Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-11-23
LAWYERS IN POLITICS.
Prominent Public Men who Began Life
as Humble Members Of tho Bar.

Prominent Public Men Who Began Life
as Humble Members Of the Bar.
Alexander Stephens was admitted to
the bar when he was twenty-five, and
his first year nettcd him S400. He got
single fees of $4,000 before he died
and was considered one of the greatest
lawyers of the South. 4l Z
Thomas Jefferson was making $4,000
year at the bar when he first began
to dip into politics, and had he stuck
10. it he would probably have died a.
very rich man. Politics ruined him
and he died a bankrupt. .ili
Alexander Hamilton was a lawyer,
and lic went back to New York to
practice law after he left tho Treasury.
Aaron Iiurr was one OF the most
monoy-making of the lawyers Of his
day, and he made as high as $4,000 in
single case. I. ss5tfi.,.9 ,..fi,,a, .'' s, '.,
Hamilton made $4,000 q year on an
average, it is said, and William Writ
thought he was doing well when his
yearly fees ran up as high as $4,000. "
There is hardly a big lawyer of to-
day who is satisfied with less than
Sl5, 900 or $4,000 year, and the fees
OF many lawyers amount to more than
the President 5 salary iiY ss.LH III,
saw Ben Butler in the streets Of
Washington the other day in new
clothes, and l am told that his pro-
fessional income is not less than $780,
900 year. e @a %.
Bob Toombs made $50, 900 in the first
five years of his practice lrrd 7
John Sherman thought hewas doing
well when no started out as a young
lawyer and saved 5000 year. .i
Daniel Webster got big fees, but he
always spent moro than he made, and
he was constantly In debt.
Abe Lincoln did well at the law, and
james Buchanan made 1898 the first
year of his practice and increased this
amount in the fifth year to over $5,00j.
In 1921 he made 81, 900, but after be
got into politics his practice dropped
of, and during his later years he prac-
tically ceased legal business.
Samuel Cox got s25 for his first law
case, and Spooner, Of Wisconsin, was
receiving a salary Of $4,000 year as
\ railroad lawyer before he went to
Washington.
Senator Payne, Of Ohio, began life as
a lawyer.
Teller and Bowen got their first start
at the bar.
Charley FELTON,, who is perhaps the
richest man in the lower House, studied
law for six months and only tried ono
case. But he left the law for specula-
tion. and made half dozen millions
outside of the court business.
Senator Eustis, OF Louisiana, is .
law professor. and Bayard studied law
after he found he was, not cut out for a
merchant. Pig-Iron Kelley has been o
lawyer and a Judge. Holman earned
some of his first money at the law.
Ingalls, studied law in Massachusetts
and went West to practice.
Senator Voorhees, is one Of the mos t
noted OF our criminal lawyers, and
Hendricks was very successful man
at the bar. II Hf 4 I
Judge Hoadly was making S30,000 a
year when he was elected Governor OF
Ohio, and Thurman worked his wayup
through the law and into politics.
Tom Reed is lawyer; Mckinley, OF
Ohio, practices law. and all the digni-
tarics on the Supreme Bench have, Of
course, made big legal regulations be-
fore they got their appointments.
Nearly all our Presidents have been
lawyers, and all of them except Wash
ington, Harrison. Taylor and Gran,
were members of the bar.
Martin Van Buren, was engaged 10
be married before he began to praotins,
and it was some years before his In
come was large enough for him to well,
Andy johnson studied law after i,e
was married, and his wife taught him
the handwriting in which he prepared
his legal papers. sa.-a
Both Millard Fillmore and Grover
Cleveland were Buffalo lawyers, and
they both had good practices. 3ll
Frank Pierce used to makeas much
as So, 900 and $40, 900 a year at the law,
and he preferred the bar to politics.
Az present it is not uncommon for a
half dozen Representatives to be away
from Washington City at time trying
law cases. Frank George Carpenter,
/ IN CleUeland Leader. tl