Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-06-01
RICHMOND WEDNESDAY MORNING. 1

fender Of jays treaty in l5sS-as Envoy to France
where his papers extord the admiration of
rand. and secured for him trumphal entry into View
iork on his ruturn-as the zpnhpisee Of the nation in
announcing 10 Congress t ffath Of his beloved friend
GENERAL Washington-as lfograrher Of the hero-as the
prop oil the administration ~ President Adams in the
famous case OF Jonathan koDblns, when hs speech a.
sad Iudge story and Albef atiu, such as no hu-
man intellect could answet-as voter against The AUa
anu oeuiuon hWs-as secrfsry Of War and author Of
tne instructions TO Mr. kinf-a Chief Justice finally of
'ne supreme court OF the nited Sates-as
counsellor. envoy, jurisconlf and lastly President ~
e ultimate resort oil JustFeiH all these positions and
all these characters he was prominent among IN. ,h,
nsee.s oil his epoch, amp Won Tor his the mper
ishable laurels which await tie who ,edeates lon.
ahu great genus unufnx'ed Nith the least alloy to
This public phase OF TIP Life Of John Marshall need
nOt mere De presented u nend only be bald repeti-
tion OF what has been pruij elsewhere Nv aim viii
oe ianer 10 ehhoit the kif gentleman and great In
IN his hours OF leisure in i moments of rea xaton
IRON the struggles of the fdn the oilsome duties
Of bis judicial position. If sketch is briefand rnnd
70 shall. ~ least be truth - al she tperi, ,
these skeches-but it i q gvskt one
IL was here in Richmond that the Judge was most nj
home He always loved the place and the people loved
him devoedly. Everybody knew him. and he knew eve.
rybody There was such hearty kindness in his man
ner that the humblest felt his ease Immediately
and could scarcely believe when he encountered him for
the hrst time that the unassumng old gentleman i'm h
slouching attire and apparently unconscious of hi.
great position Judge Marshall" He seemed 90
take as much pleasure in chatting about stock or th,
a Il
joining IN the brilliant conversation of the brilliant men
who were his intimate friends These were truly noIls
grouP-not unknown to fame. There was John Wiek
ham, the Achilles the side Of Aaron Burr at Tho i'm
OF his trial Tor high treason-of whom William Writ In
s British Spy, declares that the kindness of his b,y
and his sense OF pTOpricy scarcely avaed to nr.v,pt
him from showing in his the consciousness. of
magnificent abilities. There was DR. Mcclure ia. man
oil science, the polished wit the delightful writer the
poet tue travelled gentleman aud famous scholar i'm all
oi bellies et'res and deep learning; who had
leo n ilp in his ..sI. n,
Page, whom he lived to President and t;oyernor Al
'srward; who wrote the Bellies OF Willansbur.," and
shone among the finest fine gentlemen of his early da,s
ana now hNed nj the present madison House In Ri.
mOnd, one of the bedar esprits of the brilliant ir
curing the sick and cracking JOKES discussing .bigI
philosophy and PLAYING quits-thc favorite of an
who knew him, the life of the company the mod.
OF genteman-the breathing reaex in a word. Of
the exquisite epitaph inscribed ON his tombstone in
TIE old churci-yard Of "SL Johns" Which vas
written by of the circle which ba .d,r,..l
anu winch never lost the memory of hs virtues and
accomplishments There, besides in his rlain old
wooden dwelling quietly sleeping beneath the foliage of
,he great em'-~h IT. old-iashioned garden and trim
heus's ol boN-there near the Chief Justices dwelling
hved the amabe and accomplished Jaaueline Amber
formerly Treasurer of the CommonWe and called =,
have said IN former sketch the Arishds Of Yirgipia
lie was gentle spirit, but with rigid ideas of ustce-
one OF the most charming men OF hs time Tb.r, y,,s
still, again. Benjamin Watkins Leigh the inhexibe onno
nent oi the crpgiHg resolutions in the senate under
Jackson the envoy TO South Carolina during the troL
les OF the proclnmaon the great law wycrtbe con,iI
OF the Virginia Code; the impASsoned advocate and the
delightful companion, whose smiles and whose voice
shall never forget shall recall his affection and
gracious kindness These and others-great associates
on the bench and at the barhc good Parson buchanan
one OF the lights Of his epoch-and more than one Nom,
Der of the fraternity of merchants thes. and r,,,,
more persons whom have no to mention were
grouped as it were, about the tall central figure and
made up society OF rare charms and attraction II va,
,he hOhest od virginia love for eompanionshp which
brought them togeher-the desire of congena minds TO
mngle in the social of private life after the OK
hausting tolls of the law commerce or phvs or i
Ninlty. There was no ceremony no stiffness. An was
equally sppropri aa aners Ser, Ss Ses.iy ~ ,s ss
sions ofthc purest enjoyne Here the erect form of
Wickham would relax and Tend forward to catch the es
from the other end Of the table-thc Wit of DR. MCr
would raise broad smile-Ihe benevolent couptenarcs
OF the good old Chief Justice would the deep en-
Joyment with which he listened the aneciote or the
narrative which kept the eoNcirc at table long after
nighal
1t was at " Buchanans Spring" however. on the ont,
skirts OF Richmond that the Judge and his friends sbon
in all their glory. The old oaks under the cool shadow
of which the Barbecue Club used 10 meet ar, s,iu
standing, aud the Club exits tO-day-but the choice
piritS OF whom ! write have passed into the land of
shadows How they chased the CAV hours with laughter
there OF old! how they pitched quots without their
coats and ieased on the roasted shoa and drank mode
rate jueps in the days long ago OF these innocent sea-
sons OF convivial enjoyment the Chief Justice was one
OF the brightest unnaries. With his coat thrown down
his eyes sparkling WITH pleasure the crowd looking on
eagerly, anxious for his success the Judge addressed
HliatH WIN hTdOt 10 real business OF the day This
business was to overcome all hi competitors in hurting
the peaceful discus at the slakr IN the ground Hiso
dangerous opponent was worthy clergyman, between
whom and the Chief Justice many struggles for the mas
tery took place. But the latter the fvorte of The
bystanders. ln measuring the distance of his own
and his opponents qnot from the peg the arbitrator
Would generally manage 10 declare ia the Judges ia,
worm iaVor ot law, and against divinity Ii che a.
