The eastern clarion., 1859-08-24
FT0l ~ teD'iry.
Peraonal Traits Of John Marshall.

RICHMOND, May ,, 1899.
Somewhat more than twenty years ago
a stranger, visiting the city of Richmond
would have been struck by singular
looking personace; perambulating the
streets, bowling courteOusly to everybody,
and receiving in return salutes indicative
Of the deepest respect and Affection
There was nothing in the external appear
ance Of thi, person TO explain such vener-
alton almost. His figure was tall and
commanding, it is true, but possessed nei-
ther symmetry nor grace. The limbs
were "loose-iointed' and angular. The
head was too small in proportion to the
body. The costume hanging upon, rather
than clothing this form, was anything but
attractive or imposing. Ii consisted of a
loose black coat, with broad skirts. a long.
badly fitting walstCOat, knee breeches. of
no cut particular, and "dry-rotted' flaxen
or yarn stockings, ending in buckled
shoes. The tight fitting hose defined
limbs Of remarkable slendernesS-then mar
row Countenancc was nearly lost to view
between the ample white ChOker and the
ovcrshadowinr hat. The movements of
this parsonage were careless and un-
studied. His gestures possessed no grace.
At times he would dangle along. so to
speak with he air of n rustic, used to
plowed grounds and rough country paths
And vet ever before the amused stranger
heard his name, something would strike
him, in the tall form, which had stepped
out, it would seem, from the frame Of
some portrait Of the last century. There
was look Of kindness and benevolence
in the small dark eyes which charmed
good humored smile. There was so much
simplicity in the countenance, so much
heart in its expression, that you felt that
this was good, if not very great man.
He was both. For the person whom
have thus rapidly outlined was John Mar
shall. Chief Justice of the United States
the man, as Writ says, of gigantic ge-
Mus" possessed of the supernatural IA
Guilty of penetrating to the core Of the
knottiest subject. and extracting the real
truth with the ease of n man amusing
himself at a game.
In former sketch, presented some
scenes from the youth of this extraOrdina-
~ man. The design was to draw pic
ture rom authentic family records of the
early days of the great Chief Justice. |
showed him to the reader in the attitudes
of young lieutenant of the Minute
Men, of a devoted lover, and a reader of
songs and ballads to the smiling circle in
the good old Amber mansion at York
wish now 10 present a sequel, as it were,
to that sketch-a companion piece to the
picture. In his old age, as in his youth.
there was so much to charm and benefit
the beholder that my time will not be
thrown away. The mere public events
of his life may be passed over. They are
to be found in many books-in the vol
umes Of our history, in the records Of the
! Supreme Courts and Congress. in the vol
uInes of annals which treat Of the great
political struggles which took place around
! the cradle of the newborn Republic. As
member of the Council of the State of Nir
ginia-as representative of the city o
Richmond in the stormy year of ITS7
when he and James Madison fought 5noul
der to shoulder for a Constitutional Union
after the model Of Washington-as mem
Der of the Virginia Convention of l7sS, L
ratify or reject the Federal Constitution
in which the gigantic leaders, Patrick
Henry and others, fought mortally foI
victory on opposing sidcs-as defender o
! JAWS treaty in l19j-as Envoy to France
where his state papers extortcd the admi
ration Of Talleyrand and secured for hin
! a triumphal entry into New-Nork on hi
return-as the mouthpiece Of the natioI
| in announcing to Congress the death o
! his beloved friend. General Washington
! as hiorraphcr Of the hero-as the prop o
| the administration Of President Adams il
! the famous case Of Jonathan Robbins
| when his speech. IS said Judge Story anc
/ Albert Galiatin, was such as no human in
\ tcllect could answer-as voter against tn,
| Alien and Scdition laws-as Secretary O
| War and author Of the instructions to Mr.
| Kinr-as Chief Justice finally of the Su
| preme Court of the United States
| statesman. counsellor. envoy. iurisconsult
| and lastly President of the ultimate resor
| of iustice-in all these positions and al
| these characters. he was prominent amoni
the mighty intellects of his epoch. an,
won for his name the imperishable laurel
which await the man who dedicates a lon
life and great genius, unmlngled with tn
least alloy, to the service Of his country.
The public phase Of the life of Johl
Marshall need not here be presented.
would only be a bald repetition of wha
has been printed elsewhere. NY aim vii
be rather to exhibit the kind gentleman
and great man in his hours of leisuTe-il
his moments of relaxation from the struc
giles Of the forum. or the toilsome dutie
of his judicial position. If the sketch
brief and rapid, it shall, at least, bc truth
| full. That il all the merit of these sketch
es-but it is a great one.
1t was here in Richmond that the Judg
, was most at home. He always loved tn
place. and the people loved him devoted
iv. Everybody knew him, and he kne,
everybody. There was such heart
kindness in his manner, that the humble,
man felt at his ease Immediately, an
could scarcely believe, when he encouI
tered him for the first time, that the III
assuming old gentleman, in his Slouchin
attire. and apparently so unconscious
, | his great position was Judge Marshall
He seemed to take as much pleasure
chatting about stock or the crops with
| home-spun farmer, aS in listening TO an
Joining in the brilliant conversation Of II
u brilliant men who were his intima
friends. These were truly a noble groU
not unknown to fame. There was job
Wickham. the Achilles on the side
Aaron Burr at the time of his trial f
' hipb treason-of whom William Writ,
his british Spy declares that Il
> kindness of his heart and his sense
proprietv scarcely availed to prevent hi
from showing in his manner the co
A. sciousness Of magnificent abilities. The
was DIR. McClurg, the man of scienC
Is the polished wit the accomplished W
ter. the poet, the travelled gentlem;
and famous scholar in all departments
bellies lettres and deep learning; who hi
led wild life in his youth with Tom j.
=" ferson and Jack Page, whom he lived
see President and Governor afterwar
who wrote the Bellies of Williamsburg
and shone among the finest fine gent
men of his early days. and now lived
the present Madison House," in Rio
% mond. one of the beaur csprits of the bl
to liant circle: curing the sick, and craC
ly ing Jokes. discussing high philosophy
rs and playing quoits-the favorite of all W
u knew him, the life of the company, t
's' model Of a gentleman-the breathing
w fex, in a word, of the exquisite epita
N inscribed on his tombstone in the {
eIf cburch-yard of ''St. Johns" which v
written by one of the circle which
adorned, and which never lost the me
ory Of his virtues and accomplishment
this epitaPh may be found in "Duckinek's Cry