Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-05-04
Anecdote Of Judge MARSHALL.

1t is not long since gentleman was travel
ling in one Of the counties Virginia, and about
the close of the day stopped at public house,
10 obtain refreshment and spend the night He
had been there but a shOr time, before old
man alighted from his gig, with The apparent
intention oil becoming his fellow guest, at the
same house As the old man drove up he OBJ
served that both the shafts of his gig were bro
ken, and that they were held together By with
es formed from the bark Of hickory sappliag.
Our traveller observed further, that he was
plainly clad, that his nee-buckles were looseu-
ed, and that something like negligence pervad-
ed his dress. Conceivlng him TO be one of Ihs
yeomanry of our land, the courtesies of slrang-
ers passed between them and they entered the
tavern. 1t was about the same time that all ad-
ditiOn of three or four young gentlemen was
made 10 their number-mOs1, if not all of lhrnl
of the legal profession; As soon as they be-
came conveniently accommodated, The cOnver-
salon was turned by one of the latter upon AT
elegant harangue which had that day been dis
played at The bar. 1t was replied by the other,
that he had Witnessed the same day degree
of eloquence, no doubt equal, but that ii was
from the pulpit. Something like sarcastic re-
joinder was made to the elOquence Of The pull
which the merits of The Christian religion be-
came the subject of discussion. From six
o'clock until eleven, the young champions wiel-
ded the sword Of argument, adducing with in
genuiry and ability every thing that could be
said pro and con. During This protraclrd peri
cd, The old gentleman listened with ali the
meekness and modesty of child; as if he was
adding new information TO the stores of his own
h., oI1eo Ill
sophie eye tho faculties of the youthful mind,
and how new energies are evolved by repeated
action, or perhaps with patriotic emotion, hs
was refecting upon the future desIlnies of his
country, and on the rising generation upon
whom these future deslinies must devove. or,
most probably, with sentiment of moral and
religious feeling, he was collecting an argu-
mcnt which characteristic of himsel0 no art
would be ''able 10 eIude, and no force TO resist"
Our traveller remained spectator, and took no
part in what was said.
At last, one of the young men remarking,
that it was impossible to :conbat with long and
established prejudices, wheeled around, and
with some familiarity, exclaimed, "Wei, my
old gentleman, what think you ofthese things"
IT, said the traveller, streak Of vivid lightning
had at that moment crossed the room, their
amazement could not have been greater than i!
was with what followed. The most eloquent
and unanswerable appeal was made for nearly
an hour, by the old gentleman, that ne ever
heard or read. So perfect was his recolec-
lion, that every argument urged agains! the
Christian religion was met in the order III
which it was advanced Humes sophislry on
the subject Of miracles, was, if possible, more
perfectly answered Than it had already been
done by Campbell. And in the whole lecture
there was so much simplicity and energy, pa
thos and sublimily, that not another word was
uttered An attempt TO described it, said the
traveller, would be an attempt 10 paint The sun
beams 1t was now a matter of curiosity and
inquiry who the old gentleman was. The trav-
eller concluded, that it was the preacher from
whom the pulpit eloquence was heard--but no
it was the CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED
STATES.