The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-12

LAWYERS AND LAW MAKERS just one
hundred years ag,, in 17S6, there was no
amusing controversy in Massachusetts, over
the grave question whether lawyers were n
benefit or an injury to the community. 1t
was not simple debate which was to lead
to nothing. Many people were, in fact,
greatly excited over the question, and some
ofthe Massachusetts, towns voted to instruct
their representatives in the Legislature to
endeavor to pass an act abolishing tho
order of lawyers
One proposition was to limit tho number
OF lawyers in the State to TWENTY-FIVE, and
to have them elected by the people. IL
was also suggested that no member of the
profession should be elected to tie Leyisla.
ture; for it was charged thoy swarmed in tho
House of Representatives, and cx ercised
sort ofau;ocratic power in framing the laws
upon execution of which they were to fatteu
As matter Of fact, there were then less
than ninety lawyers in tho whole State and
there were only fifteen members of the pro-
fession in the House of Representatives, Of
which they formed only one-sixtecnth part
1t was therefore high compliment, to their
talents to say that they ruled the Legisla-
turc
There has always been, and there is now, o
popular feeling that Our national aud State
Legislatures contain too largo proportion
Of lawyers. IF it be an evil it is greater to-
day than it ever was before. There are
delegations in Congress from some even of
the larger States, which arc almost exclu-
sively composed of lawyers. Mas.ach uset,s,
for example, sends almost rs many
members Of the profession to represent her in
Washington as she put, century ago. into
her own Legislature.
The proportion in Congress, Of which
more than two-thirds are lawyers, is much
larger than it is in the British Parliament.
The House of Commons lately elected con-
tains one hundred and ten barristers and
twenty-threc solicitors. The two branche,
of the legal profession thus furnish almost
exactly one-ifth of all the members. Yet
even this is larGGr proportion than is con-
trlbuted ty any other profession or calling.
1t appears, then, that whatever objection
there may oe to lawyers as lawmakers, the
people generally attach but little importance
to them. We must conclude that expsr-
ience shows the mombers of this profession
to be peculiarly fitted by their mental
training for legislative duties.
No doubt Familiarity with practical
business is useful to a member of Congress
but even in this respect the merchants knowl.
edge is apt to be more narrow in its scope
it may be more thorough, SO far as it OK.
tends, than the lawyers. 1t will be found
on looking through our political history
that almost every statesman of the first
rank, whether President, Senator, Repr.-
sentativcs, or Cabinet Minister, was a
lawyer or an editor. Even Andrew Jackson
was judge before he was a general.
Beginning with the year 1860, the Re-
publican and Democratic parties have had
in all twenty-seven candidates for Presiden Mt
and Vicc>President. Nineteen of them
were lawyers, three were editors, and four
were generals. General Grant is the only
person not lawyer who has occupied the
chair of the President since General Taylo,
died, in 1850.
1t is mistake to think that any consid-
cradle part of the laws passed by a
Legislature belongs to tho class of
avs which make cases for the
courts, ana bring fees to members of
the legal profession. 1t is a slauder upon
the lawyers who sit in our Legislatures to
say that they favor bills which will increase
the number Of suits, or the cost of litiga,
tion.
The truth is, that great legal reform.
have been effected, and are constant,
making and these reforms are not only
suggested by lawyers, but find in the pro.
fession their most intelligent and efficieu
advocates. A Legislature wholly composed
of lawyers no State should have, of course
But it is well that this calling furnish e,
usually the largest contingent to our law
, making bodies.
A SHREwD BoY.-A gentleman VIII,
was visiting one of the public schools in ,
Texas town asked a bright-looking boy:
What pr oft is there in the study of an
cient history?'
About Fifty cents reckon was the re