New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-17
PASTORAL ADVICE TO LAWYERS.

The annual Baccalaureate Sermon before the
graduating class in Columbia College Law School was
preached on Sunday evening at Trinity Chapel, No. Is
West Twentyffth-st, by the Rev. W. +. Morgan ID. d.,
from tho tex in Timothy i-s We know that the law
IA good IL man use it lawfully" The reverend doctor
dwet at length upon majesty OF the law Of God and
upon the corresponding dignity Of human law, when Is
power said he, that cannot be too jealousy guarded
or held too high in honor preserved nyioate with too
strong a public sentiment for in 1t are en-
shrined tho safeguard of all peace and all Sc
curty But this law Is not good If a man use
Il unlawfuy II is not good in its misuse II IL not
good I'm its perverson its degradation to personal or
corporate interests 1t is not good when 1t becomes
merely q trade to lawyers or source OF proht ana
income judges. For some cause or other me law mas
the favor and respect OF the people But let me utter
the conviction that this alteration OF public feeling
s sho ta nH aw any GOOD Gs and that is the
has furnished the sword OF Justice IL the snIn d
IL to the rebnke OF Jealous community for it IL the
honorable distinction OF our national ,at W.
conr and judicial corruption hold In highest honor
those august tribunals and those dccaratory statutes 10y
which personal rights are guaranteed. You nave pc
come familiar with the famous clause In the Magma
Charta: 1--WE will sell justice to no one nor deny
should be the grand legal maxim OF all the ages,
for it Is Just as wise, humane, Christian to-day
and It "% will be the same to the end of time.
Just az you descend from that level you degrade the law
tce under temptation pFtense 10 cOnne at her
defeat whether the bench or at the par 10 nder OF
retard righteous operation Is 10 murder justice III
high places to shake society, unsette order ana miro
duce chaos Your inducements to debar justice are far
greater than those which prevailed In the days OF King
John What are occasional acts OF arbitrary power com
pared with tendency TO sell the law ana
make it the puppet Of an age whose intel,
lectual advancement Is sure pledge OF
high moral principles Men are ready TO take the
shortest path strike equivOcal bargain, 10 chaner
with lie while some, INSCRIPTIONS than the rest
take no pains to conceal their expectation 70 succeed Ny
strength alone without regard to right IL Should ~
matter OF congraation that alarm at the degradation
OF the law has led to association OF It's most ene,
members for ts advance and elevation, and counsel
You TO Join that conference indOrse the compact, ana
rally around that standard on which Is inscribed
the legend, "The law is good II man
use it lawfully" dare not fully express
NV convictions concerning that elective partisan Jul
dietary on which we are called to act this week. but IN my
opinion il is blunder in legislation and an unspeakable
insult to law for effect follows cause so sure
will law subseryency to party, become IN Que te
slave pest and and IL argues well Tor the sen
of the public conscience that the term OF office
has been extended and that each party has nominated
for this exalted position It's most leafheu eApclenocu
and trustworthy men.