Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-20
NO. XIII.
For the ISDectnf0r

| =" tfeo OPcOtAtWs
! Messrs. Editors: Still another would beg your
obllglng indulgence, for it seems that ~" is de
terIniDed to provoke controversy with some
one. While other correspondents drop in now
and then, say word or two and pass oD, this
last letter in the alphabet bears on in one con-
tlnued flow. 1t seems determined that it shall
/ be heard as harsh as it sounds Week after
week he claims place in your paper, until one
would almost think he intends to become reg
ular correspondent.
| Now, controversies are by no means TO be de-
sired, especially such as are carried on through
newspapers. They generally are rancorous and
lead to ill-feelings. |, then, again, enter the
list rather reluctantly. / once thought it my
duty, or the duty of some one, to take the posi-
tion / did take and l now think it my duty to
hold that position. In the wordy war that has
been raging for weeks, the power (of speech)
seems to be all upon one side. Farmers and
countrymen, though possessed of more instinct
i've common sense and sound wisdom than those
who spatter their learing, and prate publicly a.
bout their opinions, have not the power or the
inclination to publish their ideas to the commu-
nifty. They can talk about them to their friends
and use their influence among their acquaintan-
ces; but when it comes to welding the pen, the
toil-hardened and toilwearied fingers refuse
their task, and the lawyers subtle arguments
and elaborate articles go unanswered-almost.-
1t behooves, then, for some One-no matter how
unworthy he be-to appear as their champion.
They have selected their candidate, and he
should be protected against the arrows that are
hurled against him; they should not let him go
down because few bitter enemies have said he
shall be put down.
And what is more, ga Countryman" has been
bantered loudly. In your issue of Feb. %, "Iz-
zard" q beg his pardon, "Z'0 enters into an elab-
crate discussion upon the sleeping docket" and
then ends with the oft repeated assertion, that
Judge Thompson sis too busy serving the peo-
pie to have time to court them." | warrant
many man has dozed and studied over that
deep production and at last smiled and wonder
ed what it all come to at last. We have no
doubt Judge Thompson is at Richmond but to
be continually telling the people that he is serv-
ing them, to awaken their sympathies, sounds
demagogueish. But that article, | think, hes
had its day; and / turn to one which concerns
me more, published in your last issue, in which
this tail of the alphabet shows himself wonder
fully chagrined at something, | scarcely know
what. gtes
He tells US he is "proud of his profession."-
hope his profession has a right to be proud of
him. But | go further. l hope that he is
gentleman, and, as such, knows how to respect
the rights of gentlemanly controversalists. But
if in this expression, whenever a man comes
whining to me about the undue influence of
lawyers, &c. &C., take for granted that, in the
classic language of our friend, "A Countryman,'
be has some 'rascality' on hand, or that lie has
allowed himself to be imposed on by some one
who has" he pretends to cast slur upon the
character or the intentions of either Mr.. Fultz
or his supporter, he must reflect that he is going
beyond the bounds OF reasonable and high-toned
language. If | have been whining" Ito use
his ''classic" language) | can only return the
compliment by saying that he has been bowling.
Ii lie pretends to accuse me of ''rascality," hope
he may never be accused of an equal crime
OF a>sociating with me. Perhaps, however, my
seusitiveness has wrongly interpreted rs"
meaning. / hope so, at least. His language
through the rest of his article is highly and kind
ly polished. l would inform him, though, that
if call forth any unkind remarks, hope here
after they will fall upon myself, and not upon
him who does not provoke them. / am willing
to bear them. If, however, any One in answer
ing my feeble remarks, sLall feel themselves
compelled to treat Mr.. Fultz harshly, /, in turn,
shall feel myself compelled to meet their asser-
tions; and, that too, with the same severity
with which they are uttered. If am the cause,
am willing to be responsible for the effect.
But to return. have said that "" seemed
piqued apparently at what said in an article
think was perfect onslaught upon lawyers in
general If he will turn to my first article in
that paper, over the signature of "a Country
man." be will find me all advocate for lawyers;
and if he carefully refers to my last article, he
will find that the expression at which he be-
comes so indignant, was but the echo of an as
sertion by one of his own clique and clan. "Jus-
tice" tells US candidly that there are "tricksters,
and may be, rasoas," in his profession. / at
tempt to answer an argument by returning him
the expression. 81" concludes that in my opin-
ion all lawyers are rascas, and asks the singular
question, which of the distinguished men, whom
he names, do believe ever pandered to scheme
of 'rascality9' "a belief he had no reason to sup
pose ever entertained); and at length acknowl-
edges Gust what was driving at) that among
seventy five lawyers there must be some bad
men.
| think can illustrate "Z's" position plainl-
have 1--WE will suppose) controversy will
certain Church, "a suppositiOn which l hop
will never be fulfilled). In the controversy one
of its members tells me there are hypocrites in
that Church. Well, in attempting to answer q
subsequent argument, | make use OF this asser-
ton, and, when have scarcely spoken, another
member jumps up and shaking his fist under my
nose, tells me bad no business to say 1t.
No, Mr.. w." you are wrong if you suppose
that detest lawyers as q class. l respect the
profession as highly as you do. No one can
contemplate the sound and solid precepts of JUS
tice upon which it is founded and do otherwise.
If | had been carrying on war against lawyers
because they were lawyers, as you seem to think,
l should never have advocated the cause of Mr..
Fultz so warmly.
Again, 81" presents three cases in point and
argues them as lawyers are privileged to do-all
upon one side. He begins by telling US what
we have been told dozen times, that lawyers
are the most competent judges of the competency
of the Judge; that they come as witnesses and
not as dictators; Gan assertion that their selfish
''call" to Judge Thompson does not color very
strongly and that the lawyers are rather inter-
ested against than for the election of their can
didate, and again presents as evidence that ever
lasting record. / hope ~" will allow the vo-
ters to judge in free and untrammelled manner
in this cause as we'll as in those that follow
leave them then to examine the evidence and
weigh it and decide, (for, in doing so myself,
I might become personaD while proceed to
take up the remaining cases in point. II" tells
you that two farmers have each tract of land
to sell. Farmer number one does not praise his
at ala paragon of a trader l would like to
meet with. But he does not tell you that this
farmer is absent, while the many friends he has
left at home and and who seem to consider their
power and influence superior to his own, "puff'
bis farm far more highly than he could do him
self. Who would blame any trader for sitting
comfortably down and letting his wares go un-
/ sod ffNh catE