Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1872-01-19
The LAWYERS.

i y
lesion News speaking of the sale of Fort Hill
says: "Unfortunately an amicable settlement
between the different claimants Of this estate
could not be made without recourse to the
courts, and as is usual the lawyers were the
only gamers. Yet not dishonorably-
moro than the law allowed them. IS III
Talk. about the oppression OF Scots and his his
Ring, ndthsirstealings from our poor, down.
troddenff farmers and planters llsgal steal.
ing deplorably bad, we oil admit. But the
legal stcalings or oxaotions of our judges,
lawyers and officers of the State, down to tie
lowest bailff, are but little, if anything, bet.
ter. Lot any one venture to introduce bill
in our Legislature to reduce salaries or foes
in our State, land he win q have ID take
tree, with the whole pack of officers and ex-
pectants at his heels, and If they don't shoot
him, they will play. Davy Crockett and grin
him down. Too many lawyers and expec.
tants Of Office in our Legislature for suohano-
tion to succeed, 50 that we may oonteht our.
selves to submit, With the best grace possj,
bic to tho expressions and exactions, Of all un.
til we can have more honest representation
to take the helm of our State."g o9tei 9tis.a
| The bar has always beer target in South
Carolina. Prior to the war men haaped
curses on tho aristocratio government, D.
high foes of officers and the heavy taxes iaa.'
posed on the people, aud attributed these
imaginary evils to the number of lawyers filt
ing our legislative Halls. So great was the
feeling of dissatisfaction, that on The inaugu.
ration of tho present government and the
abolishment of all property qualification for
seats in the General Assembly many rejoiced
in the prospect of poo. mans government.
We now have it. Those, who were not poor,
have been reduced to poverty by taxation,
and will be kept in that condition We now
have prceminently poor mans government.
Taxes and cost have been quadruped.., The
number of officers have been increased five
fold, while life, liberty and property are less
secure than ever before. Who is responsible
for this state of things? In 1868 there were
not ten lawyers in both branches of the
General Assembly, and tho. same is
true now, while in 1866 there we're not less
than seventy, and history tcstiics they laborcd
for low taxes and cheap government We
perhaps before the war had the best conduct.
ed government in the world, both as to pro.
lection afforded the citizen and economy Id
all the branches Of government. The taxes
we're low, fees low and peace and order uni.
versal. The present system is distastcfcl to
every intelligent member of the bur of tho
State. 1t is ruinous to their interest, aud
we have heard judge ORR remark often, that
the present system Of costs would beggcr the
profession. We feel sure, not only from tho
published protest of the bar, but also froa,
their known intelligence and generosity thds
legislature Of lawyers would not suffer the
present system Of costs to remain on the statute
books one day longer than was necessary to
effect its repeal. 1t is not his ayocation or
profession, which determines the character
and conduct ofau individual. These depend
on the lessons Of honor and integrity incul
culcatcd in childhood, developed aud strength
encd in manhood by education aud enforced
by high senco Of moral duty lawyers,
we believe, composed moro thnn half the sign
ers and trainers of the declaration of inlepen.
dence, and from that day to this, many of the
wisest and best men who have figured conspio
uously in tho history of'this rcpulic, were law.
ycrs. We honor the profession, not only for
its intelligence aud integrity but for its cath.
oc generosity Where is the poor man,
white or coIored, who for want ofmoney; has
gone undefended in our courts of Justice
And where is the merchant on far.Ner or 9TH
er calling, who of their abundance would
contribute portion for his defence Where
Is the church or schoolhousc or other charita.
bic object but owes it's existence in great
degree to the liberality Of the legal profes.
sion! If these be the fruits of selfishness,
let the other avooations at once begin to
cultivate it. The bar has always been gen.
erous. We have read that Mr.. PErT1oREw
being once spoken to about his extravagant
charities, replied, "Ah my friend am lay
ing up treasures in heaven" This is char
acteristic of the profession. 4 In this copneo
ton we clip the following extract from the
Memphis appeal, headed "The true nobility
Of earth" '..S A"' 3li =
e The Legislature of Alabama agreed to pay
three lawyers, employed in the Stanton Rail
ro'd suit at Knoxville, 100000. Ono of
these, General james Fl. Clanton, was killed