The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-08

legal right OF the Jew has been removed
by the Judge himself after the whole
assembly, the Doge included. have accom-
modated themselves TO the inevitable de-
cree OF the law. now thai the victor.
entirely sure OF HIS case. intends 10 do
what the Judgment of the court authorized
him to do, the same judge, who had
s)lemnly recognized his rights. renders
those rights nugatory by an objection,
strat,Aem so contemplate that II is
worthy OF no serious attention. Is there
any flesh without blood? The judge who
accorded Shylock the right to cut a pound
of flesh out of Antonio's body accorded
him. at the same time, the right 10 An
tonio's blood, without which flesh cannot
be- Both are refused 10 the Jew. He
must take the flesh without the blood, ana
cut out only an exact pound OF flesh, no
more and no less. Do say too much wnen
assert that here the Jew Is cheated out
of his legal right? True IT is done In the
name OF humanity, but does chicanery
cease to be chcanery because practiced
IN the name Of humanity"
NV brothers OF the bar, is not the
critical reasoning of the learned German
jurist. the result Of profound study OF
the case. anything but a report of the
debate at Orange courthouse offhand, in
the social gathering OF country lawyers,
between Gordon. Green and Hollyday?
But where does the criticism Ieavc my
admirable friend. General Gordon, in MS
claim Of eminent judicial ability for the
great dramatist? He shall nave his claim
indicated.
TUE MTgcHiNT or VENICE.
The ease of LangfoId vs.. Barnard was
decided I'm the year 1885. The Merchan,
OF Venice was written In 1881. This case
brought into collision the penalty which
tbc law allowed the obiigee IN penal
bond and the fCreclosUre by the mort
gage en- land. or "tfe pound OF flesh.
il might be, with the demand which equity
made that the penalty Should be forbid
don. when the thing was offered To De
done which the pei atty was det igned 10
secure VIII Shakespeare. re more teen
nical lawyer than my noble CID t1lend' IN
the offer which Equity i'm the person 81
lo.tia. made TO Shylock to take MS deDl
and release the penalty, took sldes WIN
the char cry against the law ne lne ,
TO depict the cruel injustice of the la"
and the perfect justice which chahcefy
afforded by the equity OF rede mptlon' ana
furnished an argument which mas, III
the ndicature of the English-speakln
people. established for three centuries
remedy the Doge Of Venice never Knew
but which the fair Portia. VcicinS the
broad views of the gfeat dramatic poet
suggested as 'he true solution or IN re
ShyIOck.' In the court OF law '"e
udsmcnt was wrong on The grounds on
which it was made to rest, as Mr.. Green
insisted but i'm .hat court was right on
the point made by Mir. Hollyday, ana
.ghich Portia dd no rely upon. And
Shakespeare's Portia showed how Jufls-
prudence ought to be- In staying the
hand Of the cruel eXactor OF mortal
penalty. and compelling him 10 take MS
debt and be satisfied
Did NOT Shakespeare: the born COM
panion OF the great lawyers Of the king
dom. write his great drama 10 show what
iurisprudence should he IN such case?
My task is done. my theme
Has diod into an echo: II is fit
The spell should break OF this protracted
dream
Ancient OF days. August Virginia, where.
Where are the men OF might. thy grand
in soul?
First I'm the race that led TO Glorys goal.
They won and passed away. Is this the
whole?
\ school boys tale the wonder OF an
hour?
Let the faint picture ot an old man
dream of the past make us determine
il shall not be the whole. Let the young
bar cherish these memories OF the loIhlci
glory and make the new temper OF our
Jurisprudence more splendid than the Old.
For myself. my race IS nearly run. But
when ny head shall rest upon the bosom
OF this great Commonwealth, near the
spot where | drew my first breath my
last aspiration shall be, and invoke you
to join in IT, amid the evils which environ
us. the dangers that menace us-that Nir-
ginia shall be guided and protected by
Gods providence into the paths Of peace,
prosperity and glory.