The Legal Profession

When Mr. Adams was in Cincinnatj he was received by the Bar with a cofn. plientary address. This was the only oc." casion during his tour in which his legal brethren addressed Hiño. Mr. A re 1" A at considerable length, and took occasion to express his opinkm of the profession in the following terms: "Brethren of the Profession of toe Uw - Perhapsmy estimation of the profession notwithstanding what I have said, may not be so high asthat which many of you make. So deep is my impression of th? natural equality of mankind, and of the fundamental rights which that natural equaMty confers upon every human being, lhat I have been accustomed, and have ac' customed myself, to transfer that principle of equality to all the professions of men- the honest profession adopted by men in the great and various pursuits of life.It is comrnon to say that the professionof the Law is the highest, most honorable, and most dignified, that can be exercised by man. Possibly some of you may think so. It ispossible that youmay have entered upon the profession whh that impression. But that impression is not mine. I do believe that the libertiës of a country depend more upon the members of the bar than upon any profession common to man. Yet I do not consider it, in point of importance, beyond that of the shoemaker, or thetailor, or the housewrighf, or mason. or any mechanical profession. I consider it not superior to the profession of the healing art, destined to alleviate and remove the physical evils of the human race, far Iess do I consider it superior to that profession which connects man with the future and with God, Perhaps some among you entertain the opinión that thïs profession alone mav have the same claims to honor and dignity. Brethren, my opinión upon that sub. ject is, that the profession of Divinity stands upon the same foundation as theion of the law. The professors of both are bound by the Iaws of nature and of God, to pass Uves of purity and of innocence, doing all the good they can to their fellow-creatures on earth. And if it is the privilege of the professors of Divinity to stand as mediators between God and man, it is equally that of those of the law to maintain at all hazards every individual right conferred upon man by Nature and God. I would say. therefbre, that we ought to refer vhole question of the relative dignity and irnportance of professions and trades, to that sacred principie of natural equality. which ís the law of nature between man and man."