Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-11-05


thew ii. Carpenter.
We have received a copy OF the
very interesting proceedings on the
dedication at Lancaster, Grant coun..
ty, Wisconsin, ola noble monument.
costing So, 500, to the memory ofthe
brave men-750 in number-who
from that single county went forth to
fight in the cause Of the Union and
fell in its defence. It's records:
This marble contains their names
the many bloody battle. fields Of
the south contain their ashes; their
memory is forever enehrined in the
hearts Of their countrymen.
Other counties a Wisconsin, like
counties elsewhere, we suppose, have
moved in like purpose with the coun
ty ofGrant; but the county which we
name has first, in Wisconsin, it seems,
accomplished, with fitting cost and in
lofty taste, the work. And it APP
pears to have been done by volunta-
ry levy from nearly every person in
the coun y, irrespective of views on
politics. Hail, thou county Grant
The address of Mr.. Carpenter is
main feature of the proceedings. We
hope that some Of our daily journals,
whose columns are larger and more
numerous than ours, will publish il.
Mr.. Carpenter belongs to our own
profession, and is one Of its "bright
particular stars" one Of the first men,
intellectually, Of the whole North
west. Mr.. Justice Grier, never car
ried away by any thing specious,
and a Judge not less severe than com
potent, said, after first hearing him,
some few years since, in the Supreme
Court, where lie has since been so
eminent, that he had cali the elo-
quence of Henry Clay, and, more
than all, his logical rover" And we
have heard from other persons the
highest tributes to both the one and
the other quality thus, by our Judge,
so eulogized.
Mr. Carpenter, along with Mr..
Reverdy Johnson, was selected by
the Southern bar to argue their great
case, erparte Garland, (4th Wallace,
1889, in which the constitutionality
of the. test oath-lmposed by Congress
in January, 1865, on lawyers gener-
ally, and by which nearly the whole
Southern bar was excluded from prac
tice in all the Federal courts-was
brought up to be adjudicated. His
argument will be long remembered
by the crowds whom his most sym>
pathetic and entraindnt voice, and his
powerful logic chained, for an entire
morning, in the hall of our national
Justice. And it was stated, from
good sources, to have been potential
in carrying the ''unwilling majority"
Of the court, who were forced, after
hearing him, to declare that Congress,
in the matter discussed, had not leg
islated in its wisdom,
This selection, by the Southern
bar OF Mr.. Carpenter as their advO-
cate, was the higher tribute to his
professional ability, since, politically,
his views were not understood to DO
the same as the views Gifts partizans.
Our notice of the address at Lam
caster, and Of Mr.. Carpenter persons
ally, has, however, u purpose moro
wide than these Immediate topics.
We seize the occasion as a fit one to
express the pleasure which VIC feel in
seeing lawyers like Mr. Carpenter
men confcssodly Of the highest abli-
ty-ccme forth from their offices and
from the forum to give ID tie public
the benefit of their thoughts on topics
that invite expression where the pub
lie hears far too much from small
men, and far too little from great
ones. The science of politics is a
noble science. Why is it that, in
our country most Of ALL men fit to il.
lustrate it shut themselves away
from it, and that their wisdom and
their eounsels are supplanted by
the flippant maxims of the sciolistd
and the sanctifisd rogueries of the
"emagogue ?" 1t may be truly said,
as Mr.. Carpenter implies, 'that
there was never perhaps in the his
tory of the civilized world time
when the organization and the adj
ministration of civil government de-
manded more philosophical &C,
quaintance with every modification
of the great fundamental principles
upon which the freedom and prosper
ity of States depend" Why is it
that at such season THE BAR is not
heard from, through its best-its very
misrepresentation, everywhere ?
Our wishes, of course, are not confin
ed to the appearance of able men
of only one class ofpubiic views. The
country, and all political PARTIES
not mere factions-in the country,
could not but gain sif the really able
lawyers of all political sides-dis,
placing martinetS and peti smditreS-
would appear oftDer than they do,
to counsel and to decide.
The Bar is school of good tenn
pers and good manners to begin with
and of just sense of responsibility
for what is said. In all this our polit.
ical discussion could be everywhere
far advanced. But what is this SCI
ENcE or LAW? A departed mem
Der of our own bar has described it !;
The law is, and always must be,
q severe, perplexing, profoundly diff
ficult science, adapted only to great M
teliectS, in whose constitution all fac
ulties have been happily developed
in their fullest force and fnencss, by
principle, circumstances, or the powe
er of passion; because the subject with
which the legal mind deals is COM
plicated Of all the variety OF earthly
occurrences, the confusion of world
| ly conjunctures, the range and OBJ
liquity Of human interests. 1t is not
an affair of books; it does not lie in
knowledge OF certain traditions and
secrets among a certain set of men,
and familiarity With some special
ceremonies and rites connected with