Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-07-13
philadelphia.
OUR SAT RDAY LETTER

tors in the City.
Special Correspondence Of he Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA. July ~.
The death OF David Paul Brown, though not
really startling event. inasmuch as the distin-
guished lawyer had latterly retired practically
from the public view, yet made profound i'm
preston. He was one Of the foremost OF the
d" Philadelphia Lawyers" whose " smartness +"
has become axiOmatic, and for over fifty years
stood at the very head Of his profession. His
career WAS a remarkable one, and although II was
entirely confined TO his native city, yet his name
was we'll known at every Bar in the country.
Singularly enough, his reputation was almost
entirely gained in criminal practice The busi-
ness that Cassiday, Mann, and O'Byrne after
wards surceeded to was at one time almost
monopolized by Mr. Brown, who WAS able to
command at the same time tho confidence Of the
best minds in his profession, and the respect OF
the most determined class OF Law Breakers.
have called this singular because, personally Mr..
Brown was a mau of very sensitive, even of po-
etical. temperament, to whom, it might be sup
posed, tho associations and duties OF criminal
practice, would be peculiarly distasteful But he
was also powerful orator, and this fact prob
ably decided his place in the Courts. II may be
that the lawyer, with no especial gifts for speak
ing, finds himself naturally led to civil, real es-
tate business, and the like, while person OF or
atorical power inclines to that field in which he
can produce the greatest effects. DO this al il
may, IL in certain that no lawyer ever stood al
our bar who had such command OF juries IN
criminal GASES, while 1t III equally true that he
preserved through life nobility and ingenious
ness OF spirit which WAS never affected by hls
al MrotgllGUnBHh
of tho world.
As an orator, he ranked, and deserved to rank
very high. nor has lie lett behind him one who
is his equal in that line. For prisoner to se-
cure David Paul Browns assistance WAS almost
to secure bis acquittal and old people have told
me that in his prime it was scarcely possible to
beat him. Such s the wonderOus power
Of human speech Mentally, perhaps, lie was
not superior to many OF his fellows at the Bs'j
there we're certainly better lawyers than him
self pmong his cotemporaries, but he could out
talk them all, nor do / mean by that, that he
could use more words, but that they were strong
or and more eloquent. Indeed, wordy speak
or he was not. He struck his blow forcibly, and
stopped nor was 1t worth while for any one TO
strike Afterward in that place. His power WAS
not confined to practising in the courts. As a
lecturer and public speaker in many directions,
especially in the antislaYery cause, MIR. Br own
achieved much distinction. His services to the
abolition movement were valuable, conspicuous
mobbed for expressing opinions In advance Of
the time on this vsxed subject. The burning OF
Pennsylvania Hall, at sixth and Haines streets,
where tine Odd Fellows Hall now stands, grt at
ly oonvulsed Philadelphia and was the subject
| uf talk all evar tha country Iha Hall was built
| by the early abolitionsta and WAS fired by the
| ProHlavery Party, and Mr. Brown WAS the ora
| tor OH the occasion when the mob made its IA
nous attack.
Mr.. Brown was successful author as we'll al
lawyer and orator. In early life he wrote seyera
| pieces for the stage, which were acted with sue
1 cess, and besides contributing Literally to the
| old fashioned magazines OF twenty-five year,
| ago he wrote several volumes upon natter
connected with his profession, one OF which en-
| titled THE Forum, published in 1856 made
Il sensation at the time, and has always been helf
/ iu high consideration. He was, in fact amAn ol
varied talents and accomplishments, man o
whom this city was justly proud, and whom sh'
i will not soon forget.
Baltimores ratification Of Mr., qreeleys som
/ mersault created little or no excitement here
| The Democrats are trying to extract what com
fort they can eut of the situation, but 1t evident
/ y goes hardly with them, and all the feeling
| among Republicans that can detect il one ol
sorrow and modification that their old and trust
ed leader Should have got 40 far from the bear
| ings which we all thought were to have hin
firm through life The Age accepts the inevita
BILE in digniied manner, but shows no heart II
| the business and does not hoist the ticket.
imagine the bulk Of its readers are in th,
same state OF mind; they say, "Oh, yes
| we had to do it, there was nothing els
left for U.S." but they sing very small an'
do not hoist the tick 1t with will. Th
| papers generally are In parlous state a
| friend Touchstoae says Matters are 80 mixet
that it is hard to get an Editor to make up hi
| mind, and then to boldly express himself. The
Press processes fealty to Grant, but it might a
| well not do 80, il its views concerning the Stat
contest are ratified. 1t is mere ohildlshness t
hurrah for Buckalew and Grant in the sam
breath, and yet this ID what the Press is doing
Ihe Inquirer and Telegraph are severely non
committal. The Bulletin is the only genuin
supporter Of the President and it 4 doing nobl
laying the Press out every time. 1t may not b
the part of friend to suggest to anybody tn
starting OF daily paper but it does seem tha
there is room in Philadelphia just now for tirs
class Republican morning journal. with energ
and capital could scarcely fail to succeed.
The question OF the location OF the new Pos
| Office is being extensively debated. numbe
| of sites are named, among the most promlnon
| being the present property with the lot adJoln
ing on the west, the Girard House the Uniyer
slty OF Penna. Grounds on Ninth ST street
the PennA II. y. Freight depot l3ih an
I Market; the Markoe House Properi
and the lot opposite the Academy OF Music o
Broad street. There are many other poop
who would be glad to do little business wit
the government at profit, but the choice WI
| doubtless be made from among the properue
named Tho present lot the University Grount
: | and the Grard House seem to lead in the rae
| The first can be bought for half million, u
9 | second for 5000. .000 and the last fer 500, ,OO
: In some respects the College grounds are vel
| desirable, but auart from their costing moi
3 | money it seems that the Post Office should
n | ON Chestnut street There is strong feer
in favor o. the University however, arising fro
the ample extent of the grounds and desire
reimburse the old College for its enterprise al
ontlay in West Philadelphia. Another stroi
" party favors the Broad and Market Sts. site, al
70 SAWS that location in proximity tosthe Publ
o Buildings ia the At and desirable thing.
s. In the neighborhood Of those same buildin
Is that are to be, chaos reigns supreme, The o
Il song says such giltin up stairs, but som
l. body ought to write parody about "slcn
u diggin OF cellars l never did see' Firt
y you know, there were four celia
'. built four beautiful fences while t
g. digging was going lszily on inside. Then it W
N concluded to dig one cellar, the outer edge
/. that cellar to be considerably inside OF the rln
+ of the four cellars already commenced 30 th
o man went and took down all his fences (ati
n. oontesting the matter few weeks) and 0tt
d | men, (but very few OF them) commenced leisul
ly TO fill up the cellars already dug. do I
know that this is very clear, but It 10 quite
clear as a view of the ground would be to yo
Nm renders It looks as il it really never too'
n come straight. though it is possible that in
an course Of time, one cellar, such as the Comm
IA sioners want, may be finally dug. At prest
ia it appears as il there had been an earthquake
NJ Broad and Market, aud defy anybody, even
Mt ho has been digging cellars all his life, 10 ma
On head or tail of it. Only one thing is clear q
in the work is not quarter DONE and tsat u