New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-14
LAWYERS AND POLITICIANS.


Seward referred to the little pettfogging exceptions
taken to the memorial by some of the Border
Ruffian Senators on the ground of erasures and
interlneatioDs, as being more appropriate to q
sharp legal crOss-exaninaton OF witness whose
decisive testimony it was necessary, in bad case
to dsparsge or set aside than to the more generous
and comprehensive principles which ought to
govern rhe action of such body as the Senate. To
this, Mr.. Crttenden, who had just been urging
these pettifoeging objections, tarty replied that he
was proud of being lawyer, and that he would
rather be professional lawyer than professional
politician.
Undoubtedly the profession Of the law has at
present one great advantage over the protes-
sion of politician. There once was, ages
ago, a time when it was considered base and
detachable for man to sell for money to the most
scaDdalous of criminals and the most imPudent oil
cheats, bis countenance his friendship, his intima-
cy, the utmost efforts of all his talents, skill
and learning to save villain from the gallows or
the prison, which his crimes had richly merted, or
to enable him to cheat some widow or orphan OUT
of their pstrimony and livelihood. This romantic
and antiquated sentiment of decency and seli.re-
spect has, however long since disappeared. For
lawyers to league themselves for money
with the most cOnsummate OF scoundreIs,
to become, as it were, accessories after the
fact to the greatest Of crimes and vilanes by their
paid labors in shielding the perpetrators from de-
lection and punishment, or from being Obliged to
disgorge their dishonest gains-all this has become
a regular business transaction, and the LAWYER
shares the spoils of the murderer and the robber,
and pockets the fee stained with the blood and wet
with the tears of some wretched victim of fraud or
force from whom bis client had just before ex-
tOrted it, with no less satisfaction than he puts into
his pocket also the last dollar of the poor deuded
victim who, having been plundered or cheated OF
the greater part of bis property by some unproieS
sonal rogue, spends the miserable remnant OF 1t IN
the vain and deceptive pursuit Of legal redress.
1t is great advantage which the lawyers haze
that of being able to do these things openly. The
politicians have not yet got quite so far. Nhen
they have anything of this sort 10 do, they are sill
obliged to do it on the Ely for that which. in the
case of the lawyer is his fee, hs lawful hire re-
coyerable if not duly paid, in court ofjustlce' IA
the case of the politician bears the ugly name OF
bribe for which, if be be detected in taking 1t, he
may only be stripped of his vocation but sent to
the parliamentary. But though in this respect the
professional LAWYER has undeniabe advantages over
the professional politician, not only IN keep
ing out of the pententary, but in the enjoyment IN
spite of very questionable course of life, OF good
fame in the community yet how far there Is for all
that any thing in the profession of the law which
requires Mr.. CritteDden to make such public
boast of his pride in it, or such glorfcatlon OF 1t
az compared with the profession of politics, we
must beg permission TO take the liberty to doubt.
Jeremy Bentham was lawyer, and most pro-
found one aud beside being lawyer he was also
philosopher. He spent the whole of long life IN
the study of law and it's administration, and this
the picture which, in of his latest publications.
his Second Letter to the Count of TOreno'-he
draws of the legal profession as it now exists;
"If there is class of whose personal interest
in constant necessary and direct opposition TO the
public interest il is the class Of awyers The glorious
uncertainty of the aw-that is the source whence
they draw ali the profits of their profession that the
treasury which supplies them with delays, money ana
reputation. The more duncult Justice Is To De got,
the deareT II wiSen.
1T appears at the frst glance that the necessary
influence of the trade which these men exercise i 10
inspire them with profound Indifference as between
Justice and Injustice, right and wrong, since II i their
business to hire themselves out 10 defend one the
other by turs. But when come 20 look at the
matter more closely il il wrong " hch pays them best
because the of that depends more upon Their
good Offices than the success of right and of course the
side Of u;ustce is that which they prefer.
ha Ma aS-in hfs orNh i-
ger receives his pay, and IN d his life. The advocate
at the bar sells bis words, receives his money, an
rsks nothing. Nay, more, perverse and srnseles-
multitude follow him with shouts as they would a con-
GueIor ard applauses Shower upon bis head in pro-
port, 10 the mischief that be GO 5.
If there Is profession which trains its members
L. 60 evil and avoid the punishment OF IT, Is this
Ii there i probe which, BY the habit OF gain &c
duired by sustaining ndierrnty truth and falsehOOd
efiaces fIom the soul al sincerity al love of truth It
Is this. II there i profession which teaches man,
by the constant practice Of his lfe 10 sell hi faculties
TO the highest bidder 10 say anything and everything
Ia accuse everybody and 20 defend everybody for
hire, to let himself out BODY and soul Ia the employer
who paws best, and consequently to be awsys ready
% sacrifice for the slightest profit the interest OF the
greatest number, it i the trade OF the lawyer"
Such is the opinion of jeremy Bentham-a pretty
competent judge-Of the profession of lawyer
Nor is it his opinion alone, for he does but give
roundness, fullBess, yiyacity and expression to s
portrait which can be traced through all literature
and which in spite of the high consideration which
the legal profession enjoys among US, may daily be
found outlined in conversation and the periodical
press. Can Mr.. Crittenden say anything worse of
professional politicians
But unfortunately the question which of these
two professions that of the law or that of politics.
taken By ITSELF is the least creditsbe 10 those who
follow it, or the worst for the public, is one which.
in this country at least, We have no opportunity of
solving. With US the profession of politics does