Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-09-19

have heard persons say that there
are too many lawyers in office, and
that such conspire to make and un-
make laws for their own selfish pro-
fit and the public injury: that more
farmers, mechanics, merchants and
non>professionnls should be elected,
who would mako different laws-it
is to be presumed for their profit.
Vol, there may be something in this
reasoning; but were the people to
select for officers Of legislative trust
their wisest lawyers of established
business integrity and good moral
character, this popular argument
would not only fail, but the people
would have far better laws, than if
the leading farmers, mechanics,
merchants and n-professional men
were chosen, A thorough knowl-
edge Of law is actually a most essen
tial part in legislator, without which
he can neither construct nor Judge Of
the worth of bill offered for enact
mont. Every honest legislator not a
lawyer will acknowledge that his
habit has been to advise with some
able trustworthy lawyer before de-
Gliding how his vote shall be cast up
on the question. 1t would be better
to at once elect such able and trust
worthy lawyers to legisate, and leave
at homo the one, who has to beg or
borrow all the light he requires to
make himself efficient
The disorders Of legislation are
chargeabIe chiefly to legal Inefficient
cy among the body Of members and
to few evil disposed lawyers who
manage to acquire influence in the
legislature, just as they have manage
Cd to secure influence and support
among the people who elected them.
The people are slow to discover the
willy demagogue, but quick to become
his supporters. In the Legislature
his opportunities are still better for
morketing his weroe. But in time
he is discovered at home and abroad,
and falls, with u pretense that til Q
people are ungrateful and unappreci-
alive. Tho chief trouble is, that the
same constituency profit 80 little by
experience that they are quite liable
to take up with the next panderlng
demagoguc that offers, in preference
to the ablest and most deserving man
who refuses to trim his sails for every
popular within.
But we return 10 tho unfinished
topics at first suggested !; these times
the motives and designing conduct of
legal and other public men are slowly
but surely uncovered and exposed
for criticism The middle classes
are VIGOROUSLY the best Judges of
character, and the least capable of
tolerating and extenuating circum-
stances, so that when lawyer or
public man fails in tho popular YER
dict, such court rarely entertains an
appeal for new trial. He is down
for life, unless upon long trial and
the practice Of unexceptional con
duct, he is once more set up as a
choice among evils or uncertainties
But we must credit the public with
this virtue, that il, upon u new trial
Il servant performs most decidedly
well, he is restored to rather over
full favor; and SO deeply is the dead
past buried that it is even dscredit
for any one to attempt resurrection
Of what should be forgotten.
No class of men are observed so
closely by the sharpest Judges of
character as are the lawyers And
as noticed there is the least mercy
for such as have boon weighed and
found short in law knowledge integ-
rity, fidelity, and other essential vir.
tues, or, if the lawyer be judged to
have protracted his clients suits
against hope, or pushed their suits
with unnecessary costs; or if his
practice has been to advise suits with.
out reasonable certainty of winning.
or misreprGsent laws or facts to his
clients or il he be found out in tux
; ing fees from both parties 70 suit.
. or in compromising his clients, or
played the knave in any manner. he
had better AZ once remove to some
other field and begin again at the
Q foot of the ladder, and be sure it il
planted upon moro virtuous pedest.
al. The Judge will first discover
the legal knave, next the lawyers
and sharp business men, and then
0 his secret goes out and abroad among
! the people. Henceforth his wares
can only find market among the
feeble, the penniless, the villainous.
, The last named class however usually
aim TO keep the best company by
employing if they can the lawyers OF
merit and high standing.
a The law is q positive science, and
. requires positive men to handle it.
II therefore creates much antago-
nism in society, and party feelings in
: suits often run high. 1t is we'll such
feelings are rarely so enduring as
extreme. The people justly reason
from the conceded fact that lawyer
} is bound to his client for the utmost
that the law and right of law can
yield, and for all that his talents can
avail. And when the suit closes,
there follows the usual clearing up
showers in the share of humorous
triumphing and half suppressed but
good natured indignation. The de-
feated party is too manly to howl,
and knows better than TO charge up
on court, jury and lawyers, and thus
betray most ludicious weakness.
He can only pay up the costs with