The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-18
Meeting Of Members Of the New f6rS Bar
ut the Aston House.
.sQUEyT SPEECH or Mg. JAMES.
The Ear: Its Morality and Mode
Of Publication,
Speeches Of Judge Hearne, J. Il. White,
Hon. Levi s. Chatdeld, Mr.. Lowrie
and MIR. Malcolm Campbell,
Sc, &c., So.

An enthusiastic and numerous meeting Of tho MEM
bers Of the New York Sar was convened yesterday al
o'cl.ek p. NJ, in the south dniag hall of tho Astor
House. The attendance was respectable, and although
tho judiciary and tho rising members Of the profession
well represented someof the old fseadsAhe sym
pathzers with the committee Of five OF the Law nsti'
tute-were missing. The Irish oiementwshch is rather
ararity in this city occasions or this ksAdwas pre-
dominant, though thore mixture OF saas with sho
American audi ence. All seemed rnannous. There were
between four and five hundred psesons present anonS
whomwcre noticed Hon. Judges Mccarthy, IsGarnc, NO.
Gum and OConnor; Messrs John Il. White WIN. Allen.
G. G. Genet, Cooperation Attorney J.. Ashlaesio Van
Wrinkle, Iowre, Frank Byrno, Join Savage Thomas
Hurley, John burlington, Assistant Corporation ,Attor
ney; Mr. Hunt, Assistant Corporation Attorney, 1hard
X. Underhili, Henry Brewster, Charies%H. HINT,
United States Assistant District Attorney; Chariesgen
GER Ovens, Malcolm cmpbell, Peter B.swoensy, e.
District Attorney Justice Dfinker James s. S.uyssf
Hon. Low s. ChatGed. ex-Attorney General; D. Mona
hon. Iashrop, Cob Il. y. Shepard, aid to Cow Morgaaf
Morrison McKeag Dittenhoefer Richard Clark, WASH
ngton Murray, Byrne, Bryant, &C.
Mr.. HENRY BkEwsrEs, having been called upon rro
side, said:-
GESrEMEs-This call upon mo to preside at this mect-
ing j. quito unexpected on my part hardly knewth
IL was to be called until accidentally heard OF yea
terday The object OF tho meeting us understand t iss
to give Mr. James, whose standing in his profession i'm
England was very high. az opportunity to mako an OK.
PLANTATION Of certain matters that have been published I'M
Of the English periodicals to his prejudice, and TO-
to tho persons here assembled tho circumstances
that gave rise 10 those publications to his prejudice
Mr.. EDWIN JAMES risingswas greeted with APPLAUSE
and spoke as follows
Mr. CHArRMAx AND GeyrIEMES-I have not been inex.
perenced in add ossng pablo meetings upon great and
important questions in the country have lett for the
generous country have adopted but is the first timc
that have had the honoro appear before any meeting Of
American gentemen--to appear before them upon :
question which will elicit certain tho cordial kind
and sympathy of every one VIII aTs me-yiz: the
attacks made upon which will show were prompted
in the country left by feelings OF tho most malignant
animosi.y: and viii show that the arrows which have
boon sent here from cotrysI loft barbed and
poisoned by gentleman who has pursued in the
manner in which he has, as to which wish to take the
Of tho meeting now have tho honor OF addressing
(Applause.) Gentlemen, am. here before the bar Of
the country that have had the honor to Join have
called this meeting that there shall be nothing done in
lrvate nothing Irresponsible bat, in the presence Of
the broad day and responsible to public opinion, am
here 70 give any anation which any honorable gcn-
tieman may ask OF with reference TO tho bes which
have cruelty pursued aud DETAINED me, from motives,
have stated to you before. which will make appa-
honor to make. (Applausc) Gentlemen, ! arrived In
this country in August. II was known IN England that
had LEFT America, and appeared in tho public jour
nails that about to seek the honor Of practising In
courts where should receive morogenerosty and moro
libcray thought than in those courts where the
cold shade Of aristocracy frowns upon any man who
dares to be independent. (Groat appausc.) 1t was
known that about to come TO this country It APP
peared in the public journals that would sock the honor
At the proper time OF admission bar Of the
and city Of New York. remained hsrc endoavoringt 20
you and on tho Sa q was admitted
by Supreme Court member OF tho bar OF the State
city q New York s%s 70 my snow
whose the gentleman who gave me the information
told no was not at liberty TO disclose, had waited
upon two Of tho leading public Journals of this
CITY 70 protest sgainst my adnss sion to the
bar. cannot deal with anonymous slandsrers. No
man can deal with the dark assassinS Of his reputation
(Afpa lse) The gentleman who made that communica
ton to me stated that he not a. liberty 10 dvulge
the names but have had reason to helicve that two 0
tho Il, individuals who hav. now appeared against me,
and pretend that they represent the feelings of the
bar OF the city OF New YORK, were
waited upon those public journals to protest agast my
admission. There was but one course open 10 me- re-
qucsted my honorable friend who brought me that In
formation say that as the names were not made
known 20 me could not deal with them but request
ed him to tell them tina; would defer enrolling my
ma counsellor OF the New York bar for three weeks,
and / challenged rny who had protest 70
make against my admission to meet me in the supreme
,ourt ask tho erosity and the gent emankc feeling
OF the bar OF New York if could have taken any other
co,rsey WAITED for that length Of time. Noon ~.
