Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/595

 552

All that has been stated in regard to this that while this tribunal shall continue to be great argument gives a very meagre view of constituted as it now is constituted, the ad its strength and brilliancy. It was crowned ministration here of the laws of the United throughout by the most profound reasoning States will be such as to secure all the peo and correct application of the law, and the ple in the full enjoyment of their constitu highest encomium that can be placed upon tional and political rights and to give them it is, that it was Websterian from beginning that happiness so felicitously expressed in the wish of Lord Coke ' of living always un to end. It was the last legal argument he made der the protection of the law and the glad some light of Jurisprudence.'" and was a fitting close to his great and bril liant professional career. It may be said by some who chance to At the commencement of Mr. Webster's read this article, that for an account of the argument he said, " if I should detain the incidents of the great trial, there is too much Court by the part which I have to perform of Webster in it. If such is the case, the in this discussion, for any great length of only excuse offered is because at the time time, I hope the Court will believe that what he seemed to tower above the others, and I have to say is long only because I have made the most lasting impression on the not had time to make it short." mind of the writer, of what constitutes the His close was as follows : " I have now gone model lawyer. through this case, and it may seem that I While the others were all eminent in their have done so too much at length. I find profession, and presented the case with great my apology in the importance of some of ability, it seemed that in all the qualities that the topics it involved. I have to express make what is called a first-class " all around my thanks, in common with the other gen lawyer " Mr. Brady came nearest to Mr. tlemen on both sides of this cause, for the Webster, although he had not the eloquence kindness and indulgence awarded me by and brilliancy of Mr. Choate, nor did he excel your Honors. I feel how many obligations in the close reasoning powers of Mr. Cutting. I am under in this respect. And as this is The manner in which the whole case was the first time that I have presented myself conducted, was a model to follow. The dig professionally in the State of New Jersey, nified courtesy of the court, the respectful and as I have cultivated a very long ac manner of the counsel to the court and to quaintance with the good people of this wards each other, in short the whole conduct State, more intimately than with those of of the trial, was calculated to impress a young any other State, with the exception of that lawyer with the highest type of a lawyer and in which I have so long lived, and as I have of professional ethics, which might be prof great regard for them, I am not willing to itably imitated, and, in the conduct of a trial, leave this performance of my duty, and to observed by our courts and members of the leave the State, without congratulating the bar at the present time to a much greater citizens of New Jersey, with the certainty, extent than now exists.