The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-30
The Feeble Minded Try Again.

lawyers who signed the protest were not
keen practitioners. We are now sure of it..
In the first place, if they had been shrewd,
they would never have suffered themselves
to have been used as catspaws, as they did
by signing the protest. Secondly, after they
had been so severely used up by the Court,
and had fund themselves laughing-stocks
for the whole State, if they had had any of
the common sense necessary to make decent
lawyers they would have kept still, and not
have made fonls of themselves again. This
they did by attempting to put the STANDARD
in a position of antagonism to the Court.
So completely have their few brains been
added that they forget to credit the people
with that common sense which seems to
have utterly deserted the protestants them
selves. The STANDARD by its yesterdays
expose of their intentions, SO completely took
the wind out of their sails, that they aban-
doned that attack and are now engaged in
perfecting their plans for another, which
is, if possible, still more foolish than
its predecessor. They now aver that
the STANDARD has endeavored to
prejudice the Court against them 1t only
needed this to show the feebleness of the
minds that now control the councils of the
protesting lawyers. For the benefit of
these stumblers in the mazes of the law. we
will explain the facts of the case exactly as
we would to any parcel of innocents who
needed knowledge to prevent them from
getting into blunders.
| First. the STANDARD has always kept in
view that GLORIOUS uncertainty of the law"
which, by the infexibility of legal rules,
often renders it impossible to punish those
who deserve punishment. Secondly, we
knew the difficulty which always attends
the legal establishment of a guilty inten-
tion. Thirdly, we also knew that there
might be legal positions which would rem
der it probable that the protestants might
escape the full measure of the punishment
which it was thought they deserved. Hence
we ne0er attempted 10 influence the Court in
any particular direction. II the solemn
protestants can prove otherwise, even after
the most searching examination, then we
don't understand the value of words, and
they have more legal ability than their con-
duct would Indicate
As this statement will again confuse the
! feeble brains of our solemn brethren, we
suppose they will again change their plan of
attack. What will be the next mouse pro-
duced by the labors of the legal mountain,
we do not pretend to surmise, as the actions
of such lunatics can never be foretold. Suf-
fee 1t to say that it won't amount to much
in any case. The course of the STANDARD,
and its sentiments are, too well known by
the people to allow of their being success
fully misrepresented. .t --.
That we may, however, effectually settle
all doubt as to the feelings of the STANDARD
we will inform the. protesting lawyers that
we have a hundred, yes, thousand fold
more respect for the Court than has any one
of the lawyers who signed that insulting
protest. e7
The designs of the protesting lawyers are
too transparent not to be visible to everyone
Having found themselves the object of such
ridiculc, and being aware that they are
laughing stocks for the entire State, they
wish by raising false alarm to divert the
attention Of the people from themselves
that they may be able to stink out of their
present uncomfortable position. To attain
this end we should not be surprised at see
ing in the special correspondence" of some
of our Democratic contemporaries astonish-
ing reports of rumors concerning the course
of the STANDARD But it won't do, Mes
sieurs les AIiserables. You thought to pull the
Court down, and are now yourselves fallen
Do not attempt yet to rise for your legal limbs
are shaky, your legal spines have no stiff
ening in them, and your legal minds are toe
weak to be depended upon. True you are
in. dirty fix, but the dirt is o
/ your own making and you must beal
the consequences of your own sins
In the meantime we assure you we have
nothing of anger against you. Your imbe
cility cxcltes our pity, but we can never fee
anger against men so weak and helpless as
you are As friends, however, we beg Of
you, for your own sakes, to keep as quiet as
possible, that you may not still more excite
the derision of the public. Remember oul
words of wisdom and keep your mouths
shut now, and hereafter, when you arrive al
the years Of discretion, you will rise up and
| call US blessed