New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-04

tive OF great injustice without the professions al
lawyer Any of the inexperienced train of
suitors might set the law in motion but,
without the necessary scientific skill, he
would run his and his companions rights to
ruin.
In rustic old Virginia the vulgar belief
that lawyers retard justice once became so
general that, by an act of the Assembly,
lawyers were entirely abolished for number
of years. But it turned out that SO many
just causes were lost simply because they
were badly pleaded, that they soon saw their
folly, and reenacted lawyers into existence.
Amid the various complications of our ac-
tive civilization the profession of the lawyer
is one OF the essentials sine qua non.
NATURE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
Moreover, it is one Of the noblest pursuits
that can engage the human intellect. The
lawyer is the minister of Justice beta een
man and man, and occupies position which
is permanently one Of trust and confidence.
The poor in distress, the weak oppressed,
the innocent accused, the honest traduced-
humanity injured-appeal to him for counsel
and redress.
This is likewise the most onerous of all
professions. Its demands are quite illimita-
BILE. To be proficient, the lawyer must not
only master the logic and intricacies of the
law, but he is required to know much of
books which are not bound in calf, as well
as much which is not in books at all-for he
nIs I'm laly Of
Indeed, there is no science, no art, no handi-
draft, no subject in the curriculum of human
knowledge an acquaintance with which may
not serve him, or from an ignorance of which
he may not suffer.
Good lawyers generally succeed in acquir-
ing competency. But they whose ultima
tum is the acquisition Of wealth had better
seek it in the marts Of trade, in mercantile
or speculative business. The lawyer finds
his chief reward in the consciousness of duty
well performed-in the admiration and re-
spect of those he has assisted. The heart
felt tear of gratitude of the innocent wretch
whom he has saved from the galows is
pearl precious beyond the estimation of gold
The legal profession has always occupied
the foremost place in point of dignity and
respect in every country. The true lawyer
is one of the most perfect types of manhood.
Learning, tact, skill, probity, patience, per-
severence, philosophy. logic. oratory-all
are his
CONCLUSION
The history of the profession is splendid
and inspiring. In its path the most illustri-
GUS of earth have walked. In its ranks have
stood philosophers and statesmen, reformers
Of governments, and the greatest champions
Of human rights. The profession is proud OF
its great names-its Cokes and its Bacons,
its Burkes and its Erskines, its Blackstones
and its Mansfields, its Jefersons and its
Hamiltons, its Marshalls, its Storeys, and
its Kents, its Choates and its Websters-
these are magic names which will continue
to excite the emulation and inspire the
minds of generations yet to come, and where
ever liberty and law shall find home they
will be the guiding stars Of their hopes.
Such is the science of the Law such the
legal profession. And with this path to pur-
sue, with these lights to guide us, animated
by high and lofty sentiments, we go forward
with bright anticipations and a fervent ambi-
ton of reaching that shining goal-succEss.