ing was necessary 20 arrive this result 50 much te
more unfortunate, but that va al Judge Marshall
Was to be, under any circumstance triumphant for he
was the ayore of all the pride Of the members OF the
Club the most desPotic pet of them all when he made
bad throw, or his quoit rolled away To distance an
faces became elongated sadnCss entered every heart
and his opponent WAS regarded With conccaled bostiE
~ When, however the quolt straight its place
above all when il rtmg th, meg that is fell pump
on top aud encirced It, the enhu.iasm of the crowd
knew no bounds Aud the hero Of this achievement
himself was not destitute of elaton lie thrilled with al
the delights OF victory. Capping his hands like hoy
he would triumph bis foe and mnge proudly in the
general rejoicing. To stranger 40 this might have
seemed nd!gnhed-Vnworthy Of the Judges o the Cour
OF Appeals, and the most hmou councillors Of the Com
monWealth Hut t did not seem 20 their companiops
nor long to such visitors from distance R witnessed the
scene There was 80 much simplicity aud ease in the
group such unconscious grace 10 the most careless move
mcnts, that the picture redeemed from the lea.
touch Of the ludicrous Baron Gucuei, French reuiI
man, was invited one day, aud informed befor,.
hand that the Governor Of the Commons calth the Judo
es Of thc High Court of Appeals sud the Chief jus
uce, WQuid be pIes2nt-tO banquet With the rest I'm
the open air, aud pitch qnots With the otlc, mem.
t'iN W we Nluh Inc Buruu tNUfIutcQ Unaffected
astoni'hment, aud asked (" II il was possible that
the dnitaries Of the hand could ih1a iair0ir elm si
rate rdi-eHs| Worthy Baron, Ne was destined to be-
still more cOnfounded at what he saw under tie oak
trees The spectacle nothing les than Hts EvccIlcu.
cy, the Judges the Chief Justice and their great asso
acs, all with coats on entering into the game with hoy.
ish cnthusiasni-kneelng doVu 10 measure distances
crying out when they trumpcd and acting generally in
a manner the most "undiguifcd imaginable The good
Baron was taught lcs-nH which Do had nevcr learned
tn Europe his ideas wtlc extended aud be- declared
with enthusiasm that be had before seen the rc,
beauty Of rcpubhcanism' Art there any intelligent
Americans al the present time vo arr disposed To hink
less OF these celebrated for their boysh sports We
trust not That mind must be- mean aud the slave Of
silly " convention which thinks that John Marshall
sGe- ~ dignity Of bic judicial erniue bv ioin.
ing in those hannlcss sp0r,l Ehn ha leishbors -
TO critic of this description a true admirers
OF high character, Of genuine dignity might saw
-fuend, there is something nober aud more beau.
tiul Than the etiquette Of courts; grace beyond h,
hgLiH oi the courer the h,ugcron in palaces-its
the unaffected simplicity and lsa dignity VI ~, honest
gentleman Who b not atraid to o. natural Above I'LL
should you respect and make yo1r lowest bow to ha
great intellect and pure heart vh.h relies upon the pul
hc rcspc,t sul rgard and does think NECESSARY 20
wrap iisell iu vain ranpnss or .uda herald before Co.
clear ihc way Tor The ehpil pageant LQVis NV would
have rhterpiy died imagine rather than take hi. coat
on and pitch quoits With his brother monarchs hs ne
by aud doubtless his views upon the subject wcrc cor
rect lie was little IN the midst of ~ his greatness and
compelled 20 guard his prestige John Marshall Wa lof