The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-17

tlCe Ct FpPusoi ttVtCrstous hukc Va hS
New York Supreme Court said to the hopeful
neophytes "dentlemen, 1 wish you prosperity
in your profession bat under the present
state of affairs, 1 cannot say that the prospects
are encouraging"
There is no profession which requires more
profound and acute faculties, and more I'M
firing industry, than that Of the law. We
suppose 1t is simply impossible for any ma"
to rise 10 the head Of the legal profession win
out deserving his honors. 1t Is true, 'nh'
some, who have the capacity, do not nave 'ne
opportunity; but II IL undeniaoie 'Aa' AUG
leaders of the bar win their way 10 em,henee
nv real .uperiority in their vocation. The or.
deal through which they have to pass, is such
a. no sham or humbug can possibly survive.
And vet there is no vocation so completely
oysrstocked as the law is in all parts of the
United States, and none which has such
large proportion of tenth rate men-such a
vast standing Army of Incapables. Full 1t
is every where TO o,erfiowing with aspirants
for immortality, who pass through life poor
In fame, and poorer still in purse. while the
successful few carry OFF all the honors and all
the prizes of the day.
One would think that men not conscious of
possessing great powers would avoid such a
cSdtShibR tcsl rs thcy mus Shbpot w III shs
practice OF such a profession but the misfor-
tune is, that self-conceit and weakness of mind
are almost inseparaoie companions. The van
iiy OF parents often sees in some infant of or
binary sprishthness, a sucking MARSHALL,
and IL is not difficult to inoculate the progeny
with The idea that it WAS born into the world
for the express purpose of becoming Chief
Justice OF the United States Supreme Cour,.
hat ia,
ambition there is little of the base alloy OF
mercenary considerations. Even the first men
OF The legal profession have no such opportuni-
ties OF acq uirIng great wealth as may be found
In many other vocations, and, as to the rank
sua file, they atone by Il lite OF extraordinary
aosts,niousness from all worldly enioymenls,
for The rasnness and indiscretion OF their
choice of a profession.
Another reason which helps to fill up the
legal profession is the common notion OF
lis superior rsSpsctabiH'y. 1t is res pectabie'
enough, no doubt, aud If men could live IN
'respec ability" aud meet their financial en-
gagem-nIs with certificates of their social pc
sItlon, they would live like fighung-cocks.
Dui why should "respecta ability attach 10 a
vocation, merely as vocation, and indepen-
dently OF AL qualifications for i'll Why should
the barrIster's gown elevate stupidity into re
spec liability" above stupidity in any oth,r
pursuit aud still more, above excellence in
other employments 1t is time, tor the hap
piness aud usefulness OF the coming genera
zion, that this absurd notion should be ex.
ploded, and that republics should realize The
truth of their own theory that it is the man
who gives dignity to a position, and not the pc
sitou which gives dignity to the man. Skilled
and honest labor, no matter in what depart.
ment of human industry it is exercised, will
command the respect of all whose respect is
worth having; of all human beings who have
brains and manhood, and the consideration of
others is not worth much; certainly not the
sacrifice OF the usefulness and happiness o. a
whole life. We yield TO none in reverence for
the men of pre-eminent learning and virtue,
who stand at the head of the bar in the
United States, nor In still more lively feel
ing of sympathy with those less fortunate
members of the same profession flor many such
there are who have abilities enough to ele-
vate them, but who, from lack of opportunity
and other causes, have been condemned to OBJ
SECURITY and poverty but, for this very reason
we would like 10 see licenses TO practice less
lavishly and indiscriminately bestowed. The
demands OF the public upon the law of the
United States could be fully met by one-tenth
OF its present lem bers, whilst il would be bet
ter for the public interests and for their own
if the mob still pressing into the portals of
this noble profession should never advance
any farther into the mysteries of the science
than To hear the hiot Act read by their examin-
ers aud be dispersed as enemies of the peace of
society.
No doubt another cause of the popularity of
the legal profession is, that it has been the
usual avenue to official and political distinc-
ton. Many of our political men have been
and are lawyers. We are not aware however
that the practice of the legal profession pecu.
llarly qualities man for the duties of states
manship. At all eve Its, the experience OF
Great Britain and the United States does not
warrant such conclusion. The fact however
1emaiLs that the law is often selected merely
as stepping stone TO political honors. to
honors which are of all others the most nre
carious and unsatisfying, which depend on
the capricious breath of the multitude. and
are rarely conferred upon the most com petent
and deserving. No man who selects the legal
profession as a stepping stone to any other,
can entertain proper appreciation of the dig
nifty of his vocation, or bestow upon it the en-
ergy and perseverance which will make it
dignity himself.