Inaugural Lecture, October 1845

Gentlemen of the School of Law, The profession, upon the study of which you are about to enter, exerts... so decided an influence upon Society, as justly, to attract the attentive regard of the philosophic spectator, not less than that preferences of the ambitions aspirant.

In all countries where freedom, or even the forms, prevail, the lawyer is a charactter of weight and importance in the body politic. His functions intend ed, not merely to the administration of private justice, but indirectly embraces, also , the care and protection of the civil rights of the community. The body of lawyers in England, and in the States of this Confederacy, constitute an important barrier as against the encroachments of power, [row crossed out] and firmly and systematically maintains the ancient land-marks of Constitution-- al liberty. They alone, as a class, are accostumed to reason of the principles of rational freedom tempered by those indispensable restraints upon which depend the peace and good order of society; and they best comprehend what is sufficient to control the vicious propensities of mankind, and what is wanton, useless, and odious invasion of there rights. Hence it is that lawyers in America and England have generally been the most astute to perceive and by no means the last to resist the aggressions of power Rendered averse, by professional training, to the inccise of arbitrary authority, and by habit inured to respect and support a government of laws, they have been safe guides amid the pitiless storms of

oppression, the fierce outbursts of popular tumult, and the ----- enervating calm of _____ tranquility. The people, habituated to look up to them for advice, and assistance in the adjustment of individual contrivences, and the vindication of private rights, easily and naturally confide to them, in times of trouble, the maintenance of the public liberty. The advcate whom they hun (?)seon --------- --- --------- in his profession upholding the weak, friendless, and despised wretch, against the menaces of the strong, in despite of --- blandishment- -- and in scorn of all outward influence, from whose lips they have been wont to hear bold denunciations of oppression, --- ------- clear and resistless reason in __ upon principles of mutual right, and eloquent appeals to sympathy, and the gentler emotions of men's hearts, cannot but become the depository __ popular ------ _______.

The forlorn and despised wretch finds in his advocate, for the occasion, an unyielding friend, whom no blandishment can seduce, nor threats terrify. However timid and sensitive his nature, the exigenicies in the profession, the influence of his bretheren, and public opinion, all demand unwavering ferventness, and the has long since acknowledged, by their involuntary confidence, that in general the equisition is fulfilled. The man from whose lips are often heard bold and moving denunciations of oppression, strong and manly reasonings upon mutual rights, and eloquent appeals to the softer emotions of the heart cannot but be the depository of popular grievancies, and the championof popular priviliges.

The whole professional training of lawyers, & the whole tenor of their professional career, tend to make them be viewed by the people as the peculiar guardians of their rights. The distinctions of social right doing, - between what society may, must, or must not do, are the subjects of their daily investigation, and they are engaged incessantly in maintaining these distinctions by public argument. It is not strange, therefore that they soonest snuff the tainted breeze of tyranny, and most clearly discern the remote tendencies of illegal power.

But Sir Edward Coke's stern integrity nobly challenges our admiration and more demands our gratitude, when he perilled life and honour by refusing to lay the ermine of justice , at the feet of the monarch, and by persisting in disobedience to the mandate of the sovereign, established the great principle that judges right to be independent of the crown.

So should Mansfield deserve ever to be revered for the bold sentiments with which he uttered, whilst repelling, on the trial of Wilkes outlawry, the idea of extraneous influence arising from threats of popular vengence cannot forbear to quote a few sentences, at length - "-it is sd the people expect the( ), that the temper of the times demands it, that the multitude will have it so; These arguments weigh not a feather with me. If insurrection, and rebellion are to follow our determination, we have not to answer for the consequences, tho' we shd be the innocent cause - we can only say '( ) justitia resat calum'; We shall discharge our duty without expectations of approbation, or the apprehensions of censure; if we are subjected to the latter unjustly, we must submit to it; we cannot prevent it, we will takecare not to deserve it. He must be a weak man indeed, who can be staggered by such a consideration. I do not affect to scorn the opinion of mankind; I wish earnestly for popularity, I will seek , & will have popularity; but I will tell you how I will obtain it; I will have that popularity which follows, & not that which is run after.

The great merit of the very distinguished {gentlemen crossed out} persons who have preceded me in the occupancy of the chair of law, in this University fills me with apprehensions of which I have never been more sensible, than at the moment I began to discharge its duties.

{crossed out text: Apologies, however, are vain and promises useless } But, as I cannot occupy your time with vain apologies, or useless promises I proceed at once to the subject which has called us together.