Lincoln, the Lawyer |
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19 Ills ability Abraham Lincoln admitted afterward appeared argument attorney bench biographers Black Hawk War Boonville candidate Certainly character Circuit Court claim clerk client coln coln's County court-house court-room debate defendant doubtless Douglas Dred Scott early elected fact firm friends Green Herndon honor Illinois Central Railroad Illinois Circuit Indiana John Judge Davis Judge Logan Judge Weldon judge's jurors jury justice knew Lambert's collection later legal career legislature Lincoln the lawyer Lincoln's handwriting litigation lived Lyman Trumbull matter McLean McLean County ment mind never Offutt's opinion partner partnership political practice practitioner President profession question record remarked reputation retained Reverdy Johnson Salem Sangamon Sangamon County Sangamon River sessions slavery sort speech Springfield Stephen Arnold Douglas story Stuart & Lincoln Supreme Court Tazewell County term tion to-day trial United States senator virtually witness writer yers young
Popular passages
Page 309 - I believe that it is not only possible, but in fact easier, to do this without deciding or even considering whether these States have ever been out of the Union, than with it. Finding themselves safely at home, it would be utterly immaterial whether they had ever been abroad.
Page 240 - You must remember that some things legally right are not morally right. We shall not take your case, but will give you a little advice for which we will charge you nothing. You seem to be a sprightly, energetic man ; we would advise you to try your hand at making six hundred dollars In some other way.
Page 122 - We fought Great Britain for insisting by theory and practice on the right to do exactly what Captain Wilkes has done. If Great Britain shall now protest against the act and demand their release, we must give them up, apologize for the act as a violation of our doctrines, and thus forever bind her over to keep the peace in relation to neutrals, and so acknowledge that she has been wrong for sixty years.
Page 102 - Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser — in fees, expenses, and waste of time.
Page 88 - In the midst of our trouble," says Jefferson, "a young lawyer called on the managers. He had heard of the injustice, and offered, if they would place the matter in his hands, to have the license taken off, declaring that he only desired to see fair play, and he would accept no fee whether he failed or succeeded. The young lawyer began his harangue.
Page 155 - In law, it is good policy to never plead what you need not, lest you oblige yourself to prove what you cannot.
Page 296 - I hold that in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments. It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination.
Page 41 - In cases of extreme necessity there could always be means found to cheat the law, while in all other cases it would have its intended effect. I would favor the passage of a law on this subject which might not be very easily evaded. Let it be such that the labor and difficulty of evading it could only be justified in cases of greatest necessity.
Page 33 - Let no young man choosing the law for a calling for a moment yield to the popular belief — resolve to be honest at all events ; and if in your own judgment you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation, rather than one in the choosing of which you do, in advance, consent to be a knave.
Page 153 - Fifth. Whether the people of that settlement, or a majority of them, or any of them, have ever submitted themselves to the government or laws of Texas or of the United States, by consent or by compulsion, either by accepting office, or voting at elections, or paying tax, or serving on juries, or having process served upon them, or in any other way. Sixth. Whether the people of that settlement did or did not flee from the approach of the United States...