Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-20
CHANCELLOR COOPER.
His Address 20 the Law Glass of Wash
ingtOn University, st. LOuIs-AdmIr-
able Advice 90 Young Practitioners.

able Advice 10 Young Practitioners.
The annual address before lL- Gradual
ing law class of Washington University,
ST. Louis, was delivered by Chancellor W..
Z. Cooper, of Nashville, last Monday even
ing, and the leading papers Of that city
speak Of it In terms OF high commendl
tiOn. He said, in substance;
The law student Will tind, when he en-
ters upon the practice Of his profession,
that the great advantage he has derived
from his previous course Of instruction is
in the increased facility with which he is
enabled to grapple with his new duties.
He must grapple with them, if lie wishes 20
succeed. The profession is eEaCtiHg, la
bOrious, and full Of heavy responsibility.
Nothing will enable him to permanently
win his way except continuous industry
and lifelong study. But these are certain
to insure success in the end. The Young
lawyer, if he needs any additional InCeG-
tive to exertiOn, should bear in mind that
after being for few years the juniors Of
the profession, hanging behind the bar, To
use a once famous phrase, "like a sable
cloud on the Western horizon" they must,
in turn, become the leaders as great advO-
Gates, profound juTiscOnsults, or eminent
IuuECos II - O4AlI q AAcolaoAA Ol LlLACs
Their elders must pass from the stage, and
give place to them. They should prepare
themselves TO occupy the vacancies as they
occur, for, they may rest assured, when the
vacancy comes, they will be certain 10 take
the place which their industry, accuracy,
and character justify them in aspiring TO-.
The next in order Of merit generally steps
into the place Of the fallen tle leader. The
world knows its proper men, and rarely
ever negleCts them.
In the hurry Of active life, the Young
lawyer Is too apt to think that If ne gives
due attention TO the business in hand he
will have done all that can be reasonably
required. And that may be true in a certain
utilitarian sense. But, if he thus limits
his exertiOns, he can scarcely have more
than the pecuniary rewards Of industry.
He should strive for something more, and
while carefully dischargiug the duties Of
the hour, continue 10 ground HIM
self in the mysteries Of his
art. Along with tie streams Of
routine business he may carry a deeper cur
rent Of study. IL is ia regard to the best
practical mode Of conducting this deeper
line of study that propose % offer you
a few suggestions; for u is the mastery Of
the science Of the law which leads to the
highest successes, and consequently the
modes of studying that science 70 the best
advantage are of the utmost Importance.
Our theme is not the science Of the law,
but the practical method Of studying that
science.
1t is only within the memory of the
present legal generation that the prOfes-
siOnal and political intellect among
English-speaking people began 10 awake 10
the absence Of science in what IL was, at
one time, the custom, originating with
Lord Coke and pOpularIzed By sir William
Blackstone, to cail the perfection If hu-
man reason Lord Coke, it is true, gulli-
fed his eulCgy tbal the cUmmou law was
nothing but reason, by c0ucsdiug that this
was to be understood, not of every man
natural reason, but Of an ARTIFICIAL peIfac-
tion of reason, only % be gotten
bv long study, observation and eX-
perience Of the pr5cedenls and ar
guments Of the eminent sagps Of the law.
Sir William Blackstone, however, omitted
the qualification Of his illus'uJGs P1ele-
cessOT, and, in that graceful and melCjiOIs
dictiOn which has, more ur less. cuarWad
the senses Of the profession since the pub l.
cation Of his famous commentaries, taught
the absolute perfection OF hs theme. The
continental jurisiS, educated iE jhe schools
Of the civil law, laughed at the assumption,
and could not conceal their contempt for
eulogy TO which the details Of the work
itself afforded the f4ltesJ contradiction.
Bentham was the inst Englishmau