Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-04-11
From the National Journal.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

If there be au individual in the world whose
character with posteri'y has been settled Sy his
conte mporaries, that indi, idual Is the presen,
Chief Justice Of the u. States. A zealoas &C.
tor in some OF the most cons oicuous events Of
the war Of independence; an able participation
in the councils which led 10 the adoption of the
Constitution; he was afterwards tie dcpo.itarv
under the Constitution, Of many important 20
EtIcal trusts. Amid the diff rences Of political
opinion which arose in the country, his conduct
was never accrimCn NOUS; and those whose sens
tmen's were opposite to his own, acknowled>
ged his integrity, and did justice to his motives
Removed from the theatre Of poiitiCa al conten,
ton at q time when It's tumults were lauGcst s
most angry, he carried with him to the station
which he now occupies the attachment, of
friends, aud the respect OF adycrsaries. Twu
OF the most eminent Of The latter, anil now "a
morg the most conspicuous in the councils OF
their country, have long since Borne The resli>
mony Of truth, in rhr language genius, TO his
virtue, and TO the imperial powers" of his
mind. OF his performance, during period Of
more than twenty -se,en years, Of The duties Of
his prese2t august office, his country enter
ians but one opinion-an opinion best express
sed in the words a>crIoed to one Of his distin-
guiShed associates on the Bench. Speaking
Of the constitutional labo,s Of Chief Justice
Marshall, thS learned Judge remarks. 1--WE en-
"pha,icalIy say OF Chief Justice Marshall; for
"though would not be IN Just 10 those learn.
ed gentlemen who have. from lime To time,
been his associates on the BENCH we are quite
"sure that they would be ready to admit what
- the public universally believe, that his mas.
ter mind has presided in their deliberations.
and given TO the results oogency of reason
"ing, depth Of remark, a persuasiyencss of
"argument, clearness OF illustration, and an
elevation and comprr hen siyeness Of conclu-
sion, to which none others nfftr parallel
Few decisions upon constitutional questions
have been made, in which he has not deliver
ed the opinion OF the Cour; and in h, Sc few,
the duty devolved upon others 10 their own
regret, either because he did not 81, in The
" cause, or from motives of delicacy ahsiained
from taking an active part"
D,scharglng his Judicial duties with an in
exorable impartiaiity, which reminds the OBJ
server Of the image of Justice so beautifully ex,
hibited in the Pagan my biology, and with that
mildness which is ever the associate of true
dignity, Judge Marshall has established, BY his
constitutional labors, claims on the gratitude
OF his country which il delights To acknowltlcg e.
The importance Of these labors in 2ropitia,inp
his fellow-cirzens by the gentle but powerful
influence Of reason, To The true construction Of
the constitution, is scarcely less ,than lha, Of
the constitution itself, to the permanency Of
that freedom for which his youthful arm had
fought. While thus dc,o'inga mighty mind
to The service OF his Country, he has carefully
abstaned from the ethical contentious which
have coexisIed with his judicial life. Bur cr-
SIS, such as never before existed among the A,
merican People, has arrived and this venerable
sage steps forth fom The highest temple of
justice to perform the social duty of resisting
the attempt ola daring faction to commi, The
destl"ies Of the last republic into the hands Of
man who haaitualiy tramples on the cons,itu
ton, on the laws, and on humanity; who. indeed
knows no law but his own fierce, unpoverprd
WI; and who is so illiterste IS to be inc.,ab,e
OF writing or even spelling his own language
In announcing his determination to vote for
MIR. Adams, Chief Justice Marshall di,ayow,
indeed having said SHAT he should consider
the election of Jackson as virtual dis,olu,;on
Of the Union" Be it so. We NAV readily inn.
sgine that citizen acting under his high res
possibility may entertain fears which he would
not deem It proper 10 avow. That he would
regard the election Of jackson as all even, most
per,lons TO our institutions, we have abundant
reasons to believe. But he has placed the pres