Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-07-22
JUDGE S. @. GRAHAM,S AID
a1s DRESS

; DRESS.
On the last day of the session of the
Virginia Bar Association the president,
Mr.. Tucker, called the association to or
der at u few minutes past IL, and stated
that the order of business for the morn
ing was an address By Judge Samuel C.
Graham. of Tazewell, entitled "A Crit
icism Of the Profession Reviewed.n
The criticism which was reviewed by
Judge Graham was an article that an
peared i'll the North American Review,
tho author of which said that lawyers
rs n class, were not possessed of high
sense of honor and honesty, and are so
regarded by the world at large.
The article occupied Il prominent
place in one of tho most prominent
magazines, and hence seems to merit
some reply.
JUDGE GRAHAM S REVIEW
The speaker assumed as a fact that
the forces of every enlightened nation
of the present are steadily tending from
good to better, and the most potent of
these forces is the law element.
We unfortunately have men licensed
to practice, but of these. rendered pitia-
BILE by scorning profession, he had no
inclination to speak. Like all persons
who assailed sacred and established
principles. the critics of tho legal pro-
fession select the lowest types of the
calling and hold them up to public
scorn us models.
Men generally act rightly from
promptings of conscience, some from
eXpediency. Both these causes concur
in the practice of law. The rascal has
no day i'll court, no standing before
judge or jury, and truo is the remark
of some one that above all others tho
legal profession has greater hatred
for its knaves and greater contempt
for its fools"
Tho critic asks, How can a lawyer
conscientiously defend n guilty clientp"
He forgets that the boast and safety of
our law is that no man shall be punish
ed except by due process of law: that
the presumption of innocence follows
the prisoner through the ordeal of ev-
cry trial. What kind of bloody ma
chinery would our courts he were citi-
zens tried without legal aid? How long
would law be respected Aye, how
long would it stand ~
HE IS HONEST.
The policy of success dictates that the
lawyer should have regard to the moral
bearing Of his case. The successful
lawyer not only has to be honest, but is
honest. Could it be demonstrated that
the lawyer and his works are Immoral
how many great fabrics he has erected
for humanity should go down!
In concluding he said we feel safe
that our nations prcrogativc is in the
hands of the Judiciary; whose mandate
is SO grave aud silent,
But executes tho freeman s will
W. As lightning does the will of Cod. ;
we are told of mysterious ocean
stream which finds the uttermcst Dor
tons of the globe. and soothes The rig
ors OF n climate where the rays of the
sun themselves are powcrlcss, and that
1t gets its vitality from southern seas.
SO from the South came the current of
our law, bearing on its bosom Liberty,
Light and Life, and the tempests of
popular connection no more disturb its
onward flow than the ocean current is
thwarted by tho pillows that lash the
mighty deep"
Judge Graham S paper created a fine
impression, and while reading he was
several times interrupted with applause.