The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-23
Letter 81 John q. Calhoun.
lie Editor Of the State \

$roEtiie editor Of the state
Hon. J. G. Calhoun died in WI ash
inston city, March q 1850. One
month before, he wrote to o Young
friend, who had made a favorable res
port oahim, about the exercises or
the law school which he had entered
ms q student. This lis perhaps last
long letter which we have from the
pen of our great statesman. While
of special interest to law students
and lawyers, it may be new to many
readers of the State who will see it,
e copy%it with very few omissions:
%assWashington, February 28, 1850.
SHY Dear b B. = ? II am hap
py to learn that you are SO delighted
with the plan Of the institution, and
the peculiar advantages it affords, for
rapid improvement, not only in the
acquisition Of legal knowledge, but
in q familiarity with the practice, and
the important matter Of extempore
speaking. ! regard this latter as ons
Of the most essential features of the
institution. Could r have enjoyed in
my preparatory course, rs you do, the
opportunity of drilling every day In
the great are, and the trial and argn-
ment of causes, under constant and
competent instruction I have no doubt
I should have been, in all the practi-
cal requisites Of success, 10 years in
advance of what was when l enter
ed the profession. / we'll remember,
when connected with the law school
at liitchfield, Connecticut, the need
we all felt Of some advantages in
speaking. These constant exercises,
in which you are required to engage
before SO large number of your fel-
low students, is for nothing else than
the self-confidence which they must
gradually inspire; will, in the end,
prove exceedingly valuable. I shall
never forget the painful, the indes-
cribablc embarrassment under .whicl,
labored in the delivery of my
maiden speech, before court-an
embarrassment which it required
years of practice to overcome. I'M
prove then, my dear b, the rare
privileges which the institution af-
fords you. BE systematic and pune
tual i'll the performance Of all your
duties and remember, that the pro-
fcssion you have chosen imposes as
a condition precedent to success the
necessity of constant and arduous
labor. In it there is no Disgusting Of
ones capacities or demerits. The
physician s art is concealed; and by
flippant technicaties, and an air Of
professional wisdom, he may produce
the belief that he is what he is not.
The Clergyman has time to a choice
of subjects, and would of other
mems thoughts, to aid him in pre-
parations for the pulpit. But the
lawyer, whether in the office, or be-
fore a court and jury, can assume
nothing which he does not possess.
His legal opinions are soon to be
tested by the severest ordeal, and his
pretcnsions as an advocate must be
real, or they will avail him nothing.
And | would also have you remember
that you will be beset with constant
temptations to swcrve the standard
of high moral integrity. Tine very
obligation Of the lawyer to defend
his client, right or wrong, tend to
familiarize him with error, and to
blunt his natural abllorrence Of de-
pravity; and by obligations ! mean
such only as would lead him to seek
the great ends of justice. Beyond
this, even though it should result in
your ACKNOWLEDGMENT, would not
have you put forth single exertion.
In the defence of one. whom you be-
licvc to be guilty proceed no further
than is necessary to elicit the truth
| by an even balance of testimony. I
am aware it will often be difficult, in
this respect, to draw a precise line
between the duties You will owe to
your client and those due to yourself
and the community. But, cultiva-
ted and refined moral sense-the bas-
is of all that is grand and beautiful
in human character, and which,
trust, above all things else, you will
seek to incorporate into your own
will generally be safe and accurate
| guide. But | must close. This may