The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-16
Wednesday, June 18th, 1869.
The Protesting Lawyers and their Sad
Condition.

and LlOSe WIZ SOb IuSin IutO eno
seem to be unable to get them out again.
The "Nestor of the bar" has SUI
fered greatly in the estimation OF
the legal small fry who, though they
thought signing the protest was good fun,
don't like their present fix. They did not
consider, when they insulted the Court, that
thew could in any way be made to answer
for their crime They thought the game
was entirely one-sided,- that they were to
throw stones. and the Judiciary to stand
and be pelted. Now, that their cafcula-
tions have proved erroneous, they are at
loss what to do. They don't like to apollo
gise, for by so doing they confess to the
people that they have, without cause, en-
deavored to weaken the influence OF the
Judiciary of the State, and they are fully
aware that such confession as this would
bring upon them the well-merited contempt
of every fair-minded citizen of the State.
On the other hand they do not wish to be
excluded from practice, forthat would com
pei them to leave untouched. much filthy
lucre which they would otherwise obtain,
and the possession of which they covet. If
they should apologize to the court, simply
to be allowed to practice, they
would be held in contempt by every
honorable man in the State, for by so
doing they would acknowledge that
they were willing to sacrifice their principles
for the sake of gain This is how the mat
ter now stands. Which course will the
gentlemen take? By adopting either of the
above courses they will bring upon them
selves the scorn of the people. Truly,
knotty case! The legal gentlemen, how
ever, have one consolation-they can exhibit
their legal and forensic talent in extricating
themselves from their present uncomfortable
position Perhaps new and shining legal
luminaries may be suddenly developed,
whose wisdom may extricate themselves and
their Dew Tered seniors from the pushei
nn6er .licl the Democratic legal talent
&c p hid len. This is by no means
in ,bable. although, we grieve to say, the
I,.r lawge.s hold the young disciples OF
aczst5-.e in great contempt, claiming to
-eTgotten more than they ever knew /;
the younger ones, fresh from the en-
ting fctions of John Doe and Richard
:, Go not scruple to express their belief
at their elders have forgotten great deal
70 much. Still, it is by no means impro-
pable that some of the young disciples may
have some sense, perhaps even talent
While in the Capitol yesterday we observed
many young legal buds, who have but just
emerged from their legal swaddling clothes,
and who need but age, experience and wis
dom to make them good lawyers. Wewere
astonished to see so many of the youth of
our State ambitious to embrace the arduous
profession of the law, and were still more
impressed at the uniform manner in
which they put their hair back
of their ears, and " frowzled" it
on top in their legal observation-disclosures.
The attention and profound expression
of wisdom with which they regarded the
court, forcibly reminded us of so many
young owls, and every one knows that the
owl is wise bird, being so regarded by all
ancient lawyers. True, these young men
have never evinced any extraordinary talent,
but it should be remembered that they have
never had the chance to do so. AS the elder
lawyers clearly have no idea of what they
should do, and as it is painful to us to see them
. 'etpless in their affection, we, out of the
f--tless Of our heart, suggest to them that
they allow their newly fedged brothers to
manage the matter for them. Should they
regard this course as rejecting upon their
owD abilities too strongly, they must reflect
t'4t he Bible says that out of the mouths OF
babes and sucklirgs" shall come forth
wisdom. At al events, if the plan does nc
good 1t can do no hurt, for the ''father of the
bar seems hopelessly bewildered and en-
tirelv unable to extricate his family from the
scrape he has got them into. His gigantic
intellect seems to be paralyzed by the sud
deBness Of the blow be mas resolved, and tn
fires of genius which usually irradiate hi
countenance, seem TO have been extinguish
ed. If the lawyers should reject our advice
we do not see what course they can pursue
They cannot apologize, for that would be
confession that they have wilfully and mali
ciously slandered the Judiciary. They can
not afford to remain out of practice, for the,
would starve to death if they did, and re
main out they must if they refuse to apollo
gize. They could argue the matter unit
dooms day If the court would allow them s.
to do, yet what could they say? We un
derstand that they will argue that tn
ruling of the Court is wrong, because the
did not make their insulting remarks i
court time, but this plea would be mani
testify absurd. They deliberately signed
document which was calculated and intende
to bring the! Judiciary into contempt, and 70
this offence they must be amenable. 1.-THE
had referred to the Judges personally, ant
without reference to their official positions
they would not have been guilty of col
tempt, and could not be punished for i
But they did not do SO, but referred to thu
judges in their official capacity, an
with intent to injure their influence as admin
istrators Of the lam, and consequen thy ar
plainly guilty of attempting to brin
the court into contempt. If the protestin
lawyers can disprove this statement Of tn
case thew will indeed he gentlemen of talent