Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-02-17
CHARIEsros, KASAwHA Co., W. Va. I
February Is, 1872.

feoiuaiy -, Aos-.
In redeeming promise N ade
on the eve OF my depai ture TO Baltimore sm sor-
~ that time does not present admit of inditing
more than one tenth of the observations made in
Baltimore, en- route, and here at my destination,
At the ice-bound Capital OF West Virginia.
Being detained in Baltimore for some DAYS, at
tended the Courts there, aud, with the aid Of sew
eral observant friends, made my notes on some Of
the prominent lawyers. Une of them, Robert
Brent, Esq, | observe By the papers, has since
died, and therefore omit what had noted OF him,
as his friends will doubtless give an account OF
him more satisfactory than was able to obtain.
For the rest, there is no man at the Baltimore
bar equal to those Who have figured in the past
Martin, Pinkney, Writ, fancy, Nelson, and Nc
Mahon-except perhaps Keyerdy johnson.
As a forensic advocate, johnson comes nearer
Erskine than any man since the day of that great
jurist. We have produced greater Tyerrs-mOre
subtle, initially philOsnphic rcasuners. such as
Pinkney, Binney, and Webster-but an ddro-
cate before the court, or the jury, Ma prias
practitioner, in banc, keverdy johnson perhaps
stands first and foremost Jf the age-(aeie priH-
cePs. la any other capacity than lawyer he has
never succeeded As a politician he is a palpable
failure, and the most unreliable OF leaders. The
English laughed him, at the Court OF st. James,
for attributng uagma ehaota in some of has post
prandial speeches to Mug JUhn-just as the A
mericans laughed at him last Summer Tor telling
the PttsbuI gers NJ the Cunnelsyille railroad ban
Quet, that III, lUUt Ot slave never drsecrat,d the
suil OF Pennsy lvsnia, when the fact that sla-
very existed there irOm the days OF Penn, himself
a Slayeholdrr,J down to 1880! Mr. johnson Il
either lawyer, or nothing-aai Era.Rsas, aaf
DiaboiHs
lillian Schley comes next in order. An anec-
dote about him may interest you. In 1864, when
the Republican party forced new Constitution
Tor Mary land to the popular vote, the schedule VI
the unadopted instrument required every one 10
citizens Mai land usk.d Tor the opinion vi John
son. aud alsU that OF William Schlcy rs to the bind
ing obligation vi such oath, grounding objection
10 Il un the fact that the Constitution Was mot
mandatory uuul adopted. Dir. johnson aud Mr..
Schley both W.T. te legal Opinions Tor the querists
They appeared duilng the last ilness oi
Chief Justice fancy, aud were read " him by
friend as be lay ON his SICK bed. Duth Interested
him deeply, but oil Ar. ochleys he said That Is
the souudest argument have heard Tor n long
time. 1t worthy OI William Seblry, aud only
confirms The opinion have always had Oi han,
that he Is vi the clearest men AT the American
bar" The praise vi the great Is tile most Halter
ing tribute that either genus, talent, VI Learning
in their Otlest range. has ever been able ~ win.
For several years after the death vi Nelson, the
withdraw al ci the lauieuted McMsboB, and tie de-
yutun vi Mr.. JUbnsuns CHEZ a0Urs ~ the supreme
Court vi the Unlted States, Mr.. oehey held the
leadership of the Baltimore bar. About two Ur
three wears ago his health began to ia,l, aud III the
suit az ainst Ben. Butler a heumorhage compelled
hun To quit the courtroom while addressing the
court. lie Is not only powerful lawyer, Out II
line classical schOlai aud still, notwithstanding
inhrm health, practces Aud maInIains a eomu maud
ing influence at the bar. A quarter oI u century
ago be was offered, As have been told, S4v, UUO
\ ear BY eight leading niei chants OF New YORK,
il be would NO there aud attend To their business
exclusively The success he met with in Bslti-
more may be inferred from bis refusal vi TIE Oiier
1t is ALSO said that the same inerehantprInces
m AIDE the same Proposition TO Daniel ebster, with
similar result.
l. hewitt Steele has secured the position which
advancing years and impaired health have rem
dered Mr.. Schlcy uncauai Ia the task vi longer
maintaining. Mr. Steele Is very strong man, IN
deiatigablc in preparation, As clear AS msthenAt-
ics aud general, as exact These characteristics
we're fully tested and demonstrated IN the late
Wharton trial. lie has won his way to the front
rank with difficulty, having, Ike the late walter
Jones, passed many dreary years NJ brleneSs par
rister His mind Is rather clear aud subtle, than
eminently comprehensive; he is partial to argu'
ing from pai ticuars to generals, bow lew law
yers are nOt?), and yet he holds ON 10 the strong
point, and wrestes and twists, and insists upon
and over it, in manner sUi generis, until be ieeis
he has driven It home.
5. Teackle Wallis is generally regarded as
Steele's rival, and by lew as bis superior. No
two men could be more unlike. The one Is subtle,
q. ~.
er, Mr.. wallis), is popular, and elegant, aud As
prOdigal OF eclectic SpOils as though the gorge
Gus East" had showered its treasures on his head
!, would be unjust to deny TO Mr.. Wallis hne legal
80. ID nnnSuinmato address. hut n.vRr think
ot him as do The JUhnsOns aud OCOnOrs OF the
profession. He DIS not carry you away-hls
words never catch on fire, bis logic, though clear
and sound, is not made OF iron, clamPlng you ir-
ressIibly in its folds aud holding yOd aere' new
err listened u him without thinking that NV BIS
crystalline wit, aesthetic refinement. aud sehoias-
tic purity he would be willing any time, IL he fol-
lowed his bent. to leave the courtroom, even
though Marshall and fancy sat there, and go Ia
join senate OF lierati, IN discuss The merits Of
poem OF Tennyson, or paper OF Thackeiay.
Mr.. Wallis Is great toast among the Young
men of Baltimore, and seems to be As REFINED and
iastidious in his tastes n woman. In one word.
in the sphere in which he moves, he is acknowl-
edged authority and wit bitter elegdnfidrHbI.
There are other fine but Younger lawyers at the
Baltimore bar. such as Marshall Mclaughlin,
Carter, Mcclure, Conrad, Machrn, and others,
but not having yet become, through age and iame,
public properly fOrbear To- discuss their respect
i've forensic ranks or characteristics.
But what has all this got to do with the Conven-
tiun and Legislature of West Virginia Nothing
Baltimore, bad intended following the thread oi
my own jnurneyings through Paikersburg and
Ohio, to the "pei nianeDt seat" but finding am
likely to tire you ana your readers By the length
OF my letter, must deter for future occasion the
elaboration Of the notes in my memOrandum-boOk.
Yours truly l..