The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-16
Lawyers as Neutrality-suspicious.
Experience.

Lawyers as LeEislators-Jeffesr
Experience.
Editor Morning News: The time is
approaching when the people will be
called upon to elect congressman and
state legislators. 1t is all important if
the people will only have the good sense
to think and reason, and throwing party
names to the winds, seek to put the right
men in the right place Legislature is
experimental, like giving a dose of medi-
cine, looking forward hoping for best re-
suits. All laws are experimental, and
hence, we have at every sitting of a legis-
lature, national or state, the reporting,
amending, etc, Of many laws. Legisla-
ton should be plain, practical business
common sense, for il relates TO nothing
but business, and it should be so that leg
islators ought to be business men. A few
lawyers are necessary, for they deal with
the business affairs Of the people.
In looking over the writings of Thomas
Jefferson, I was struck with his fine bust
ness sense. He was no dreamer or
theOrist; his mind was eminently prac-
teal and broad as a statesman. Hear
what he thought Of lawyers as legislators,
and from my own experience with legisla-
ton for twenty years, too many lawyers
in a legislature do little, talked much,
theorized muchly, and dealt great deal
in unnecessary rhetoric and "bunkum"
to be heard, and to catch votes: Says JEFF
fersOn
81 served with Gen. Washington in the
legislature Of Virginia before the revolu-
ton, and during 1t; with DR.. Ben Frank
lin in congress. ! never heard either or
them speak ten minutes at time, nor 20
any but the main point, which was TO dc
eide the question. They laid their should
ers 10 the great points, knowing that the
little ones would follow of themselves. If
the present congress errs in too much
talking how can 1t be otherwise in body
to which the people send 100 lawyers,
whose trade it Is to question everything,
yield nothing, and talk by the hour?
That 100 lawyers should do business to-
gether ought not to be expected"
If 1t was true of lawyers in 1920 when
Jefferson wrote, how much more of force
is there In the fact that we are to-day
cursed with too many lawyers in con-
gross. The curse of congress is too many
lawyers for sound and good legislation.
When will the people rescind their action,
and send men of sound, practical business
sense to cOngresSl Commercial men,
manufacturing men, financial men, plant
ing men, mercantile men, and common
sense men. Gov. Northen, who is not a
lawyer, but farmer, has made a model
governor, His common sense has been
conspicuous in everything he has done. I
am watching Senator Walsh to see If he
has any good, common sense in his ideas
of the actual wants of the people and
how to go about it to relieve those wants
If he has, then elect him to the Senate
for both the short and long term.
Let Chatham send one lawyer to the
legislature, and the others be practical,
common-sense business men. A farmer,
commercial man, OF banker, or
clear headed merchant of some sort. So
Of those we send to congress; two or
three lawyers at the limit is enough from
Georgia Sad, indeed, is the con-
dition of the country, if the lawyers carry
all the brains and business talent of the
country in their coat-tail pockets.
AS TO THE NEGRO.
Mr.. jefferson was an emancipationist
In his ideas a bout the negro, and wanted
to see him out of the country. In the
Declaration of Independence, what he
wrote about the negro was struck out as
he said, in consideration of the views of
South Carolina and Georgia. and of the
New England states, which were making
money by selling slaves to the people of
the south. He wrote:
"But it was found that the public mind
would not yet bear the proposition. nor
will 1t bear it even at this day. Yet the
day Is not distant when 1t must bear and
adopt it, or worse win follow. Nothing
Is more certainly written in the book of
fate than that these people are to be free;
nor it is less certain that the two races,
equally free, cannot live in the same gov
eminent Nature, habit, opinion, have
drawn indelible lines of distinction be-
tween them. 1t is still in our power to
direct the process of emancipation and
deportation, etc, etc.
There is wonderful difference between
a statesman aud a noisy partisan; for the
first is ever on the lookout for great prin-
ciples and policies In government, while
the latter Is ever on the hunt for Office
and the spoils OF office. If the people
have preiudices, selfish interests, sec
tional animosities with a good deal of
ignorance thrown in, then the partisan
demagogue is in his element When will
the people cease to hear or blow the party
horn, but vote for good measures, with
good men to carry them out, and sound
policies, based on correct principles2 Our
government is one of compromise, and
will ever be such with our diversified
interests, soil, climate and productions.
Statesmen TO the front. r. M. O.