The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-24
AMERICAH LAWYERs.

The following S the speech e1 ASotN
Chief Justice Coleridge ct the banquet
given him By the Louisville bar reesntly.
Mr. CHAIRMAN AID iENTLEAE E.T--As
in the State from which recently came,
the State of New York, the State OF Grant
and Of Sheridan, il would have been pre-
sumptu0ns for anybody to lecture upon
law. so ] cannot help feeling thai way
in this State, the State of Henry Clay
Within sight almost Of that great statue
which had the pleasure of looking upon
TO-DAY, / feel very much in the position
in which remember to have seen gem
tleman of my time once. It was IN Lon
don in a dancing ground. This gentle
man was deaf. and he would take up
his trumpet, and when he heard one
feature Of the argument he dropped hrs
trumpet, and after a little while ne
gathered 1t up again and listened q little
while and remarked. The same old
dog In different doHblet." l have
really nothing to say but that | am very
deeply grateful 10 you. have received
from every one since came to America
that hospitable welcome which has made
the name Of America famous through
the world. But coming, IS de- IS the
guest of the New York Bar Association,
and passing, as have passed, not al
ways, perhaps, but generally, from the
care of one bar association 70 another,
it has been almost inevitable that my
American experience should have been
chiefly, though not exclusively, an ex-
perience with the American bar. Now,
1 co not regret this. Indeed, am very
glad of it. For professional reasons
and reasons that are not professional,
am always glad 30 meet my profession,
am delighted to have become ac-
quainted with q number of gentlemen
in every State, and almost, may say,
every great city, who are maintaining
the dignity and the honor of the pro-
fession to which it is my pride and priv
ege to belong; maintaining Il in the best
way, showing by example the unwritten
code of honor and independence, which
is, after all, the best foundation OF our
profession. The unwritten code which
we both hold in common Is perhaps the
best and surest foundation Of our com
mon freedom. | have another reason,
which, as / said, is not professional,
Why l am delighted to have seen 50
much of the American bar.
You have not in this country an aris-
tocracy of birth or position; and, be-
Iieye me, it is the expression OF the
PRAYER, Of the earnest hope, of q true
friend that you may be long preserved
from the curse of feudalism. But IN
every country there must be an aristoc-
racy-that is, some better than others
and in this country, do not know
whether you recognize 1t or not, but
whether you recognize it or not, It Is
here. You have an aristocracy OF In
tellect and letters, and in that aristoera-
cy of intellect and letters, it is un-
doubted that the lawyers of this coun-
try have very prominent position
They are there by virtue OF their ablll-
ties; they are there because they have
a right and have achieved a right to DC
there. If there is an aristocracy in this
country it certainly contains the high
minded, accomplished and well-bred
whom it has been my pride and
delight to become acquainted with II
nv passage through the States and
cities through which have passed. 4
there be such an aristocracy, all car
say is that you are the most favored
most fortunate and most happy upoI
the face of the globe. And with suci
aristocracy you have better claim
to the admiration and generous envy o
other nations than from your size, wer'
it twice as great, or your wealth, were
ten times multiplied. In passing
through America, / have learned no
only its greatness, though upon tia
subject, if had had any doubt. m.
| kind American friends would hav
/ solved it for me; but have also learnet
of the infinite variety of America.
have passed through many States ant
seen many cities; every one seems to m
to have a character; every one IA
! distinctive features; each differs iron
4 the Others, One has beautiful streets
and charming islands in its bay anothe
has unparalleled splendor in its build
ings, stately and costly; one make
good leather, one deals in cotton, on
makes horses and one kills pigs, but j
every one of these great cities, no maj
ter how different their commercial n
lations NAV be, / have found accom-
plished. admirable, highly educated meL
gentlemen in every sense OF the Werd
men of whom any capital IN Europ'
Asia or Africa, if there be capitals /
Africa, might well be proud; men nc
alwa{s, by any means, distinguished
one profession only, men whom | nav
learned only to esteem in the short tim
allowed me to make their acquaintance
men of whom long to know more; me
: of whom it il true sorrow to an Eni
; Iishman of my years to think he ca
0 never see again. Now this is true {
{ ali places which / have visited, an
it IS equally true, Of this great an
!, prosperous State Of Kentucky and Il
beautiful city of Louisville. Indee
you may justly be proud of it for mar
\ reasons. but chiefly because you ha
made it for yourself; and as none ga
g II To YOU. so none can take 1t away.