Chap. I.]

PROFESSION OF THE LAW.

311

from the Roman moralist, with very slight changes, and theywere no more suited to the state of things at Rome, than theyare to this country and to our times.

CHAPTER I.

A REVIEW OF THE PROFESSION OF THE LAW, INCLUDING AMORAL ESTIMATE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, SO FAR ASIT NATURALLY COMES UNDER THE VIEW OF THE MORALPHILOSOPHER.

All the best authorities insist upon what might he concludedfrom the nature of the case, that good morals are indispensablyrequisite to the attainment of the highest order of excellenceand success in the study and practice of the law. Sir JamesMackintosh says, “ Remember this is a maxim, which arisesfrom the very character of the study, that he who is a greatlawyer, must be a great and a good man.” * Again, “ There isa dignity of character, which it is of the utmost importance forevery one in this profession to support. For it must never beforgotten, that there is no instrument of persuasion more pow-erful, than an opinion of probity and honor in the person whoundertakes to persuade. It is scarcely possible for any hearerto separate altogether the impression made by the character ofhim who speaks, from the things which he says. Howeversecretly and imperceptibly, it will be always lending its weightto one side or the other; either detracting from, or adding tothe authority and influence of his speech. This opinion ofhonor and probity must, therefore, be carefully preserved, bothby some degree of delicacy in the choice of causes, and by themanner of conducting them.”f Truth, honor, probity, andintegrity are elements of character essential to the great lawyer.

The integrity and honor to which I refer, are not confined tothat common principle of honesty, by the influence of which,men are prevented from defrauding each other in the general

* Study and Practice of the Law, p. 19.

t Blair’s Lectures, p. 273.