The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-02-15
Palmer OH Lawyers.

Henry w. Palmer, late Attorney Gener-
al, delivered lecture in Wilkesbarre re-
Gently, on Courts, Clients, and Cases" &"
In it he said this about lawyers:
ga necessary part of every court where
rights are adjudcated and wrongs re-
dressed, are the oficia personages known
as lawyers. They are officers of the court,
admitted to practice by the court, after
certain preliminary study, upon the pro-
duction of certificate of proficiency sign
ed by the official examiners, and certificate
of good, moral character signed by some
member of the bar in good standing. Upon
admission they take an oath to behave
themselves well, to use good fidelity, as
well to the court as the client, and to delay
no mans cause for lucre or malice So
that the presumption is that a lawyer has
learning, integrity and moral character.
am aware that in the estimation of the ig-
norant lawyer is believed to be not re-
motely related to the evil one; even some
people, who would dislike to be classed
among the unlettered, confess to dread
of falling into the hands of the lawyers.
whenever lawyer appears in play it
is in the character of disreputable villain
seeking to trick some innocent person out
OF his estate. In literature he fares little
better. All the world conspres together
to crack jokes at lawyers expense.
"Other professions are, however, not
exempt frome the same kind of treatment.
How fond we are of berating the doctor as
a quack, and the preacher as a stupid but
when the grip of disease fastens itself, the
swiftest messenger for the physicians aid
is too slow his word becomes law his di-
rections have the most binding force his
coming is awaited with eager ness, his de-
parture witnessed with regret; even the
changes of his face are studied for signs of
comfort; and then hope begins to fade and
the dark vistas of the unknown and I'm
movable hereafter open to the fading
vision, the man of God is sought to inter-
cede for the sinner or to cheer the saint.
They listen with patient waiting 10 the
raillery of the strong knowing full well that
the day will come when it will be changed
to accents of entreaty for help and conso-
lation.
"The lawyer also has his revenge. The
time of trouble comes, and the defence of
property, liberty and life are given to his
care. No cherished secret is too sacred
for his ear, nor confidence too great to be
reposed in him. Deeds, notes, bonds, rep
utation fortune, are committed to his
keeping without security or receipt, and
the trust is not misplaced. With the zeal
of fanatic and the energy of giant the
lawer embarks in his clients strife, and
does royal battle in his behalf No labor
is to gigantic for him to undertake; no
sacrifice of health and strength too great
for him to undergo. The fight becomes
his own, and if victory crowns his efforts
his clients joy is not greater than his; il
defeat overtakes him, his sorrow is as real as
that of the loser of the strife.
"To the learned and honorable profes.
sion of the law the world owes, in great
measure, its progress in the science of gov
ernment, and its triumphs over the tyran
nies of despots. The highest statesmen,
the purest philanthropists, the most de.
voted patriots have been gathered from the
lawyers ranks, O'Connell, who thundered
for Irish liberty; Erskine, who battled for
the freedom of the press; Otis and Patrick
Henry, who dared the vengeance of kings
in their defense of the liberties of the peo.
pie were lawyers. Clay, Calhoun and
Webster, the peerless triumvirate of Amer.
lean statesmen were lawyers. jefferson,
Adams, John and John Quincy, who wrote
their names so indelibly on their country's
history that the wreck and drift of ages
will not obscure them were lawyers.
"Through the midnight of the revolution
and the catastrophe of the civil war; the
men who stood steadfast, firm, unwavering
and unconquered, directing, guiding,
couscling, in the halls of state in the cab
incts of rulers, and on the field of blood
were lawyers, When the red ploughshare
of war had cut its last furrow, and gentle
Peace revisited the blood-stained land, the
lawyers garnered the fruits of victory in
the Interchangeable line of constitutional
amendment and brought into harmony the
dismembercd fragments of shattered
union"