The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-06-16


mot proven" and on hypothetical or
groundless presumptions, mot guilty."
Upon the first, punishment is certain to
be inflicted; upon the second, though
there is NO corporal punishment, yet the
accused carries always with him the
stigma that he escaped tho law by the
''skin of his teeth" and upon the third,
there is entire liberation from all guilt.
Grimes" says awriter, "are more effect
ually prevented by the certainty than
the severity Of punishment" In Scot
land, these two elements in the penal
code are uniquely blended, and, as a
matter Of course, neither arc the jails
crowded with prisoners, nor the courts
quittal. It is q nations love of law, its
attachment to the public veal, it's peace
full and benevolent spirit, its love of
virtue, that makes it strong and respect
full; and nowhere more than in Scotland
Is the maxim, 'honesty is the best po-
Icy, more faithfully observed, and its
breach more vigorously punished. Her
public officers have no other object be-
fore their eyes but the proper admins
tration of their individual trusts, for
there is every inducement offered to sti-
mulate honorable conduct-none to
cause them to act otherwise. It has
always been the policy and wisdom Of
British legislation to iuculcate lessons Of
industry into the masses, to engender
feelings Of patriotism by honoring the
achievements of men in war and in
peace, and to practice the intelligent.
lofty and disinterested character in all
the transactions of life. During tho sit
tings of the courts, the Outer House pre-
sents an animated scene. As all the
courts open directly into it, il affords an
agreeable promenade for counsel and
their clients, whose causes are not actu.
ally going on in court. Advocates, whose
hands are full of business, are seen hur-
fying from court to court, while clients
and agents, whose cases have just been
called, may be noticed pressing their
way through the crowd, looking for their
counsel, for fear their suit may receive
some detriment during their absence. It
ie quito novel sight, according to Ame-
rican simplicity, to witness the formal
requisitions Of the courts. None are
allowed to SIT, except with tho sceptre or
crown at its back; while tho presiding
Lords are bound to don the red robes Of
ONCE, and the advocates their black silk
gowns, eaoh with their white wigs, some
Notwithstanding the novelty produced,
they undoubtedly give q demeanor and
bearing which does not fail to command
respect and attention from all classes. In
considering tho treasures Of the legal
profession Of Edinburgh, the Advocates
Library is the most precious of them all,
containing, as it does, 150, 900 volumes
and the manuscripts to 1,7O0. The va
riety is quite equal to the numbers, as it
Is ono Of tho Ave libraries that receives
from Stationers' Hall Q copy Of every
book that is printed In the united king
dom of Great Britain and Ireland. BY
private contributions and the zeal Of its
members, largo additions are annually
made, and the end Of its collections can
not be seen. The SygAet Library is also
in the Parliament House, and Is pecu-
liarly rich In the department Of British
and Irish history. It has some 60,000
volumes, and, like the enc before men
toned, is continually swelling in num-
bers. The Advocates' Library belongs
to the Faculty of Advocates; the sygnet
Library is the property of the writer's to
tho sygnet. The former are pleaders in
court; the latter are ofice-lAwyers. The
metdphysicidn may come here and quench
his thirst for Theoretical science In the
rationAlism Of Germany; the folloDer of
the Cross may walk in the meadows OF
literature and espy the bloom of the
Rose Of Sharon; the classical scholar
may gather with Plato under tho aca-
demio groves, wander with Horace along
the mossy banks of the Po, and climb
With Homer the muse-haunted submits
Of 0rscisn verse, and the wise men Of
all climes may be guided by these hxed
stars TO the treasures Of wisdom and
knowledge. unexplored by human re-
search and sagacity. W. H.E.
Tho Boston reporters rise to the oc-
casion once in . while, a. in the follow
ing account of meeting of the Radical