The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-02-20
f}om Ms. Coteias Washington Mes.

tHttJ "dAtttt S9HR
petent writers, who offer TO the view OF
their fellow citizens, thro' the periodl-
cal press, notices Of any Of our %illustri-
Gus statesmen or magistrates, are sure 10
he well received by the public. Patly,
perhaps, because such writings crafty
a liberal curiosity, but chiefly no doubt,
because proper notice of cur acknoWl-
edged beneiattors may contribute II dis
charge the debt 81 public gratitude due
of such eminent men Even an imper-
tect biographical sketch (such Us We feel
and iaar out present attempt may proYe)
may az least excite w,,ter, of more skill
and ~lniSHre and better opportunities Tor
am1ssi g facts, Ia eniarrc, correct, and
complete lie del 4 tIon Of characters
50 tuuly Interesting. Whenever such
improvement, shall be- made, and an adj
equato narrative eiyep Of the lilo and
services of Chief Justice NJ rshali, such
publication, we think, cannot fail In ex-
cite and cherish a laudable desired M
ny promising youths of our country, TO
emulate virtues and talents which II is
impossible not 10 admire. John Mar
shall seems 10 stand alone. For he
happens 10 be the last survivor among
our revolutionary worthless, who Sis
tains, in a fine, green old are, one of the
most lofty and responsible situations IN
this nation. lie IS the eldest son Of the
late Col. Marshall, of Virginia, who
commanded a regiment in the continent
tlal line OF that leading state in the war
OF die revolution. When The writer of
this article first saw him, he held The
commission Of captain in that regiment.
Ii was in the trying, severe winter Of
l177-8, "A few months tttcr he disas-
trous battles Of Brandywiue AM Ger
mantown had tested his 6rmmess, harli-
hood, and hefoism. The spot where
we acquired or earliest information OF
HIM was the famous butted encamp-
mcnt at Valley Forge, about so niles
from Philadelphia. BY his appearance
then, We supposed linn about - or .
Nears Of aye. Eyen 80 early IN life, We
well rccollecl thu he appraIed 10 rs.
prtmps inter pares for, amidst man,
commissioned officers, Inc va, discrimf-
mated for superior intelligence. OuT
informant, Colonel Ball, of another ie-
'1ment in the same line, represented
nm as a young man, not only brave.
bat s%ignally intelligent. Indeed, all
those who intimately knew him, affirm
eG tI'at his capacity was held in such
estimation by many OF his brother ofli-
GERS, that IN most disputes Of Il certain
description he was constantly chosen ar
bitter; and that officers initiated by dif-
t%erences or animated by debate. often
submitted the contested points 10 his
Judgment-which being gwen in writing
and accompanied, as it commonly wa.
by sound reasons in support OF his de-
cislon, obtained general acquiescenee.
So early III life was the termination Of
Judicial capacity manifested by Inn
When the wal OF the revolution became
paClicd by the acknowledgment Of our
independence on the part ofthe British
Government, II IS well known under
what circumstances the American army
disbandcd itself. Thousands of officer.
in the autumn Of 1888, retired 10 their
homes victorious but impoverished. Th,
bnl, Of them were destitute. Because
the old compress and cuufederley ha0
ne ther power, funds nor credit nd
were then gradually dissoIyjng in the.l
own weakness.
In this ~exigancy ii appears, thu
Capt. Marshall, in common with Col
Hamilton, and other excellent office S
OF the day, resorted, for support, to a
new profession. In due time he qusli.
fed himself for its proper exercise and
was admitted, .by the courts, TO the prac-
tee of law IN his native state. Under
whose direction be completed his new
course OF studies We are not informed
But we know lhat John Marshall, with
III a few years after the American army
was d%isbanded, was found, in full prae.
tice Al the bar in Richmond. lie resi-
ded in the rising Metropolis Of Virginia.
then, ard since, the principal seat Other
lcgislatIOn and superior courts Of Justice.
Here he soon became eminent for the
most conciilating manners, as well as
forensic success. We have heard his
p~leadiugs on one side Of many cases,
which on the othfr engaged the acute To-
gic and Ciceronian cloquencc ofthe late
Edmund Randolph, then in the zenith
Of his professional powers. It is now
more than thirty years since nor ourseif,
0for newspaper mriters neger speak in
the first person stagULr,) became one
OF JOHN MarshaIl's clients. In prose.
cution of an affair Of c~onlroverted bnsi-
ness, that required The opinion of able
counsel, which was designed to operate
il a foreign forum, we were directed to
him as Il ofthe ablcst of the able and
such We found him. We for some time
fingered, withoat loiteriRg, in society
- r