The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-13

private property being taken for public use, without just
compensation; providing that in criminal Prosecutions
the accused shall have the right to a speedy and pubic
trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where-
lin the crime shall have been committed; to be informed OF
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process, for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to nave
the assistance of counsel for his defense, are rights which
now seem as if they had always been enjoyed by the peo-
pie, but the trainers of these two sections knew that there
was not a right therein mentioned, that had not been
ldenied the people in the past, and that had not been
bought at the price of the patriots blood.
Lawyers have always been foremost IN resisting
tyranny, because they knew when their rights were in
Ifringed, and dared maintain them; and their services nave
always been conspicuous upon the field of battle.
In proportion to membership they have held a tar
larger number of commanding military Offices, than any
lother class of citizens outside of the regular army. AS an
illustration, there were thirty-three Generals from
our State during the Civil War, of whom more than one
third were lawyers, viz: Maj. Generals M. c. Butler, M.
w. Gary, and ]. B. Kershaw; and, Brig. Generals M
IL. Bonham, lanes Chestnut, James Conner, S. r. Glst,
IMaxcy Gregg, Johnson Hagood, Samuel MCGOWAN, Abner
Perrin, and w. H. Wallace.
There is, however, now a feeling throughout the
Hand, that the legal profession has been commerclallzed'
land that the members of the Bar, through the temptations
held out by corporate influences to enter the business
lworld, have departed from the traditions of the profession,
land ceased to discharge their primal duty as citizens, in
behalf of the people.
We can not shut our eyes to the criticism for it
teammates in large measure from those, who stand highest
lin our ranks, and who have at heart, the best interests OF
the profession.
/ AS evidence of this fact, we quote the words of Mr..
lCharles F. Chamberlayne, in an address entitled 1.-The
1Soul of the Profession, to wit:
"A change has occurred both in the source of crhi-
lcism, and the vehemence of its insistence. Eminent and
well-esteemed counsel, like Edmund Wetmore, of New
York, Alfred Hemenway, of Boston, or Henry St. George
Tucker, of Virginia suitably equipped by study, experience,
and familiarity with the subject, addressing professional
brethren under full sense of responsibility, unhesitatingly
point out certain prevailing tendencies, which they regard
Jas detrimental.
Hon. John G. Dillon, with all the force attendant
upon his distinguished position, reiterates the statement.
Ia conscientious President of the United States, addressing
1.-THE alumni of his alma mater and Of her law school associ-
Iation, finds no topic more pressing in its claims upon his
lattention, or more appropriate to such an occasion, than
THAT of the necessity for a radical change, in the attitude
lof legal advisers, toward clients seeking to violate or Cir
Icumvent the law Of the land. No enemy hath done this.
lit is our own familiar friend, the man who has at heart the
Honor, worth, and dignity which we ourselves are bound
Ito cherish"
We will first set forth the views of eminent members
of the Bar and then state our own conclusions.
Mr.. Bryce, of England, in discussing our Bar in his
lAmerican Commonwealth said 81 am bound to add,
THAT some judcious American observers hold, that the last
Thirty years have witnessed a certain d~ecadence, in the
Bar of the great cities. They say that the growth of the
Enormously rich and powerful corporations, willing to pay
vast sums for questionable services, has seduced the viz
pie important"
President Roosevelt, in an address last year at Har-
ward, uttered these words 1--WE all know that, as things
lactually are. many of the most influential and most highly
Iremunerated members of the Bar in every centre of wealth,
make it their special task, to work out bold and ingenious
schemes, by which their wealthy clients, individual or cor
lporate, can evade the laws which were made to regulate,
lin the interests of the public, the uses of great wealth."
Elk. Chief Justice Parker, of New York, concludes an
address as follows:
"In closing, l would emphasize anew the thought
THAT, as the lawyer finds himself the beneficiary and heir
of great privileges, which yield commanding opportunities,
lit is more incumbent upon him, than upon any other, to
recognize that those privileges and powers, impose obllga-
ltions from which there can be no escape, as, indeed, there
fought not to be, except by meeting and welcoming them
lin the completest sense possible. If, at any time it shall
become apparent, that the sanctity of the ballot is either
Threatened or assailed; if the administration Of the law,
whether civil or criminal, becomes either lax or careless;
lif the evils in any industrial movement manifest such power
that they threaten monopoly, or put popular rights IN