pcared. signed tho roll, aud was admitted, thi IN
Tho I'd Of November. had waited the three weeAs.
No. gentlemen tho attacks upon me, rs will show,
have boon dark ad insidpus, and they came from the
other side the water AID blush 10 find that Eng
I,sh gentleman who is enjoying your generous hospali
W. ana awaiting himself of the same refuge that seek,
viz to position. by his industry and honor-that
an english gentleman, SIr. Charles Elwlrds-isa at the
bottom OF this attack upon mo- Applause aud hsses)
here today 10 attack any INDIVIDUAL Personal
yituraration and mvoGve nescr USE except rs an,
advocate where believe II y deserved, and trust
shall conduct the few reinarsI shall mako to-day with
due reference my own honor oad dignity. leave to-
pubc opinion aud the good sense OF the bar OF Now York
to form their judgment as to what Tho motives ara
OF the Ave individuals who havo venturcd in this man
ner 10 attack me- (Applause) / admitted to the
bar OF New York aad completed my admission on the
I'D Of November ! appeared IN court shortly alter.
with an honorable friend, who has really boon
Mr. charles SPENCER On the I4th Of February Of.
this year received tho rstlcter q hat correspondoncs
which will not weary your patience by reading, be
cause dare say every gentleman here has done the.
honor and kindness " readfror an honorable high
minded gentleman Judge Edmondsl who not only repu
dates ms action against mo- bat believe, is ashamed
that srch course should be adopted towards who
has not done human beng an injury since he, has
been here lie had moved my admission addressed ms
a letter and commenced the correspondence which
YOU have done tho honor aud kindness to- read
Tho result OF that correspondence you have hNA
hssore YOU. Il was satisfactory to him you wM
form your opinion as gentlemen and kind, hsartsS
men, whether It is satisfactory to yourselves. Wu
that correspondence thought that all these etia0
would cease but was surprised TO nud an iutinnAk
that they were DO renewed from gentleman whnG Id
New York or repro ented rather committee OF thai aw
nsltuc-a letter which was printed, Circulated, and
werv remarkabs thing that after have been in prac
lice here for some six months--after to ahghg inded
and honorable gentleman every u.,nc lilly r. been
submitted them to bench not the same az tn which
admted me 70 the bar bench differently ces stituted
oa. Ave" and honor have tina sAr re conn.
| dcncalibels which l state hcrs. gro public
ssnoorv libels that contain some tguAb but which
uervert and suppress, will show you pfc sSnly most
important racts--bcs written In the Llw Magazine by
a man who IL my personal enemy Hor l know the,
autbor) and who has bean struggling Tor the place H.
Westminster Hall that had loft, and libels which, up
10 this momont am in entire isnor Ancc OF. h 1t to be-
endured that this country lbes ard papers con be.
submitted a COURT and that the man whose repuia.
is,ion is to be wounded by Apm shall be the lnst Tn
know them for this moment pledge you my honor
ann ignorant OF those papers2 fApplausc.) In, whav
| had occurred in Engandt expressed my opriyn WI
| adopted citizen Of this country-an opinisu
| which I still conscientioudy entertain tand al
| low ms here TO say that when genlsmen with
whom am associated a. tbs bar know me hetLcr, they
will know tina. my aud habit wriio always
over my own sgnaure)-I Expressed my opinion pub
lie IN the eaily part cf Dscsnber, my signature
that the ccaduct of England had hccn generous
wares this country in the pcremptory in which
she treasd the capture Of Mcssrs Mason and Sdel.
gave a tompers.c opinion adhere 10 tkss opinion
What was the resuMs Why, thu whole LOCAL knglisA