Middletown transcript., 1869-04-17
"REMINISCENCES
OF THE
GREAT MEN OF OTHER DAYS,
Written for the Middletorn transcript
BY JOHN COLLINS M'cABE, D. d,

The writer of these sketches has taken
the pains, as is the duty of every one
who attempts biography, to authenticate
every fact introduced in his life and char
acter of John Marshall. He has reserved
to the close, more particular reference
to that character, as developed in private
life, and testified to, by others holding
high position in his native state, and in
other portions of our country. In this,
will be found the moral, "pure, beautiful
and sublime" which he would fain write
upon the heart and mind of every reader,
and leave to be pondered by good, and
even bad men, in these degenerate days
degenerate in intellect, morality, patriot
ism and virtue.
The character of John Marshall as a
Patriot, is written in his youthful deyo-
tion to the cause of his country-as an
Orator by one of Maryland's own favorite
sons, the late William Writ. Speaking of
John Marshall in the palmy days of his
life, Gin the " British Spy,") says Mr..
Writ" this extraordinary man. without
the aid of fancy, without the advantages
of person, voice, attitude, gesture, or any
of the ornaments of an orator, deserves
to be considered as one of the most elo-
quent men in the world. If eloquencc may
be said to consist in the power of seizing
the attention with irresistible force. and
never permitting it to elude the grasp until
the hearer has received the conviction
which the speaker intends. All his elo-
qucnce consists in the apparently deep
self conviction, and emphatic earnestness
of his manner. the corresponding simpli-
city and energy Of his style, the close
and logical connexion of his thoughts,
and the easy gradations by which he opens
his lights on the attentive minds of his
hearers."
His intellectual character Is finely drawn
by Frank Gilmer, one of his compeers
(himself splendid genius, and an elder
brother of the late Thomas w. Gilmer,
formerly Governor of Virginia, and sub
sequently Secretary of War, who was
killed by the explosion Of the 'f Peace
Maker" aboard the U. S. Steamship,
Princcton.)
" His mind" says Mr.. Gilmer, q is not
richly stored with knowledge, but it is so
creative, so well organized by nature or
disciplined by early education and con-
slant habits Of systematic thinking, that
he embraced every subject with the clear.
ncss and facility of one prepared by pre-
vious study to comprehend and explain it.
So perfect was his analysis that he extrac-
ted the whole matter, the Kernel of inquiry
unbroken, clear and entire. In this pro-
cess. such were the instructive neatness
and precision of his mind, that no super
fuous thought, or even word, ever presen-
ted itself, and still, he said everything
that seemed appropriate to the subject" :"
Said the great William Pinkney of
Maryland, :" John MarshdH uds born to
be the Chief Justice of any country into
whieh Providence should hare cast him."
Said Mr.. Writ, in a letter to Judge Dab
ney Carr, the great jurist of Virginia, -
=" A more powerful mind than John Mar
shall's was scarcely ever sent upon this
earth. He ranks, in my estimation, with
Mansfield, Thurlow and Hardwicke-the
standards Of Judicial excellence-the class
les of the Bench" 4tL5tlF
Mr.. Writ, again, in letter to Francis
W. ohhlSis III pCdhinS VI uHEsuuil Ut
gument in Philadelphia in '96, on the
constitutionality of the carriage tax, re-
marks Marshall was justly pronounced
one of the greatest men of the country
he was followed by crowds, looked upon,
and courted with every evidence of admi-
ration, and respect for the great powers of
his mind"
AS Debater he was always fair, and
gave an opponent credit for whatever was
strong and plausible in his argument; and
though contending with earnestness, pro-
ceeding from conviction of the truth of
his cause, he never lost his temper, or for
got the courtesies of the high-toned gem
tleman.
As q Lqpyer, he vindicated his noble
profession by endeavoring to make it but
another nanie for equity.
As q Politician, he was of the same
school of George Washington. and yet,
like him, he was republican in the true
sense of the woTd=z-a character always
awarded him, even by those with whom
he differed, and which, his habits, man
nsrs and tastes eminently confirmed.
As a Historian, it has well beenre mar
ked in reference to his " Life of Wash
ington, p" Every part of it is marked
with the scrnpulogs yeracity of a judicial