The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1857-07-04
Are Nsne bat Lawyers 10 Lest>la'e,

Are None bat Lawyers 10 Lesi>lase.
Such is III. bead Of an article in the last
issue of tbs Flag, IN ~h'ch the editor enae"-
or- to create the Impression, that We hefalie d
forth the idcs that "aons but lawyers should
t, entrusted with the enactment OF laws.
This" h. says is far Inference drawn
from an srticl. which sppeats IN it, NE Tex
a- Republican, last issue Now We ven
,ure to .-y, tha, no intelligent, candid man.
eonld arrive q, any such conclusion. We
.aii tina, state ought to foster IT, men OF
talent. aud that intelligence could not be bet
ter sustained than b. opening VIDE to II 'he
door. of distinction. We thought, also, that
IN the pre.en, state Of affairs, when our prin-
riplcs ought 10 be discussed before the people
that. inasmuch a. our opponents object to
any man, speaking who is not a candidate,
that men possessing high order of forensic
ability should DO chosen for distinguished POI
sition-.
II the editor means to Affirm tia, lawyers
are the oniy men Of talent, and the only speak
er., then he j. correct in h, ~niefeoee',
not otherwise We however, entertain no
such opinion. From the beginning TO the end
Of our article, there WAS not the slightest al
lns.on Ia lawyer. ~ he profession Il The las
How is o., then. thys oar neighbo- committed
TN, singular error ia, be- a prejudice
against tia, accomplished and useful class OF
our fellow citizen, who have devoted the
greater portion Of their lives TO the study OF
the Constitution and laws OF their country
OF knowing there was vulgar prejudice
araifs, lawyers among the ignorant, DID he
wish to make capita out Of it II the latter,
biz gun is 50 highly charged that I, may shoot
beth ways la the present contest, Houston
Evans, Reagan, aud We believe Lubbock are
all lawyers.
We think tina, u legislative body ought to
represent, as nearly a. possible, The useful
occupations Of the country, and that the most
able men should be selected, when they eaa
be induced to serve. Certainly It .ougnt not to
be an objection to man, whose bushes, u Is
To amend bad Jaws or make new ones, that he
knows what the aw is some Of the most
patriotic and distinguished men this country
has ever produced were lawyers, We may
instance the names Of Patrick Henry, Alex
ander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Henri
Clay, John G.. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, &c
The true lawyer challenges our respect anc
confidence II Is only the petiioggef whom W
all despise.
Ia hi. thing Of eleeilng legislators we are
d sineularly inconsistent. If We want a bons
built We employ carpenter. II We desire
p neat suit Of clothes, we 60 to tailor bdl
ia the business of making and amending laws
which control life, liberty, and property, We
employ frequently the most incapable. Il !
. astonishing that our statute books are crowd
i ed with crude and conflicting laws Il !
surprising that the law ia constantly changing
and that there is 80 mach unnecessary lltlga
ton Now, We 40 not mean to saw that til
Legislature should be composed OF lawyer.
: but Their, certainly ought to be higher orde
Of Intelligence IN our public council, than W
y have had hitherto It vas formerly con,d
t cred II mark OF great respect to send ma
g to the Legislature or to tpngt es-, aud "
must confess that we are old fogy enough
It regret that such is not the case at present
e The avenues to distinction are crowded wit
h men OF mediocrlty.