The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-25
Distinguished LAWYERS.

PROPOSITION. MEMO.
Distinguished Lawyers.
The following "talk" to his class by Pro-
lessor Parsons. Of Reading, was taken down
~ one of his students. 1t will be found
rtlriur>iy interesting:
will begin with the greatest man ever
knew, and one to whom the country owes
4 deeper debt of gratitude than to any eX-
ccrt Washington,
CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL.
[ knew him but one winter. When /
called on him was received with perfect
kindness, and was cordially invited to call
again. The tone of his voice plainly indi-
Gated that the invitation extended was
meant rs no mere act OF poitencSs. | did
,al again and again. and each visit made
me more anxious to cal more frequently.
Chief Justice Marshall was born in 1915.
Tic was the eldest son of fifteen children.
His father. Colonel Marshall, was a gentle
man of excellent family, but no property.
Colonel Marshall educated his children him
self. rs he was too poor to send them to
school.
Chief Justice Marshall began with poetry.
At the age of twelve the had copied all of
r"pc> Essay on Man. He could repeat
much ri Shakespeare, Dryden, Pope, Camp
bell, and other standard poets.
He wrote great deal of poetry himself.
but even at this young age he displayed
that great sagacity which SO distinguished
him. He never published any of his poetry.
At the aye OF twenty he entered the army,
where he remained until ISL. lie figured
in most Of the principal engagements in the
south.
While stationed at Philadelphia he at
i"ndci one course Of law lectures. During
al this time he was very poor. When h.
was returned home an innkccpcr refused
HIM admission TO his house because he did
not look respectable.
Soon after returning home, in 1882, he
was elected to the Virginia Legislature.
where he was returned Us a member until
1902.
In 17SS he succeeded in securing the
adoption OF the Federal Constitution, which
was violently opposed by Patrick Henry.
The majority i'll favor OF adoption was only
ten. In 1884 he went Ia Paris.
In 1893 he was sent to Congress, where
his influence was almost boundlc>s.
In 1900 he was appointed and confirmed
Secretary Of War. He, however, never
entered upon the duties of his office, for
before he could do so there was vacancy
in the office of Secretary of State, and he
had this position rendered him. He did not
Ioltt tiiiS bllltt iOl Ill lou. III " ilS
l'"inted first Chiet-Justjce Of the United
States. When this was rendered him by
President Adams he positively refused 1t,
and urged the claims of other gentlemen
whom he thought more qualified. Finally,
however. his name was sent to the Senate,
and he was unanimously confirmed. He
knew very little "book law" when he was
appointed. He had attended but one course
OF law lectures and had practiced but three
wears. This was the great reason when he
urged so strongly the appointment OF others.
II is said of Marshall that he never held IN
office that was not almost forced upon
him.
Soon after he was admitted to practice he
married. lie was still very poor. He said
he did pay the preacher for marrying him,
and that he had one guinea left. Of course
he had TO work very hard III his profession.
II j. probably more to his early poverty
than TO ANYTHING else that he owed those
habits of indomitable energy which were so
characteristic of him. He was forty-siX
years Of age when he was appointed. He
immediately commenced to pursue syS-
tcmatic course of the study of the law. He
never became familiar with the books. In
all the ranks of legal literature there are no
books where there is so little authority
cited as those containing his decisions.
W Jt'L u lsSt NoS III S'ttuy RilU IL W 10 III wv
Judges TO decide il, after thinking for some
time, he would write down his decision,
and, handing it to Judge Story, say
There, Story that is the law Of this case
now 90 and lind the authorities ;and, pro-
badly, there was no one more able to do
this than Story.
story once said when wish to reach
point in the law / have TO grope timldly
from headland to headland, and feel satisfied
il at last remotely reach it," But Mar
shall, in an advcnturesome and bold man.
ner, puts right out to sea, and without Diff
hculty approaches it.
One OF the earliest Of the great cases which
have immortaliZcd the name of Marshall is
The case OF Marbury ps. Madison, Cranch,
i3i. In an able opinion he laid down the
true principles which ,ndcrle the founda-
lion OF our Government. He draws sharp
line between the powers of the different de-
rartments. For this he had been abun-
dainty preparing himself in the Virginia
Legislature when the Constitution was be-
fore that body for adoption.
/ have spoken Of Marshall as an able
lulist. will now speak of him as a man.
lie was remarkable and peculiar in his old
age, when knew him. He cared nothing
Tor fashions. He had never changed the cut
Of his dress. His outside coat was pecu-
larly long, and in the skirts had two large
pockets. Frequently he could be seen
walking up Pennsylvania avenue with q law
book in each pocket, or his pocket filed
with legal documents to OVERLOOKING.
His peculiar characteristic was the carry
ing OF u long green umbrella, which was his
constant companion, not only when it was
raining, but stuck under his arm when not
cloud was seen. 4stH
A kinder man never lived. He was
model for the Judiciary of our country. He
MAS perfectly courteous in his manner,
never speaking unkindly to any one. But
I'LL he wbs Il man with whom no liberties
could DO taken. lie was peculiar even la