Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-03-26

dicuns beaped upon him without suntor reserve.
But will change the position ofthe Mirror am
holding up,o nature, and again appeal to the CON-
mon sense and candid spirit of my brethren Of the
plough, the anvil, and the workshop. have
right good feeling for the disciples of Ceres, Of
Vulcan, of Minerva, and Of old Tuba Cain, and nun
bound to cqn6de in their sturdy honor, mud TO d.
prand their confidence in turn. Htherefore, what
am abou. to uttcr BE- not the whole truth, as nearly
az it can be said, may the next thunderbolt forged
BY the venerable old Smith find Judgement in my
own offending bosom.
Counselors at law are generally men Of education
they are practical business men from tile necessi-
ty Of the case and from their yocationi they any
well read in the human heart for their constant
contact with men keeps the book ~of humsn pnture
always open before their eyes, they are. sagacious
calculating, and versed in the law, fof iheis tuition
has cost them money, toll and pain, and their ex-
perience is stern teacher whose admontions will.
be enforced upon the dulltst understanding. Con-
sequenty such men must be qualified, if any are:
for the highest and most honorable Offices in the
State. They probably, from their very pursuits are
duties than any other class Of men, This they know
full well (and il lawyers are human, they, are not
without anbition) and this is known to the COM
munity at large. But ambition is not peculiar to-
lawyers even to the most deserving and giltedL
For we know, that the vicious and ignoran, arc
often as towering in their aspirations for place and dir
suction, as the most eminenty wise and yirtuous in
the land Lawyers then, from their accomplish
ments, diligence, and practical talent are dangerous
competitors for Office. Blu, a. body they are few
when compared with the other portion Of the people,
and they are bound to live somewhat isolated in the
villages. Therefore, it is easy for their opposing
candidates Of other calings, with their friends "
raise united clamor against them, which is alnosa
irresistible. Men fight for station they fight fors
their religion or country and vulgar upsart, with,
nothing but his i'll got gain to recommend him, viii
condcscrnd to any baseness 10 compass his ends.
Now, you, the people, to whom address this, cast
about you, for moment You will grant, that there.
is scarcely neishborhood in the district or State
which has not been cursed by the presence Of some
hdecus denlagogue, who, in the end, has been we'll
tried and found wanting. Let me ask you, if tha.
loathsome thing did not commence his career of
clec,oneering, by traducng lawyen, and villagers.
and townspeople and arstocrats and the most Of tho
rich and prosperous in the community, by making
love TO those he called the people, by bcdaubng you
with fattery and by avowug that Farmers, Mechanics
tS" "thc bone and sinew' of the country, ought to
have more power and in fact, the whole govern
nent, Legislative, and all Of tho RepubIic7 know.
the susceptibility Of nature, rs. we'll is know
that the people will genernIly decide right, il Lot
alone, and know, that such arguments will fre-
quen,ly strike home in the best regulated bosouas,
and find a response iruln tempers we have thought
proof against trial. Are we not all of the pcoplel
Are there truly any aristoeracy among usl. H. q
poor Devil, because he has read Blackstone and
Chy, and starved ten or dozen years at the study
Of the laws of his country to bedisfranchised of his
rights as an American. If be happens to have
genius docs be become confcderated with the Prince
Of darkness as be stores his mind, with the varrd
learning Of his age, and breathes that Heavenly in
spraton, the soul Of all greatness which makes thos
forum enchanted at his tones sways the scepter over
the heart Of man, and leads august assemblies cap
tivalcd by his will Docs this happy change traas-
form the son Of your early friend into an incarnatp.
F.end? No! No! Nor docs removal 10 Edse-
field village, or to Hamburg make your honest old
neighbor, that used to live over The way, and that
dealt correctly with you, for thirty years, either o
bad man or knave, or any thing else but gentle-
man, lie was born, u. he has lived, uud he will
die.
/ have pursued this strain long enough though,
and would only trouble you little more, to say y
word in regard to such laUyers, If any these BE-, Il
| have heard rumors Of such but have never seen
tlcnl) who can decry their own brethren 10 propi-
ate the popular favor. No instance of the kind
to at present that could describe to you,
though it is hard to find whole fraternity without
some weak, wicked, or exeeptionable member. But
in reference to such being could entertain no
feelings but those Of incabe contempt and disgust.
No ngenous-no studied combination Of the letters
Of the language could spell the word, to express my
loa,hing Of his character. But he himself would
proclaim his nfamy to the world, for he would have
no right to make himself an exception to his own
sweeping sentence Of condemnation. lie would be
worse than Benedict Arnold, for he renopnced the
cause he had determined to betray. He would be
worse than highwayman, for there is faith sacred
to theirs, and the bandit never pages nor murders
the rubber band to which he belongs. ltbank Goo,
though, that the members of the bar with which {
am mnst familiar, seem TO be gentlemen, and tho
remarks here made, trust and believe can have no
personal application to any Of them. They are Ger,
tain'y not meant for any one. But must admonish
my Fellow-citizens, that ignorant presumption some
times called ambition, knows no law Of honor, or Of
God-recognizes no principle Of jusice-no feelings
Of friendship or of truth-hates the men who have
elevated themselves in the esteem Of mankind, by
private worth, BY noble deeds, and by distinguished
services to the State; and loves the people-the
good people-the innocent people-,he stocet peo-
pie, with the tenderest and most painful JUNCTION.
Such the case with petty tyran,s from the daya
Of Pisst ra.us to those Of Donyaiua Of SYRACUSE
and in this respect all the holy prscepts d Chep-
tianity have failed to amend the human heart.
These men ofthc third class, and they are COUNT
less, who malign the lawyers simply because they
arc little distinguished by learning and ability de.
serve no notice in communication like this. They
execrate all goodness and all excellence, because they
possess them not. If they had the power, they
would drag Angels from Heaven down TO their own
miserable condition. They are Jewellers, in tha
strictest sense Of the term and they themselves
,ro eupL lon, n 5aon e olanprfv thsv v.onI