The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-25
Correspondence of the Atlas.
WASHINGTON, January 9th


A circumstance of very gratifying char
acter, has recently taken place in this city,
which will afford no small pleasure TO all who
delight to witness the probable rescue of a noble
intellect from the inevitable ruin that but yes
terday seemed TO threaten it. Probably all
the readers of the Atlas have heard of Mr..
Marshall, the gifted member fiom Kentucky.
A near relative Of the late Chief Justice Mar
shall, nephew, believe, and himself possess
ed of a mind of almost unsurpassed powers. and
eloquence almost unrivalled n winning beau
ty and pathos, mingled with occasional wit and
pleasantly, of no ordinary point and vigor in
his oratory he was every way qualified TO
make one of the most shining and brilliant
lights in Congress. but for one single failing.
That was poisoning the whole of the rich treas
ure of intellect with which nature had most
literally endowned him, and threatened soon
10 bring to dishonorable close career, which
otherwise would have been so bright. That
failing, once so common, 81 almost Insepara-
BILE from men of genius and splendid intellect,
but most happily no longer so, a disposition too
Welding 10 the fatal fascination Of the mad
dening bowl, was sapDing with fearful rapid
ity both his powers of mind and of body.
This failing, the unsparing and slanderous
pens of political enemies and hireling defa-
mers. had already more than whispered about.
They had, in many instances, mlsrePresented
and exaggerated to shameful degree, the ex.
tent of Mr.. Marshall's excuses. In his recent
speech on the tariff, he himself referred to the
relentless luminosity with which he was pursu-
ed, and in a very touching and affecting man.
ner, demonstrated against the cruel injustice
that had been done him. For himself he car
ed not.-He was too hardened to fear their
shafts, envenomed as they were. But when
he saw their arrow quivering IN the bosom OF
his poor old mother and OF his sister, 1t was
more TIM he could bear unmoved.
Poor Marshall; there was not one who heard
him. who did not feel for him, while yet they
could not help seeing, too that it was in great
part his own fault that it was so. How few
there were of those. however, who imagined
that within few weeks that man was destIn-
ed TO undergo an entire charge. Yet so IT Is.
The attacks and ISLANDERS of the Locotoco let
fer writer's. although written IN malice. have
had the GOOD effect of awakening him to the
dnorodat;on and wretchedness TO which he was
f,s, burrv;np. Yesterday he was induced to
no,dar mon his condition, and his prospects,
P pa ha formed the determination to give up at
once and entirely the fatal indulgence, so fast
sann;no his constitution and intellect.
He applied to Mr.. George N. Briggs, the
,on,her from Berkshire district in our own
STATE. who has interested himself in the cause
of temperance to very great extent, for in
fnrmation as to the best manner in which he
should Join the Westinghouse. He wished
TO sign The total abstinence pledge on the spot,
Mr.. B. accordingly drew up the usual pledge.
which Mr.. M. signed upon the spot in the Hall
of the House of Representatives. The mo-
ment his signature was affixed, Mr.. M. ex-
claimed, am now a happy man. load is
removed from nv heart. And it was very
evident he spoke the truth. Last evening he
attended with Mr.. Briggs, a temperance nee-