Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-02-14

shall, is taken from the concluding pages Of an
essay on the Jurisprudence ofthe United States,
written ten or twelve years ago by Mr.. Rush,
The present Secretary OF the Treasury.
THE CHIEF JUS rice.
"There graces the firsi seat OF Judi
cial msgis,racy of this country, a man
oil another stamp, aud exhibiting diff.
ferent aspects OF intellectual excellence
Venerable and dignifed, l4borious
and intui.!ve, common law, consttu
tional law, and admiralty law, each
make their demands upon his profound,
bis discriminating, and his well stored
mind Universal in his attainmens in
legal science, prompt and patient,
courteous and firm, he fills up, by
combination of rare endowmeuts, the
measure of his difficult, his extensive,
aud his responsible duties, responsible,
not to the dictates of an Executive,
but, moving in sphere of true indie
pendence, responsible to his conscience.
10 his country, and 10 his God What
a grand, and, 10 mind exalted ana
vir,oous, what an awful sphere! How
independent, how responsible! Vain
would II be Tor Us to expect 10 do Jus
tice to the merit with which he moves
in it. Bred up in Sate rich in great
names, counting her Washngtons, her
Jeifersons, her Madisons, he long sus
tanned career of The highest reputa
ton at the bar. Passing, after shor,
interval, during which public honors
,hickened upon him, to the Bench of
hesupreme Court ofihe United States.
he carried 10 its duties mind nla'ured
by experience and invigorated BY long
daily, and successful toll In The mix
ed and voluminous state of our iuris
prudence, every portion. of which oc
casionally comes under his review.
and in the novelties of our political
state, often does it happen that ques
lions are brought before him where
the path is untroddsn, where neither
the bookcase nor the record exists 10
guide, and where the elementary wrl
ter glimmers dimly II is upon such
occasions that he pierces what is dark
examines what is remote, separates
what is entangled, and draws down
analogies from the fountain of firsl
principles. Selling with large grasp
what none but minds OF the highest
order can see, he embodies his com
prehensIve and distinct conceptions ia
language Tot sarcastic, but saiied TO
the solcmnlty of the temple around
him. 10 this way he is found, always
with mastery ability, and most FIRE.
enently with conviction, to lay open
and elucidate the difficult subject. If
there be any learning applicable to it,
1t is reasonable to think, that, to mind
formed and trained like bis, it will be
at hand Where there is none, the
fertile deductions of his own indie
pendeot vigor and clcarness stand in
the place OF learning, and will become
learning, to those who are to live alter
him. His country alternately neutral
and beiigerent, again and again he is
called upon TO expound the volume of
national law, to explore its intricate
passages, to mark its incest limitations.
Upon such occasions, as we'll as upon
the entire body Of commercial law, so
copiously in the lass resort intermingled
with his adjudications, his recorded
opinions will best make known to the
world the penetration Of bis views, the
extern OF bis knowledge, and the soil
dIty OF his Judgment. They are ma
,ional treasure. They will be stream
of light TO after times Posterty will
read in them as well the rule of con
doct, as the monuments of genius
that would have done honor TO any
age or nation Such is the sketch we
would attempt, imperfecs as it is, of
the judicial character of the Chief Jus
tlce of our country That country is
advancing swiftly TO greatness and
glory. no the world at large, the
early day of her Jurisprudence may
remain unknown until the period of her
nature fame shall! arrive, but then it will
break into light. and the name of this
great Judge, like the Foriesques and
Cokes, OF The early day Of England,
acquire by time, lis Just increase OF
Tenown. Let the Courts of England
boast Of Sir William Scott. Those OF
-,,r.c0 l. "A