The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-12

10 absorb and employ II uscluy Tor 30 peIiect was
the cplne of mind he had established, through
long habits Of Industry and Study that he Turned his
stieuton, at will To Whatever subject seemed, at tie
nomtni, httest 10 engage H.
4 scholar, he stood without rival AMONG the
public men Of America Of bis day, and IT, even in
that class Of learned men who make the cultivation
and pursuit Of letters the sole business OF their lives
he had any superior in scholarship, il would he diff
cult 10 say who that superior was His acquaintance
with the great writers Of antiquity, the master minds
of Greece and Rome, was intimate, thorough and
familiar placing al his ready aud perfect command
all those hidden treasures Of thought, philosophy and
wisdom all those exquisite models OF taste clcquence
and power, which lie enshrned IN their immortal
works. In the languages aud literature OF modern
Europe he was perfectly OF home. lie not only
read but wrote and spoke the languages Of Francs
and Germany with the and elegance Of native,
and profoundly versed in their history and lllera-
ture. He had explored, With particular industry
aud success the rich mines Of learning aud historical
discovery, so TO speak, which the acute and recon
dte researches of modern German writers have
opened, and enlarged his own accumulated stores by
the superaddtlon Of the fruits OF their valuable Ia
bors. With all this alaonce Of intellectual wealth
he made ostentatious display of his acquisitions
They were assmilaled into the solid nurment Of his
mind and their effect seen rather IN the en-
l1rged scope and vgor Of his conceptions, uan IN
any exhibition Of mere learning.
As a speaker and writer, the style Of his eoquenee
was ornate and rich. But like the gorgeousness OF
Burke this the unbidden effect Of the rrepressi-
bic exuberlnce OF hi, genius No one desplsed more
than lie did the mere glitter OF words, or held ~
lighter esteem the studied arts OF the proessed rhcto-
rician. Whatever was the elevation and richness ol
his diction II was uniformly supported by cores
pondng richness and elevation Of thought. The
stream OF hs eoquence was fed from copous and M
exhaustble fountains, and its majestic current iertl
iZed and iruchcd, even when Il inundated It's banks
His character and abilities profound and ac-
complished jurist, have been already given TO The
world under the seal Of the highest authority. 10
the question: was he eminent iHcyer, Judge story
in his beautiful and touching address To The La"
School al Harvard, while the funeral bells OF Boston
were vet tUng the kncll OF his departed spirit, an
| swered cmphatically aud unhesitatingy-" no ma"
| ,Cas 500 And certainly # profound acqualh,
lance with the most renowned systems OF ancient aiu
modern law with the common law Of England Inc
civil law of Rome, the codes OF France and 6efma.
NY added to a familiar owedte of the laws ana
constitutions Of our own country and thorough m
doctination in the principles OF universal )urspiu
dence, can make an able and accomplished lawyer
Legare Such. All this breadth and scope OF
knowledge however supeflluous il may be deemed
for the lawyer who, 10 use the words OF Cicero, IS mo-
thing more than legeiS qidan cdufS Il dcutS plGco
det0nuH cantor toIlauidIpn aucepS yHdbnnn, was ne
cessary to fill MIR. Legare's conception OF the charac-
ter OF great lawyer, worthy OF the name, aud oil
calling which boasts ts rank among the iedsd pro-
icssons. One Of the great secrets of his superiority
was TO place ever before hun the highest standards Of
excellence, III every department the beau td-at al
least, which true and lofty ambition shcu aim to
approximate rs near as possible, il not able fully to
attain. His idea Of the nobleness and grandeur Of
the law, IN lis true dignity, that which Boiling
broke has 80 justly and oquenty portrayed, aud is
representations of that idea were the Bacons the
Clarendons the Somcrs, the MansGelds Of England
the 'larshallS, the Pnkneys Of America
The narrow and unworthy prejudice against learn
ing, as incompatible with professional emiuence,
which has been so properly rebuked by Judge story
sometimes yentur, 10 question the claims OF Mr.
LegaIc 10 the character Of an able lawyer, on the
very ground of his acknowledged pre-emluence m
the attachments of elegant literature The same
Gothic prejudice we learn from contemporary me-
MORALS, boldly called in question the legal abilities OF
Lord Mansfield, aud humorousy salirized at The
time IN some lines Of Pope, in which the poet repre-
SCENTS two heavy sCrge1nta Of the Temple, who
deemed each other orac,es of law" eXutng, with q
grave selfcomplaeency, in the lancied proouEdness
Of their own legal attanments, while
Each shook his head at Murray as a wit"
Aud yet tn, Murray rapidly rose through all the graz
da'ions of professional emInence, TO the Chief JUS
t,ccshp Of the Kings Bench, in which court he pre-
sided, with unriyaod mslre ami ability, for thirty
two years. having been thrice offered also the great
seal OF Lord Chancellor; and such was the almost
miraculous inialbilty displayed 10y HIM a. Judge
that cot OF the numerous decisions rendered by Inn
during that long period OF tine, hut two or thee Of
his judgments ever reversed; and about an equal
number Of instances occurred IA which any OF hls
brethren differed IN opinion from him. With such
illustiUus example before us, We shall be SOW 10
believe that tho superior literary accomplishments Of
Mr.. LcgarC were likely 10 prove hiudrapcc to him
IN the path If professional reputation and success or
10 prevent him from fulfilling his destiny, in becJm-
Ing ono of the chee,t g.one, oi the American bar.
As a Statesman, the merits and talents e Mr.. L.
gaze were Of the very frst order lie cary cogcuy-
ed the noble amb ton Of u,ciuly serving BOO, country
not TO crafty selfish vanity 10 promote any pri
yste personal end but from a true Glal devotion
10 her glory, aud from generous and maguanimous
desire to bear h, part IN unfolding the honor and
success Of her model Institutions. liz whole training
was one of admirable preparation for this high career
There T. no branch Of knowledge proper 10 an Amc-
rcan Statesman IN which lac was not a profound
adept ilc had thoroughly studied the gcniu, If Pc
puar government well IN Ms essential principles
a. IN al H. great historical examples. With what
sagacious and discriminating research he explored
the history aud Institutions Of tie master state. of
antiquity, tue Republics OF Greece and Rome hc ha,
given to The world proud ard enduring evidence 90
writings which will long survive him, and which pos
tetity, assurCdy evil not willingly lei Diet lie
had traced and mcdilatcd, with equal diligence and
care the progress, Of civil a1d iucal liberty among
our British ancestors aud oil tho. great social aud
political olutions which have changed the face Of
! modern Europe, were alike familiar 60 his mind, iu
their causes, incidents and results and with al the
moutory aud instructive lessons with which they are
50 richly frlught. With these preparatory lights be-
made our own peculiar, happy and conn Heated sys-
TEN OF popular and iedera'Ye government, the sub
lec Of his proioundcst study, and deeply in
bucd with It's spirit as he was thoroughly Initiated IN
is principles and amiiarly convctsant with it, CON
stulona action To these primary qualifications Of
| ali true American Craftsmanship, he added that en-
larged knowledge Of the sound principles Of political
economy, and Of the fundamental laws Of trade, cur
rcncy, revenue, and finance which are indispensable
guides TO enlightened practical Legislation With the
| public law OF nations, which regulates in peace and
/ in war, the mutual rights and duties Of civilized ard
independent states, tue diplomatic position he had
hled abroad with so much honor 10 his country and
TO himself, no less than his early studies made him
intimately acquainted and 10 crown al these civic
accomplishments and advantages, be had enjoyed the
precons opportunity Of obseC,atiun and experience
amid the largest scenes Of human affair. ~ for,i 90