The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-14

ed tribunals to which the people could appeal
for redress, and where all great questions Of
government could be finally tested, and all laws
tried by the rules of reason and the constitu-
tion. With this glance at the dignity of the
law, we cannot avoid the conclusion, that he
who studies it in true spirit-with the desire
| of beneftting his fellows, cannot fail to imbibe
its beautiful spirit-to become purer in heart
and nobler in mind. But the great evil that
has recently fallen upor the profession is, that
it is too much crowded with anxious aspirants
for its rewards and honors. Legal knowledge
being absolutely essential to true statesman
ship, multitudes have entered the profession
knowing it to be the great highway to political
preferment. Young men have been, and are
still focking in from every quarter. Many of
them are poor and compelled to do any kind Of
legal business they can find to make their bread.
When starvation is staring them in the face,
they will often do that which they ahhorred
when surrounded with plenty. Some are even
tempted by large fees to espouse the cause of
the malicious, and thus BY their frequent as
sociations become familiar and even addicted to
vices not countenanced by the mass of the
legal profession. Some Of the most desperate
gamblers of the present age, ay, even in the
earliest ages of mankind, were lawyers; this
may be accounted for in many ways, their Pro-
fession often leads them in contact with these
fallen of mankind, and thus they like all other
professions are actually deceived and deluded
until the web of those human spiders have
them bound safe within its meshes. When
man having the advantages of education in
letters and large fund of native talent becomes
a professed card.player or gambler, be is tte
bitterest Of the bitter in the way of viIlainy
But, there is this much certain relative to the
law profession, its members as mass discoun-
ten ance all grades of vilainy that may be
known to mankind, and are in general good
citizens; it is very rare that they are caugh t
in any very heinous crimes, though in COM
mon with the M. D., and other professors, they
frequently fall short of their dignities. But
one case Of lawyer sentenced to the peniten-
| tiary, is within our recollection. Now this
shows one of two things certain, that they are
a very upright exemplary profession, or have
| great knowledge of ways and means in their
line, for it is as before stated, profession
| with more legal temptations than any, or in
fact all other professions combined.
In the town 10 the north of the academy on
the south side of the public square, was low,
neat one story building, over the door of which
was painted in glded letters, " Charles levitt,
Attorney & Counsellor at Law, and Solicitor
| in Chancery."
The next morning after the scenes Of the
| last chapter were enacted, a man might have
been seen approaching that Office in a manner
which indicated that business of importance
was the object;-one might conjecture that he
had some solemn affair which aimed at the
destruction of an enemy in legal way, or the
ruin Of some fortune for the qualification Of his
avarce. He was of medium stature, about
thirty years Of age, though his thin and haggard
visage indicated greater number of years.
He had jet black hair which hung down very
thickly about his neck, large eye brows, which
ove- hung deep black eyes, that showed dar-
ing and unrelenting disposition-long beard
which covered large part of his face, that
was never disturbed by smile, and gave HIM
a repulsive appearance. He was, taken all in
all, such person as ar honest man would
prefer having little to do with, and whose
company we should instinctively avoid. His
dress, which was costly in style, his watch,
diamond breast pin, large diamond ring, gold
headed sword care, seemed to speak of good
ly degree of opulence, that in this wealth wor-
shipping age, would somewhat modify the
unfavorable opinion at first conceived of him.
He entered the Office aforesaid, and being
seated, fixed stead gaze upon levitt, whose
curiosity was not little excited. After a
moment he began:
"I believe, sir, you are young lawyer"
"Iam."
/" How long have you been at the bar?"
"Two years."
els it not extremely difficult for young law
yer to get business ?'
$3.50 much SO that it is very discouraging."
At this, Jewitt heaved a sigh and exhibited
dishsartened expression of conntenance.
TO BE CONTINUED.