New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-01
PLEADED IN ARREST OF PUBLIC JUDO
MENT,


really do not know what else to call them
are of peculiar value. We have had the
example of Mr.. Pendleton and others, who
by the simple device Of denominatlng
professional fee what would, if taken by
another, have been regarded as ali in
ordinate grab, wholly inconsistent with
the relations of the grabbee to the subject
of seizure, and even a corrupt taxing
wholly without adequate consideration
There is another attribute of an attorney.
It is to announce and advocate doctrine
with all the force of eloquence, with every
device of ingenuity and with every weight
of perverted authority; at the same time
the attorney does not believe word he IS
saying himself, and does not hesitate to
repudiate in one speech the doctrine he
has ayowed in another. We do not say that
there should not be profession OF per-
sons so astute and SO flexible OF mind. 1t
is fortunate that such advocates exist
ustice demands that every party i'm
pleaded should have the best defense pos
sible. 1t is far better the guilty should
escape through the affected pathos or
sophistical attorney or even, perhaps,
purch juryman, than that an lnno-
cent man should be hanged.
Attorney General Ogden has been called
| to account for his supposed opposition to
| our Texas Pacific railroad, because of his
Jealous argument against that work. SO he
| calls upon the Bulletin, and in effect says:
Lord bless you! you did not suppose was
in earnest! Not bit of it. l opposed the
popular vote upon the tax loan as an attor-
ney. All that argument is professional.
1t is my prerogative to convince people OF
what I do not believe myself. If those
big wigs on the bench can be captured by
tn at chat, they can have as much OF 1t as
the7 need. For myself, I am railroad
man. We admit this is professionally
proper, though We think it may have been
due to his clients, the tax resisting land
lords, to have kept his pace little while
longer. It will be difficult to find Jury
or any one who will put faith in what the
advocate has assured them he does not
himself approve.
It strikes us, however, that Attorney
Ogden has, in the Jealous insincerity Of
professional orator, advanced some doc
trines which were not relevant to the legal
issue of extending the tax loan to popular
vote. He did, as it seems to US, advocate
at the St. Patricks Hall meeting, the doc
trine that municipal corporation was sc
protected by the provisions OF magma
charta that it could not be compelled tt
impose a tax unless in the opinion OF Its
members the tax was proper. We think
Mr.. Ogden Endorsed the opinions de
clared upon this subject by his homo
Mayor Leeds in his various vetoes. L
moreover occurs to US that Mr.. Ogden hal
uttered the extrajudicial opinion tina
right of suffrage upon taxation of prop
. erty should be confined to thos
who hold property Such is our memor.
J of the professional arguments of Mr.
: Eustis and Mr.. Ogden of counsel in tn
same cause. We state this, subject, G
course, to correction. We fear. however
that this doctrine Of professional irrespon
sibility may reverse one excellent argu
, ment made by Hon. Mr.. kennard agains
the sovereignty of municipal corpol
alton, and in favor of allowing the tenar
f to vote tax on the landlords property
g This doctrine of com pririeg;o leg'
a gives an attorney great advantages
candidate Ii, fer instance, regardin
: Democracy as great criminal II
g dicted before the American people fe
henious crimes and ofenses, the cand
# dates shall appear as attorney for the de
e fendants the public can never kno'
9 what to believe from one who profession
j. ally does not believe himself.
D We admit the plea fled by Attorne
S General Ogden. It will be held to col
q tradict that which he has asserted upo
o the legal issues between the State la
Y and the tax resisters. Where, however, b
It may have expressed an opinion outsic
= of those issues, he must be held, like an
S one else, to strict political account f
r it. Let the trial proceed.