The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-08-01

By permission 5. 5 Mcclure,
when he spoke his utterances rang out
with the clear ring Of genuine gold on
the counters of the understanding. His
reasoning through logic, analogy and
comparison was uncrTing and deadly.
His adversarics always dreaded his orig
inality of idea, condensation and force
of expression not less than they writhed
under the convincing effect of his sin
gularly significant and apt stories. Woe
be to the man who huggcd to his bosom
Il secret error if Lincoln ever started in
chase Of it. Time and all the legerde-
main of debate could hide the error in
no crook or corner Of space i'll which he
would not detect and expose it.
An unfailing vein of humor coursed
through his being, and regardless of pro-
fessional etiquette or the dignity and
surroundings Of the court il found Il
ready uttcrancc. Here is a letter to one
of his colleagues who lived in that part
Of Illinois known As egypt"
SpRINGFiELD, his, July /, 1851.
Andrew McColum
DEAR Sill have news from Ottawa that we
win our Gallatin and Saline county ease As
tne Dutch Justice Salu WhCn he married Iplkr,
"Now, we're ish my hundcrt tollarsf' Yours
truly, a. LINCoLN.
In his first appearance before the su-
preme court of Illinois he coolly gave
his case away, telling the court that all
the decisions favored his opponents
side, and, although he had industrionsly
read the uthoritics. he could find moth
ing to sustain his own position. II do
not think, y he says in letter addressed
to Hardin Healing, Esq, there is the
least use of doing anything more with
the lawsuit. Inot only do not think you
are sure to gain it, but | do think you
are sure to lose it. Therefore the sooner
it ends the better" How consoling to
an anxious client hopeful and confident
of an early victory Il wish YOU would
learn of E." he writes i'll letter to
his friend, Joshua f. Speed, what he
will take over and above discharge for
all the trouble we have been at to take
his business out Of our hands and give
it TO somebody else You know |
am not Il very pctulant man, but ! de-
clare | am almost ont of patience with
Mr.. E-'s endless importantly. 1t
seems he not only writes all the letters
he can himself, but he gets everybody
else i'll Louisville and vicinity to be
constantly writing about his claim. II y y
l am neither joking nor in fret when /
say we would thank him to transfer his
business to some other lawyer without
any compensation for what we have
done" "
Mr.. Lincoln's professional standard
was very high, and, although connected
with every variety Of litigation, even to
the most desperate criminal cases, he
was never guilty Of the slightest viola
ton of professional ethics. He was in
all respects clean lawyer, and his op-
ponents never had occasion to complain
Of his unfaiiness. His motives were
never questioned, and his advice was
uniformly wholesome. The cause Of his
client, however desperate, never prompt,
ed him TO do q wrong or advise one to
be done The following letter, never be-
fore published is in point:
PEKIS, Ills, May l., 1853
Mr.. Joshua r. Stanford:
SIR hope the subject matter Of this letter
will appear sufficient apology to you for the
liberty Ia total stranger-take in addressing
you. The persons here holding two lots under
conveyance made by you as the attorney of
Daniel II. Bailey now, nearly q years ago, are
in great danger Of losing the lots, and very
much--perhaps all-is 10 depend on the testi-
: mony you give to whether YOU did or did
not account to Bailey for the Pre- oseds received
/ by you on the sale of the lots. | therefore, as
one Of their counsel beg Of you to fully re
! fresh your recollection by any means in youl
( power before the time you may he called on tc
testify. II persons should come about you and
show \ disposition to prompt you on the sub
jcct, it may not be more than prudent to re
member that it may be possible they design tc
misrepresent you and to embarrass the rea
testimony you may ultimately give. 1t may
be six months or a year before you are called
on to testify. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.
The reader can therefore appreciate