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

Mn. EDITOR: A plain Farmer or common citizen
unau.ht in the modern schools Of progress, better
termed, think, by some, schools OF aSrarlan'sm
and liccntiuusness and yet one who has some little
experience Of the world, Graves your attention
never sought Office, nor obtained IT. and am unambi-
ous Of any other rank, than that which belongs TO
every honest man. My sons, four in number, are stall
wart and hardy, of good understandings and habits,
and none of them have been permitted to dose
over dead mems bones in Doctors shop. or t. mis-
apply their very ordinary talents ut the study Of
aw or divinity. These remarks TO prove my impair
tia i;y are promised, that may be the better heard,
in what have to say hereafter.
Lawyers are habtually denounced by three
classes Of persons disappointed liiigants, ambitious
aspirants for Offices for which they are unqualified
among the people, and perhaps among the unworthy
members Of the Bar it.elf, aud that mean and en-
yious tribe Of mortals, who hate a m, Of merit, te-
c:,use they lack that inestlmabc quality themselves
Such were ,lluse, who ostracised Aristdes because
he was called Just, ban;shcd Themistuces because
he saved his country, and utterly expelled all virtue
from the Territory and very Atmosphere OF Athens
1t is not only unphosophical, but it is childish to
contend that the legal profession, as denomination,
are less honest and upright than the members Of
any other calling. All professions Of mcn have
about the same measure Of integrity-the Farmers
the Mechanics, the Merchants, the Physicians, and
all and it is merely because the acts Of one class
are more prominent, and are more distinctly brought
to the view of the public eye, that they appear more
gross and lagitious. The man of the law isa public
mau. and is forced, in the most important translc-
,ions Of his life 10 display himself fully before the
community in which he lives. lience, if he has de-
fects, they become apparent.
We are all from the same divine hand, subject to
the same curse and liable to the same infirmties.
Every man, who has had any intercourse with bis
neigbors has learned long before the age OF forty
FIVE, to be wary in dealing even with tho best ct
them, care not wha, may be their occupation, lest
he be deceived and cheated and if lie trades he has
found that half OF the soberest farmers Of the most
scrupulous mechanics, and OF the exactest most or
dcrly merchants, will over estimate and mlsrepresent
their labor and their merchandise, for the purpose
of reapng the advantage in bargain
The truth is, this is the secret OF many OF the
charges and bitter prejudlccs against lawyers, and
il is based in the disposition Of the frail human mind
Nearly two thirds Of the clients who enter law
office, enter it with their feelings bised against
their adversary, and so much in favor OF their own
cause, that they are wholly incapable Of giving the
truth Of the matters in dispute or of relating the facts
as they exist The man of the glcen bag, Of course
is compelled 10 decide from their own story. lie
has no other data by Ills cases are lost from
the mis,atements, or Involuntary Misrepresentation
of his clients and he, for his pains, is almost in
variaby accused of falsehood and pre6diousness
The disappointed parties must have some object upon
which to wreak their vengeance, and their greatest
beneficor, is the nearest one within their contem-
plation and is the easiest aimed Mt by The shait
hurled from the bow Of madman. IL the poor At
torney charges fee for his efforts and watching