New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-09
CoNPIsCATrON EXTRAORDINARY

dlspatcn from NeW-Orieans oFings U us
the painful, pleasing nteligence-of historical
importance, like the confagration Of the Alex
andrian Library-that all the beautiful law
books of Benjamin, Bouford & Phinney have
been confscated, and are to be sold, as spOiic
opima, by public outcry. There is, unquestion
ably, a great deal of knowledge Of natural law.
of civil law, of public law, Of merchant law
Of common law, and of all other kinds Of law
between the calf-coyers; but rs most OF the
books were printed in Boston or New York,
including, we think. even those monuments Of
wisdom, The louisiana Reports it mitgates
the infictiOn to know that Benjamin. BOuiord
a. Phinney would never have been able to
read them again with any complacency. These
attornies have, by rushing into rebellion, shown
themselves wiser than the whole of their col.
lection, from the Pandects of Justinian down
10 Story's Commentaries on the Constitution
they have proved themselves above all ancient
doctrines both OF high and petty treason, to
say nothing Of simple larceny; and of course,
thieves have been punished nor how the world
has sought to abate piracy, whether the male
factor was PrGdo Maritinns, or a Water Thief,
or Viarum Grassator, or a Land Thiei-as they
have been concerned in both branches of business
equally. Hale's Pleas of the Crown must
be full to people in their predicament of un-
pleasant suggestions, to say nothing Of the be-
headings behangings, bequarterings, and disem-
bowellngs recorded in the State Trials. Nor is
this all. Benjamin x Co., albeit lawyers,
sworn to support the Constitution of the
United States upon the Evangelists of Al
mighty God, would have found Story aud Kent
rather dry and tedious reading. la short, in the
Man-Owning Millennium, for which their hearts
do hunger and pant, there would probably be
an abrogation Of all law for which there are
any authorities-the proposition being to estab-
lish new earth, If not new Heaven. Sup
pose, after realization of these pretty theories.
merchant Of New.0rleans should find it incon.
venisnt TO take up..his note. Perhaps Bepja-
min, as a notary, might be called upon to pro-
test that note But what good would Monte
flores Precedents do him or Story on Bills
VI hAcpnhSC noutchoic, WIN was I'll cAcci-
lent Jew-as Benjamin is n't-wrote for civil
ization, not for barbarism; and when he wont
to demand payment or acceptance, for the pur.
poses of protest, he did MT run any risk of
having his brains scattered by the ready pistol
of the insolvent. But Benjamin will hardly
have SO easy time of it. When he presents
the note the bankrupt will probably offer to
pay him, not in gold, but in lead or steel
But Benjamin will need no Precedents to
teach him how 10 behave on such an occasion
He will 60 with the security in one hand, and
his six.shooter in the other; no will have
much more occasion to read up in Larry on
Gun.shot Wounds than in Moses Monteiore.
The truth is, under the new regime which
Lawyer Benjamin wishes to naugurate. every
man will be law unto himself-and what
need will there then be of lawyers at all :
The whole tendency of the Rebellion is to
resolve society into it's simple elements, and
small chance will there then be for attorneys
Benjamin may 60 into the pork business, for
all the declarations hs will have to draw.
Writs will be at discount when all are
allowed to get who have the power, and all to
keep who can. Tho right tO wallop implies