The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-14
Extracts From Judge e c.. Reads
Address.

AiStluk uAcusA ouukt Dallle, OOtn llsl0g
to fame, appeared for the plaintiff. And
George f. Badger. always distinguished,
and Frederick Nash, afterwards the dis
tinguished Chiet-J ustice Nash. appeared
for the defendant.
After the testimony had been closed.
Mr.. Battle arose to open for the plaintiff.
And, although a little tremor of the hand
anc voice was apparent. yet, he started
bis points clearly. And then. in order tc
nave the points on both sides before the
Jury at the beginning, he said: But,
gentlemen of the jury. it will be contend
ed by the distinguished gentlemen on the
other side" And then he hesitated, and
his face flushed. Collecting himself, be
began again: But, gentlemen Of the
jury, 1t will be contended by the distin-
guished gentlemen on the other side.
And then he hesitated again, and his
tace flushed, and he dropped back in hi.
seat, and put his face in his hands and
could not utter another word.
IF, when confronting only two dis.
tiDguished gentlemen on the other side
that gifted and learned advocate failed
how shall | stand before a Convention O.
the whole Bar ofNorth Carolina?
Law is defined to be "a rule OF action.
And 1t embraces everything on the earth
In the sea, and in the heavens The law.
Of many of these subjects are of great im'
portance to be studied and known, aud
many OF them are studied as specialties.
The usefulness of the seas would be very
much circumscribed ifthe laws of p~ayiga-
ton were unknown. SO would it be Of
the productions of the earth, and the in.
t~iuences of the heavens. The laws Of
others of these subjects are of little i'm.
portance, and are studied for pleasure,
or ornament in leisure hours, or by eccen.
trio men. One of these eccentric charac
tiers asked me 10 company. How many
legs has a SPIDER" Now, [ did O know
how many legs has a spider; but. not to
let him show off, at my expence, | an
swered promptly, six" Wrong, said
he, eight" No, said |, the two front
ones which you take for legs are feelers.''
Is that SOP said he. You have been
looking into it, have your" No, said I,
but any body ought to know shat a spider
has ~feelers; else, how could he make his
web in the dark Il believe YOU are
right" said he. Now, whether he or |
or either was right, is Of but little i'm.
portance. Curious, but not useful. 1t
Is, therefore, the subject that gives i'm
portance to the study and knowledg.
OF the Law or rule of action that governs
it.
The subject which engrosses the study
OF the legal profession, is the rule of hu-
ma action. Embracing every relation
of life, every right of person, property
and character, the liberty of the individ.
uai, the principles and powers of the
government and Of all governments
And these subjects of human action
are SO nearly related to, and SO irtermixed
with, all other subjects, that the inte !
gent lawyer, who is studying his speciality
OF human action, is learning something
of the laws Of all other subjects. While
he has hold of one, he can lay his hand
on the other.
My familiarity with the profession for
a half century, would enable me to illus.
trate this variety and versatility by many
instances: n will suffice.
| believe the first time that | ever
heard Mr.. Badger was at Granville cour
IN the prosecution of Turner in a murder
case. He was convicted. The next
morning Mr.. f. Nash and Mr.. w. II,
Haywood, who defended the prisoner.
moved for a new trial on the ground that
the declarations of the deceased, made
some days before his death, but after he
knew that he must die soon, were admit
ted in evidence as dying declarations"
During the arguments OF Mr.. Nash and
Mr.. Haywood, which were very allie, Mr..
Badger sat like a statue; so wholly alb.
sorbed IN his own thoughts that he did
not notice the close of the on
the other side, until the Judge called
him. And then he arose, and with q
solemnlty of voice, and elegance of man
ner, and beauty oflanguage, he discussed
the solemnity of an oath, and the super.
Tor solemnlty of the near and certain an
proach of death, and the appearance of
the soul before God with a power that |
never heard excelled or eaualled. It was
SO exciting, that a distinguished minister
OF the gospel Slapped me severely on the
shoulder and said, Il will give a hundred
dollars for that. man to.come and preach
for US once a month";" | heard him
again at Hillsboro court when a New
ork merchant had an important suit
n OF his customers. Mr...Badger
made an eloquent speech In a captivating
manner. And the merchant, who thought
all excellence conferred in a good
salesman, said in ecstacy, Nov would
not he make a splendid hand behind the
believe it was at the same
court that there was a dinner party at
Gov. Graham's, at which there were j.
number %ofyoung lawyers. do not know
whether it was by accident or design,
the subjects of the existence of God
and the truth OF the christian religion
introduced by Mr.. Badger; and
hey were presented by a force of logic, a |
beauty and simplicity of language, and a
and impressiveness of manner |
hat amazed me, and that 1 have never
heard equaled in the pulpit or out of it. |
He seemed deeply to feel
he Importance of impressing these great
ruths on the minds of the young breth
en- before him; and grandly and nobly
nd he bear himself. | was proud of
him as an older brother, a splendid gen
US, and a simple christian. He was al.
Ways ready on any subject, and always
,reat. and always q child when not At
york.
With SO many noble North Carolinian,
carcely inferior, it seems invidious to
1ention only him. But | must pass on.
These are the subjects Of study of the
sgal profession, and as they are the mob
st and most useful subjects, so thew
1akc the noblest and most useful profess
ion.
In view ofthe usefulness and high call
OF the legal profession, what manner
f man should a lawyer be?
Justice Blackstone says, that the study
t the law Is not merely 4 matter Of
musement, and that the student will be
i%sappointed if he expects entertainment
7lthout attention. and that such KNOW
dye as Is necessary for a judge. can
ardly be acquired by twenty years lucu.
rations but that if he has a good mind
,nd1nrfrr- ha naAl