Litchfield enquirer., 1875-12-09
Judge seymOur's Address to the
 state Bar Association.


 Judge Seymour to the State Bar Associa tion, as reported in the Hartford Courant of the 2Oth ut
 have been requested to avail myself of thss occasion tO present more fully than mas heretofore been done, she objects of our assoclation. No such organization has, until now, been attempted In Connec- ticut, and insomuch as we are proposing something new it is thought fitting that we should state why such an association IS deemed needful and what is sought to be accomplished by it.
 In the outset. must concede that the legal profession has not the same induce ments as the other learned professions have to meet together for consultation. The physician's field of labor is the sick room by himself, without associates. To him it is . diversion from labor to meet his brethren and discuss with them theo- ries of medicine, new forms of disease and new remedies 1: but the lawyer's field of labor is public. Public discussion of le- gal points is the burden of his daily life. An association for the free discussion of questions of law would have for him no attraction it would be merely extending into the night the hard work of the day. Nor have We. like the clergy. great com mon objects to which our lives are devOt- ed, upon the means of accomplishing which we need often to consult. It hence happens that while large gatherings are daily taking place of the clerical and med ical professions, bringing together distin. guished representatives. from different states and nations, and of all languages, and attracting universal attention, our largest gatherings ara county bar meet ings and 1t hence happens that now, for the first time within the memory of man, the bar from all parts of the state are met for mutual consultation. u6A uzfET :
 Now, although the bar of the state has not precisely the same inducements for coming together, as the other learned pro feSsions, there are, think, some common 4 objects, to accomplish which we may well a associate ourselves. Those objects are specified in the second article of the con- stitutiOn of the association and with your indulgence I will dwell a few moments upon them as there enumerated. The frat clause of this article declares that the association is established to uphold and raise the standard of professional qanlIf- oatiOna- We have no reason to be asham- ed of this standard, as it has come to us frOm the past generatioR of Connecticut
  the community to uphold it, and, If we can. to raise it. Something in this behalf may perhaps be doee by keeping watch of l the gates through which entrance is made, requiring of candidates for admission a more thorough examination than hereto fore into their fitness. But the associa- tlon c0ntemplates more under this head ] than merely guarding the doors of admis slon. Certain qualifications are essential | to every one who takes on himself the du- ties and responsibilities of the profession. Extraordinary gifts of genius aud learning | arc not necessary men of humble gifts ! and attachments may be honorable and I usefal members. All that can be deemed | essehtial is sound practical sense, a hearty | devotion tO his profession, habits of in- | dassEy. unswerving integrity, and a fitting 1 sense of honor. truth and duty. With l these qualifications moderate success iA the professions is certain. and without them no one has a right to be regarded | as up to the standard which we wish to uphold. So far as learning is concerned. thorough knowlege.of elementary princi- | pies is aatliiclent for the solution of all | the questions of every day practice. If the | ply to his eases the plain elementary rules |
 
 IS our parpose t0 raise the standard oi professional qualifications, yet we not de. l ssFe to place It so high as to exclude from l Aa honorable place class of faithful la- | eoreRs m the humbler walks of the profes- | slon. On the contrary, we offer them | words of encouragement aud bid them l 6odspeed. But while as an association VIC do not ! feel at liberty to put our standard of es- sential qualifications higher than have indicated, we do heartily appreciate the | higher qualities by which the profession | Is elevated and adorned In the graver contests of tho forum. every. hsculty of the mind and all it's stores of learning are l called iRtO acquisition. There is no knowledge and 10 endowment Of genius which the advocate may not turn to ac. count The standard of qualifications for the duties of the profession in its highest walks can hardly be placed too high, nor can honor too great be bestowed on the true lawyer, complete in all that befits his honored calling. And in the same degree m which we feel pride in the true lawyer. we feel shame in the disgrace brought up- on the profession by unworthy members. An ignorant. laundering attorney is a nuisance, but the mishief he does is limit ed. Yonr real pest is he that has smart. ness and cunning. but is destitute of all sense of honor and truth and integrity. This association is pledged to do it's ut most to relieve society of such pests, but It IS difficult to reach the evil by means of rules, regulations or discipline; for, de. spite all we can do. shrewd and unscru. palous lawyers will find clients and bus,. hess. There are men in the world who regard plain, upright lawyer as too dull an instrument for their purpose If they have q mean revenge to feed ,Or doubtful gam to seek, they want and employ a sharp. daring and reckless advocate. This is in. deed sore evil, and hard to te remedied. How precisely to deal with it, is a prob. lem ahich must be left for the careful consideration of the association,
 The second clause of the article under consideration declares that the association IS established to mantain the bonor and dignity of the profession of the law. The profession comes to us rich with the spells of time. It's history is the history of civ. ilixation. Governments and institutions have been formed by it's influences. ThroQgh all time It has bean the guardian of order and of liberty. Its records are full of illustrious examples of devotion to truth, homer and duty. Those who now have in their keeping this noble profession must not allow it's honor to become tar. niahed in their hands. Every member of the bar who is true Co duty does some. thing towards sustaining the fair fame of the profession. It is we'll for us. to meet together and encourage each other in our labora. and show onr sympathy with all who are acting we'll their part, and to show, also. our scoru of all haseuess by ~hich the dignity of our calling is impair cd. ,~--.ve E~~S
 The next object spe si6ed in the cousti. tuition ia to aid all proper measures for the Improvement of the jurisprudence of the state-the organization of cearts and modes of practice These are worthy ob- jects needing attention, and subjects pe- cuIiarly within our province as lawyers. In order to imprave our jurisprudence we must invoke the aid of the legislature and of Che courts. And first, of the rlegisla. ture. I am reluctant to speak disrespectG fully of the body of our statute law. for it