I'm no former period Of history and in no other quarter
of the world has the profession of the law attained TO
such development in extent and power 1t . natural
that Il should be co. The Importance OF the lawyer Is
ALWAYS proportion 10 tlc importance VI NO oh'
Where wifi reigns there ia small scope for legal men
WI ere law governs tue lawyer tourshes so, JUST IN
proportion will gives way TO law, that IS III proper
ton as men become free in the same proportion me
proG ssion grows powerful Tell me the freedom OF a
ate and will tell you the strength of its bar In he
old REPUBLICS the advocate always person OF con-
sequence: but masmuch violence sometimes usurped
the place of law and the rights of the citizen as ainst
the State were ildCfned and protectad the advocate
gave way before the chief of party or the comman-
der of armed men, In continental Europe, through all
It's modern periods, tie military profession mas taken
rank and precedence; AID even in England where the
bar is strong the aristocracy ana army nave over
shGdowed il in popular estimation.
But i'm our country the legal profession has every
element of strength and prominence. Our only SOW
ereipn il the law and LAWYERS are its only ministers
and nerpreters The judicial department is recruited
solely Ion its ranks that department whose functions
are greater than were ever before deyolyed upon the
judicial Office, and 10 whose especial keeping tho pres
rvatiOn of written constitutions il intrusted.
profession thus surrounded and thus upheld, has
onesI ondiog duties to fill. Its standard oil excel
ence il measured by its opportunities to benefit aus
Is means to excel. Standing before the Bench OF
Justice il enlighten and guide It's Judgment; SIT
ting the seats OF legislation, 1t can frame wise and
beuefCent rules for the government OF society admin
sieriLg executive functions it can temper Justice with
mercy and show that an iniiexlble execution OF the
laws, is the per lection OF merclful justice Wnat
then, with go many opportunities and such means OF
good at command, might not what ought not, the Ban
of this country To be and to do
To regret that this noble profession OF ours which
can accomplish results beneficial, which numbers
among lis members so many of the wise and good OF
all ages now falls below its ideal Standard Is not
enough. 1t is wiser and maner to retrieve than to
regret. Let then seriously reflect upon the means
OF advancement, IN the several particulars OF Protes
siOAal ethics, manners and education.
First as to legal ethics. Though it be far from my
intention TO dsparage the moral sentiments OF large
class of our most distinguished men, for know that
those sentiments of the purest and most exalted
kind and equally far from my mind to Join in or coun-
tonance that iippGnt aud ignorant CenuncatOn which
neither cicr mates examines but rashy imputes Ia
the whole the agrGnt and undenlabe faults OF tc v;
vet must be permitted TO say that the prevalent no
io OF professional ethics are in one respect too low
and that we must correct them If would hold tn i
place which should be ours of right, and perform that
amount of good that ia within our reach. refer OF
10 the opinion that one duty 10 his client swa
lows up other duties
There is no profession not even the military, which
puts in the sentiment of honor more than own
There daily intrused to the property the reps
tatOn, the lives If our clients vet, when have they
been betrayed The secrets of families are in ou
keeping. and who viii complain of their having been
dvulged So far as the relations of the lawyer TO his
client alone concerned, nothing could be more IN
exceptionable they are under the SAFE guard of tina
honor which has yet failed to regulate and pre-
serve them. And what conceive alone TO be want
ing is to exteyd the same sentiment beyond the
client to the adverse party and his witnesses, and &c
tie court.
Inc lunuamchtal errOri on tnls hedd' suppose e
arise from forgetting that the profession Of lawyer il
means TO end, and that end the administration o
justice. His first duty is undoubtedly to his client
but that not the only one there also duty to the
Court, that il shall be assisted by the advocatei
duty TO the adversary, not TO push advantage be-
yond the bounds Of equity DUTY 10 truth and right
whose allegiance 10 human being can renoUnce; and
a DUTY 10 the State, that it shall no; be corrupted by
the example Of INSCRIPTIONS insincerity.
The subject Of professional manners may be thought
by some beneath the dignity Of public occasion; bat
though it may be Of minor importance cannot think