Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-07-10
The Legislature.
tc0n.inuea from last .rcck }

We noiated out in our irst article that as
general rule farrlc. is not qualified for the
LEGISLATURE. Il is true there are rare excep-
tions. aud sometimes we fad farmer making
large crops aud money, who by reason OF eS-
traordinary natural taleus and industry has
also studied and understands public sliairs.--
perhaps one man in ten thousand is successful
in two different professions at the sGme time.
we once knew a man who was both good
lawyer and good farmer, but such cases are
very rare and the exception only proves the
RI. And ;f one Of these Intellectual giants
Lee, mes candidate far this Office be VIII most
certainly receive our jealous support
But. in contrasting TIE different candidates,
we must no. credit man with these
rare nna extraordinary talents simply
because he is willing to accept posi-
ton whose duties lie cannot perform. An Id
lot NAV lie willing 10 touch OF kcg Of pow
der. The circumstance that gentleman, re-
spec,ed only Tor his ,hrilt and honesty, han
kers after this Office, Is no sign whatever that
he is one whit better qualified than either OF
his neishhors The difference is that ono man
is couceliel and the other is not, or at least
has sense enough not 10 seek position where
he viii be conspicuous only FOR his !gnorapce.
We arc sorry to piquc the vanity Of certain
excellent gentlemen who are scheming to OBJ
tain this oricc but really the place is too i'm
portaui and we have two much at stake 10 let
this election 90 by default. We do not under
rate their merits aud capacity, all we say Is u
they RE elected they will be mere cphetS
without standing OF Influence. We admit
they will not do any harm, but the seat as
signed TO jefferson nigh, as well be vacant.
But we wish il distinctly understood. we DO
not recommend any man for the Legislature
simply because he is a lawyer Many man
makes money in the humber walks OF this
profession who could not drai, bill or study
out IN original measure, were II TO save hn
life. la law as 10 medicine n vast deal OF IL
norance avoids detection and escapes public
irrision. As more people are killed by un-
skillfu treatment than are saved by physlc,
50 more coed cases are lost by the blunders oi
counsel than are gained by knowledge OF the
law. Competent lawyers like competent doc
tors are seldom appreciated in small COM
munity. The circumstance that an attorney
Is crowded with business is no sign that he
has mastered the science OF law, aud the lscs
that doctor Is busy, docs not show that be Is
an educated physician. Science, study, indus
try are bound 20 bring reward and are certain
e. be fccognizcd, but as q rule they ore readily
discounted by charlstans ard easily counter
fciiei by quscss, because the masses frequent
Is mistake mere poteTic.y ior solid reputation.
The bcs. judges Of a lawyer ore his associates
at tho bar. and the best judges OF doctor arc
tho ncighboriDg physicians. but il village
there Is Sp. 70 be jealousy and one must 50
away from home 10 get an impartial opinion
from one lawyer or doctor about another -
I Hence we not ooly admit that lawyer Is not
necessarily qualified for the Legislature, but
VIC aiso admit that II is very difficult i0r tho
people at large 10 discriminate wisely between
/ tho Different members OF the bar Aud not
only SO, but we are very free TO admit that an
/ ignorant lawyer, one who docs not study and
has no ocar-cut principles, is almost certain
| 10 do incalcnlable mischief IN the Legislature.
| Yet while thla is so, still we assert that wo
arc more likely 90 find among lawyers than IN
the other professions, the special education
/ and capacity that Is required, because the
science Of legislation Is nearly related 70 tho
| science Of law aud we do most cmphstically
assert that real scientific lawyer, who Is IN
/ dustrious, honest and independent, makes tho
most useful aud efficient legislator. Indeed
we 60 further, and say that simply as bust
ness transaction il will rcmnncfate this county
/ to pay such man q large salary - represent
rs. 10 the last Legislature be- would hayo
been worth bis weight 10 gold, md in the next
! Legislature will be even more important than
the last.
These reflections arc published because cc'.
tain gentlemen are clactionccfing for tho
! House and Senate who could not perform q
single one 81 tho duties gnd the question
! therefore Is now presented whether ihls county
! is content 10 tcmaiu IN is present obscurily,
without influence and without voice 10 tho
public business Of the State II 20, thon u
really matters nothing which ono Of these
gentlemen be selected. they arc oil equally
honest and equally incompetent. Bot, u ihc
people wish to elevate The cianding oi JciIer-
son. aud to claim come small share n our
| government. then we would inquire whether
either Of these candidates can wriio statute
or sustain by argument measure original
with himself Has either II them over pro-
dacod anything 10 this line, as a sample oi
\ what be can d. or will do7 Docs either n
! these gentlemen pretend that ho will stand Ia
/ the front rank and bring credit AMI influence
/ 10 this county
/ II each II these Gucsiiong mnst bs answered
( in The negative. thcn Wc submit one moro
/ question Has this good Oh county. within
/ her borders thrcc mon lonc lo' the Senate and
| two for the liouso.l who can answer them m
! tie afirnatiyc7 II she has has, lct us hunt
| them up and pick them out. JrNrf