The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-08


turning point Of his life. So it was He refers 10 the
welnown incident Of the quarrel of the Duchess of MARI
borough and Mrs Marshm, eyentuatng in the treaty be-
tween Queen Anne and Louis XIV, which brought the
peace of Utrecht which settled Philip on the Spanish
throne Philip having dispossessed Austria of Naples and
Sicily the Spanish prince who now dsgaccs Naples
his sovereignty to Mns Marsham On the foies of the
London court thus hung the desnies OF empires On the
trivial incident of eaclng for amusement when
sixteen years of age hung the high resolves of the future
statesman and the immense consequences which have fol-
lowed his public life
SAT this period" says the manuscript she had not
the remotsst thought Of going to college. But it so
Glanced that in the vicinity of the school-house which
he taught lived family connected with the family OF
the schoolmaster. That family had who had few
years before graduaedat Yale College and who idol
lied by his fond mother. Whenever the schoolmaster
called at this house. the mother in the habit of
tertaning him by detailing her sons relations of college
life These conversations turned the thoughts of the
youthful pecagogue towards college He began to de-
bate the matter seriously with himself whether he should
not take that direction in his future life His mind
not only fully possessed but seriously impressed with the
Importance of this question. He did not take il up
boyish freak but regarded it, as il really to him. the
most momentous decision he should be called to
make. He revolved it in his mind for many months,
viewed 1t in all its bearings and experienced great diff
cultes in coming to settled conclusion He well con-
sdered what would be the probable chance OF in
learned profession, which he concluded would be that of
the law. He not misled by any vain glorious Wis
ions which commonly fire the youthful mnd for he en-
calculations assumed for the best that could happen TO
him. only ordinary grade of professional eminencc
Neither then since has he been much disturbed by
ambition, that last ininmty of noble minds. Though
the balance of his Judgment vibrGcd from side to side
during the spring and summer of the succeeding year
rather, upon the whole inclining to change in his
of lean incident in the autumn fixed his
luton in favor of collegiate education.
Ie heard there to be exhibition at the acade
my in Woodstock, Connecticut, about ten miles from
his residence, and he determined to be present The in
cdcnts Of that day settled the long debate in his mind
SIN coming to the conclusion, which he long debated
in his mind, to prepare himself for of the learned
professions he not aided by the advice of his friends
controlled by the wishes of his parents Though he
believed they would prefer that he should continue in the
line of life he had hitherto pursued he did not apprehend
that they would strongly object to the change if they
should firmly resolve upon it, Having thus resolved he
entered in good earnest in the spring of 1884, upon
Of studies preparatory to his admission at one of
the colleges These prosecuted at the academy in
Woodstock, Connecticut and in September, 1885, he
admitted into the sophomore class in Brown Unver
sity.'
There is another circumstance to which he makes allu
sion in the manuscript the explanation Of which have
found in article in the New York Examiner, from the
pen of the Rev Mr. Cutting, formerly of Southbrdge.
In the fall of 1885, the tempest under which Jefferson
the second time chosen was hardly still. Young
Marcy had been, for his years conspicuous and firm
democrat His notions of civil government had been
considerably influenced by his notions of church polty
He was of Baptist stock Somehow Massachusetts,
could like either Baptists or democrats When young
Marcy sought the ordinary and indispensable testimonials
for entering college from his pecepor he was denied and
for other than religious and political differences
Undauntcd by the REFUSAL he proceeded to Providence
and presented himself to the Rev. Dir. Messcr then the
president of Brown University His examination was
satisfactory, but he had brought no papers. The diff
Guilty was a serious onecoud it be srnounted He
planned to the president the lack Of testimonials and
the president was interested in his statements. ~
cannot dispense with the testimonials said the worthy
official ''but do you not know somebody of my acqant
ance in your neighborhood who could supply them
There is the Rev Mr. Leonard the Baptist minister
Surbridge, who is graduate Of this University do you
know himf p 80 yes SIR replied the YOUTH who
was of his triumph, 81 attend his meeting 'Get
certificate of character from him, said the Doctor,
s.and you shall be received He returned home with
light heart Mr. Leonard furnished the necessary tcsti
ponals and at the appointed time young Marcy ad
mitted to college victorious over intolerance
He in college with Theron Metcal Dutee j. Pearce
Willard Preston Adoniram Judson, Jonathan Going,
and John Brown Francis the last of whom class
mate.
Tho manuscript continues 'The short space of time
within which he prepared to enter college year in ad
vance leads to the nieroncean the fact he has often
been heard to admit-that he was not well grounded in
his classical studies but he occupied at the close of his
collegiate high, though not the highest position
in his of the largest that had graduated
at that institution, and which contained unusual num-
Der of persons who have since acquired distinction in pub
lie life The faculty of the institution bore their esti
mony in his favor by assigning him respectable place
in the exercises of the Commencement Day This inst
tuition also conferred upon him. few years since the
honorary degree of III. ID,
He graduated In tho autumn of 1905 and shortly
after to Troy, New York. where he entered upon
the study of his profession that of the lawn the Office
of William nj. Bliss gentleman of high literary attain
ments and weread and thoroughly educaed lawyer"
This Is the end of his record Thus is detailed how
the farmer boy became the dilgent student and how
the student emerged into manhood The sense, mod
Grafton, and equpose everywhere displayed in this
cital are but the features Of lesser growth which his
mind afterwards acquired
boy of Massachusetts he to Brown University,
where with that industry that tagged to his latest
hour he obtained the best education the country could
furnish Like most men of might he grew best and
blest by transpanting in another soil lie emerging
into active life lawyer Of Troy, New York, when the
late war with England summoned him to the field Like
all PATRIOTS without too close scrutiny into the
casus Jeli he his country mcnaccd, and by his
gaantry the first trophy land which won by the
American arms But with him te pen proved mighter
far than is the sword by its power backed by his force
and integrity of character he became comptroller judge
senator and governor Of his adopted State. He filed
each post ably that higher and larger to power
opened His strong sense firm will, and ready sagacty
enabled him to shed conspicuous ustrc upon the federal
offices to which he called As the War Minister, he
organized the victories which made Taylor President and
which gave Scott his grcencst laurcs As the Peace
Minister he conducted diplomacy with grncc, sim
picity vvidness and force of style and logic far surpass
ing the best compositions Of diplomacy, and with mod
Grafton Of tone bcrality Of sentiment and comprehen
svcness of view, which left its impress the counses Of
the Old as well Us of the New World To-day it is ours
American citizenship indicated by of the stu
hall is Olrn Ia IN