The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-02
From the Evening News.

From the Evening News.
Mr.. Editor-That the lawyers are so stirred
up over my former little epistle Is sufficient
proof that the statements made were only the
plain truth. Being called knave q fool and
an ignoramus is the highest compliment the
legal profession could pay me- for the resort to
epithets shows most conclusively that they are
beaten in the argument. have'read carefully
both replies to my structures. but have been un-
able to discover any points needing rejolnder.
30 proceed to the further dissection OF that
parasite on civilized society, the gentlemen Of
the legal profession.
am frank TO concede that there have been
and are men illustrious for their wisdom and
purity in the ranks of the law, but am sorry
to have to believe that they are exceptions to
the rule-that that quality OF sharpness which
makes the successful attorney is not compati-
BILE with the highest sentiments Of honor. In
every community there is perhaps small circle
OF high-toned members of the bar who enjoy to
the fullest extent public confidence but for
the rest, how common it Is, even in the case OF
the ablest and most successful. to find their
regulations cloaded by some transactions OF
questionable morality, il not legality, in which
at some time or other they have been detected.
Nor am descending to the ranks Of the nu-
merous class OF shvsters and pettifoggers.
There are no doubt moro Dodsons and Foggs
in the profession than your probably young and
uncontaminated correspondent, " Attorney"
would care to believe.
But in this brief communication merely wish
to call attention to one or two points deserving
particular consideration
1. The shameful and wanton manner in
which attorneys insult SANDER and villfy hon.
| est and respectable citizens who may happen
to appear, either as witnesses or litigants, on
the opposite side to that for which they may be
engaged, and in which the law and the courts
sustain them.
2. The almost utter impossibilty of'any one
not lawyer, nowadays, getting any high po-
sition of honor or emolument.
1. Did you ever attend trial in any of our
circuit courts and observe the infamous treat
ment witnesses are subjected to ? have, scores
OF times, aud have felt the deepest shame for
the outrageous tyranny to which l have seen
honest, truthful and welEmeaning citizens ex-
posed. From the time the cros-ezamination OF
the witness begins till he leaves the stand he is
commonly the victim OF the grossest insult,
contumey and abuse. The tone Of the profess
sional gentleman Cd is such as not one person
ia five hundred would use were he addressing q
dog, to say nothing of human being. The in
situation is continually thrown out that the
witness fs lying or seeking to disguise the
truth; and to create an effect on the jury inso-
lent questions, such as 10 man OF self respect
could answer promptly involved questions,
which have no meaning and are wholly unsus-
ceptible OF categorical answer, and sneering
questions not honestly put for the purpose Of
elicting truth are poured in upon the witness
and an swers demanded instanter with a vehe
mence and arrogance not readily described in
the limits OF ST ort newspaper article.
TO the disgrace OF our courts. they permit
this cowardly and unwarrantable persecution.
1 say cowsrdly, because out of court not man
of them would dare 20 use the same language.
Then, in their arguments to the jury, observe
what license they assume. No mans character
so pure but that IL he has the misfortune to
be either party to a suit or witness in one
he is held Up 10 the jury as scoundrei OF the
blacklist stripe The attorney makes charges
and uses language which. out OF court and
unshieldel by his profession, would consign
him TO a felon's cell The law (Which is made
primarily for tie lawyer holds whatever he
may say n open court, however slanderous and
hbelous, however false aad malicious. 10 be
privileged, No other man NAV use such Ian
guage the lawyer alone is privileged TO insult
and malgn his fellow citizens, and "a upheld by
the law in 90 dong And yet it g popularity
supposed that we have no class privileges in
this assumedly free country If mistake not
M. Editor, you have had some little experience
of this yourself. have personally encountered
it. and have often observed It in cases where
have been az entirely disInterested party.
2. Can you tell me any good reason why the
legal profession should have furnished Is out
OF our ~ Presidents-for whether Hayes OF
Tilden secure the prize. 1t will be lawyer who
will constitute the 10Th Can you give me any
sufficient reason why 257 out Of the 800 gentle
men who now constitute the Congress OF the
United States shauld be taken from one class
, or soeiety-from single profession Or why
: is every one OF the nine Congressman elect
! from this State member OF this arrogant and
srrogaCng class ? Is there any reason Have
not the old and experienced merchant the ex-
tensive manufacturer, ond even the wellread
farmer and intelligent mechanic far better
knowledge OF the needs OF the country. aud su.
perior skill in executing the functions OF gov
eminent than one whose practical familiarity
! with political economy extends merely to the
squeezing OF heavy fees out of the misfortunes
or his fellows. and whose greatest achievement
has culminsted in noisy defamation? Has
: Congress, with Its 257 lawyers, legislated more
wisely or less corruptly than our own legisla-
ture, made up for the most part Of farmers
Could Governors Grape, Baldwin and Bsgley
have made more efficient executives had they
belonged &c the pampered class?
l know at fret thought one will be likely tc
say Who so proper a law-maker as ono whose
whole lie is devoted to the study OF laws? 1,
does on the surface look plausible; but FOL
l..