Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-02-07
THURSDAY FEBRUARY, 7, 1923

THURSDAY FEBRUARY, Z, 1873
The followin portrait ofChief Justice Mar
SHALL is taken from the concluding pages of an
esS-v on the Jurisprudence OF the United States
written zen twelvs years ago by Mr. Rush,
the present Secretary of the Treasury.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
"There groccs the first sea, nrjudicial magis
tracy in this countrv, man of another STAMP,
aud exhibiting. different aspects OF intellectual
excellence. Venerable and digni6ed labor ious
and intDItiye, common law, constitutional law,
aud admiralty law, each make their demands
upnn his profound, his discriminating, and his
well stored mind. Universal in his at,ainmenls
in legal scien'e prompt and patient, courteous
an firm, he fills up, by a ombination Of rare
doNmen,s. the mraSu"e OF his dificu It his
extensive, aud his resp IDLE duties RESPONSES
biz, lot 10 the dcJa,es of an Exc sti,e, but,
mo,ing in sphere of true independence, res
ponsible 10 his conscience, to his country, and
to hi. Goo. Whar grand, ard, 10 mind
exalted and vSIuous, what awful sphere
How independent, how responsible! Vain
would il be for US to expect 10 do justice 10 the
merit with which he moves in il. BreG up in
State rich in great names, counting her Wash
ingtons, her JEFF; rsons, her Madisons, he long
sustained career Of the highest reputation al,
the bar Passing, after short interval, dur
ing which public hoBors thickened upon him,
TO the Bench Of the supreme Cou,, of The Uni
ted States, he carried 10 ITS duties mind ma
tured by experience and iuvigora,ed by long,
daily, and successful oil In he mixed and vo-
luminous state Of our Jurisprudence, every por-
tion Of which occasionally comes under his re-
view ,aad in the elites of our political stare,
often does it happen thar questions are bruug
before him where the path is untroddeu, where
neither the bookcase nor the record exists 10
guide, and where the elementary writer gllm-
mrrs dimv. 1t is upon such occasions that he
Dierces what is dark. examines what is remote
separates what is entanghd, and draws down
analogies from che fountain oil first principles.
Selling with a large grasp, what none but
inds of the highest order can see, he embo-
dies his compr- hensive s distinct conceptions
in language not sarcastic, but suited to the so-
lemniIy Of the tempe around him. In this
way he is found, always with mastery ability,
and mos, frequently with conviction, 10 lay
pen AID elucihate the diff ult subject. II there
be any arning applicable To it, il Is reasona-
BILE to think, that, 10 mind formed and trained
hk" his, IL will be al hama. Where there is
more, the fertile deductions Of his own indepen-
den vigor and clearness stand in the place Of
learning, and will become learnirg to those
VINO are TO live after him. His country alter>
natcIy neutrai x Of ngfrent, again ana again
h, is called upon to exDound the volume Of ma
innAl law, % explore It's nitric ate passages. to
ma k its incest limitations. Upon such occa-
sions, well as upon the entire body Of CONS
mrrcial law, 50 oopiously in the last Resort in
terminged with his adiudiraIons, his recor-
ded opin onswiil best MAXI known to the world
che penetration of his views the extent Of his
knowledge, and the solidity Of his Judgment
They are a national Treasure. They will be
stream of light TO after times Posterity will
read IN them as well the rule Of conduct, as
the monuments Of genius that would have
dome honor 10 any age or nation. SUE h is he
sketch we would empt, imperfect as il is, Of
lhe judicial character Of the Chief Justice Of
our country. That country is advancing swift
ly to greatness and glory. To the world at
large, the early day Of her Jurisprudence may
remain unknownuntil the period of her ma
turr fame shall arrive; bu' then il will break
into light, and the name Of this great Judge,
like the Fortesques and the Cokes, Of the early
day Of England, acquire, by time, its just in-
crease Of renown Let the Courts of England
boast Of sir William Scott. Those If Ameri.
ca will be content with The Tame Of JOHN MAR
HALL"