Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-06-12
Nj | $ G. T. l. l. A n Y .
THE HONEST LAWYER.

We have great respect Tor tie legal pro-
fession, but lawyers, like other men, some.
times forget the good old maxim, that
" honesty is the best policy" Tho tempta-
tions thrown in the way Of young lawyer
to swerve from strict rectitudc are very
great, and hut few are able to resist them.
But We do not believe there is single
branch Of human pursuit where unbcnding
honesty is ~ sure Of temporal reward, as
the practice Of the law. lie who gains the
reputation Of laborInc 10 promote strict JUS
ticc between man and man. is sure of the
confidence OF the community, and this con.
fdencc will necessarily secure the best legal
business. The honest lawyer may not be-
come rich at oncc-not as soon, perhaps as
the knayc-but he will succeed in the end,
and always with his success there will be
the feeling Of clnsciou. rcctitudc, which Of
it.cli, is priceless fortune. We give a
short story below, which will illustrate the
truth Of wha, wo have said
It is now I've years since the widow
Styles called on me one morning before
breakfast, and asked me to recommend her
to some lawyer, as she thought her friend
S,ubbs was less correct than he might be.
| asked her to step into the parlor, and went
myself to my brcakh', and my wife, whose
advice | always asked upon such points
We had known Mrs. styles many years
her husband was great land owner IN
eooily town Of the western country, and
with di.intcrys,cd love that deserved some
hcitcr ain, ever pressed it On hi, helpmate,
as the first rule Of lfc, to ct all she could,
and keep all she got. llc died, and Mr'.
STYLE, bscamc more and more fond Of wealth,
and sensible II the admirable advice which
her husband had gwen her.
stated tho facts to my wife, and waited
bcr opinion.
well. william" ," said she, after drink.
ing cupsl c,r'c upon my story, " | fear
the old lady has some money. getting claim
in view You know she has Of late given all
her affections to getting NOR, wealth. |
would therefore recommend her To the most
honest aud conscientious lawyer in town.
She relies on your Judgment, use it not Tor
her seeming but real good"
counted my legal acquaintance. over,
before | hit upon the one answering to the
terms " honest aud conscientious" in the
sense which knew Ellen had used them
at length found him, and taking my hat,
walked 8, h- Office
We found Mr. sawyer at his desk; he
r,s, aud gave "a. chars, and awaited Mrs.
Styles statement But before 60 on, on
this point let me say few words Of this
phenomcnon-this man with his head under
his Left arm close 70 his hcart-thi, honest
lawyer in the broaie,t, highest sense Of the
term.
lIc was a man Of ihiriy.fyc he had
studied law because he liked the study, and
began the practice because he had got to get
a living and now he continued in the pro.
fcssion in spite Of bad opponents and bad
courts, because be thought he had done and
might yet d. much good by his laD1r' not
alone hy saving the iunoctntanl needy from
the strong aud cruel, bat preventing strife,
putting stop 10 knayi'h practices, and
dis.uadIn: men and women from UNJUST suits
and pl.sion.rousins quarrel'. Mr.. sawyer
thought 1t was not only proper TO refuse
acting for thoso whose claims he thought
dishonest, but he counted it also duty and
a privilege. nay, mark Of Christian char
acter, to try to persuade them to forget such
claims. llo sought fame and practice as
means whereby to exert moral influence over
the community be thought a lawyer bound
to serve not hls ciicnt only, but his God and
hi. country, and he looked upon hlm Who,
Tor gain, would posccutc suit which he
unfair, as a traitor to his country,
and his religion, in act, whatever he might
be in intention. In short, as Bill Blunt
said, "Sawycr is such hanged fool as to
think il an attorneys business to help the
parson to make men good Christians"
And now we shall let Mrs, Styles state
her business. II SENS that her husband
had sold and conveyed several lots, which
her father had LEFT in trust for her, and m
such a form that she, meaning to release her
fee in the lots, had in terms, merely released
right Of d,wry-thcse lots she understood
she could get back.
"DI you ever receive any money for
them ?" said Mr.. Sawyer.
Certainly, sir"
"was it fair, fall price?"
"It was all we asked, sir"
"Did you sign the deed willingly"
"Of course Do you think Jared would
have driven me TO ~"
"Did you mean 10 conway full title in
fee, Mrs. Styles -
Beyond doubt, but as we didn't they
tell me the land never passed" "
"Supposc, Mrs. Styles, the money had
been paid before you had drawn the deed,
should YOU have thought it honest, after
getting the money, to refuse to give the
decd?"
"why, lawyer, that would have been
thicying right down"
"well. Mrs. Styles, you have not yet
given the deed, shall draw one for you to