The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-09-23
2uiscel[
Beach ana BGr.
JOHN MARSHALL, THE FIFTH CHIEF JUSTICE

| JOHN MARSHALL, THE FIFTH CHIEF JUSTICE
John Marshall the most eminent Of chief
| justices, was born in Fauquier county, Nn Sep
| fenlber "a 1856. His father was farmer Of
narrow circumstances, but of decided ability
| There were no schools in what thtu the
| frontier region, and the early education OF the
chief Justice was conducted by his father, aided
| for about year by the clergymen OF the parisd
| with whom he began to read Horace and Lvy.
| Bv his own unaided exertons he utseqnently be-
came fair classical scholar, and was intimately
acquainted with English literature. He had just
| begun TO study law when the war of the Revou-
| ton broke out We need not follow him through
all the steps he took, but may mention that on
the 3lst of January, 1901, be was appointed
Chief Justice Of the United States, a position
which he held for thrty-fve years, until his
death in July, 1885, at the age Of eighty years
His unquestioned felicitous diction, added to the
long period during which he held his seat, and
the magnitude of the questions which came be-
fore him for decision entitled Mr.. Marshall, beyond
all question, to the first place in the noble list OF
our chief justices.
Marshall in the first two years of his practice
was one morning strolling through the streets Of
Richmond, attired in plain linen roundabout
and shorts, with his hat under his arm, from
which he was eating cherries, when he stopped
in the porch of the Eagle Hotel, INDUCED in some
little pleasantly with the landlord and then pass
ed on Mr. P an elderly gentleman from the
country present, had a case coming on in the
Court of Appeals, and was referred By the land
lord to Marshall as the best advocate for him to
employ but the careless languid air of the
young lawyer had so prejudicel Mr.. ?. that be
.e+zsst,S stissa hilr, O.. cSs.tcc.'.G the ceuit
Mr. P was referred a second time by the clerk o!
the court to tire same lawyer, and second time
declined At this moment entered Mr.. ", aven-
erable looking legal gentleman, in powdered
wig and black coat, whose dignihed ap-
pearance produced such an impression on
Mr. 2. that he at once retained him. In the, first
case that came on, Marshall and Mr.. v. eachsad-
dressed the court. The vast inferiority ofshis
adYocate was so apparent tlat. at The Close OF
the argument, MIR. V. introducedbimsel toy opng
Marshall, frankly stated the prejudice which had,
caused ana in oposiuoa to advice TO employ Mr.
p; that he regretted his error extremely bIt Gid
not know how to remedy it. Hs had come INTO
the city With one hundred doll9rs as his lawyers
fee which be had paid, and had but five left,
which if Marshall chose be would cheerfnlly give
him for assisting in the case. Marshall pleased
| with the incident, accepted the eher, mot how
ever, without passing sly joke at the OnanlRo-
fence of powdered wig anda black coat.
/ Marshall, returning from North Carolina, wrap
Fped in profound thought on some knotty point
! found himself suddenly broughtto to halt by a.
| small tree, which interyened between the front
wheel and the bottom OF his buggy. Seeing a
servant at short distance, he asked him to bring
an axe and cut down the tree. The servant told
| the judge there was no occasion for cutting down
the tree, but just back the buggy Pleased at the
| good sense of the fellow, he told him he would
| leave him something at the inn hard by, where
he intended to stop, having then no small change
In due time the negro applied, and dollar was
handed him. Being asked if he knew who it,
was that gave him the dollar, be replied, mo,
SIR | concluded be was gentleman by leaving
the money, but think he is the biggest fool
| ever saw"
Chief Justice Marshall once Endorsed a bond
amounting to several thousand dollars and the
drawer having failed he was called upon TO pay
| it. He knew the bond could be avoided because
| the holder had advanced the money at usurious
| rate of interest but he utterly incapable of
| throwing off the moral obligation in that way,
and paid it voluntarily.
| In passing through Culpepper on his way to
Fauquier, the chief justice fell in company with
| Mr.. S., an old officer in the army Of the Revolu-
ton. In the course of the conversation, Marshall
learned there was lien upon the estate of his
friend to the amount of three thousand dollars
| about due, and be was greatly distressed at the
| prospect of impending ruin. On bidding fare
well Marshall privately left a check tor the
amount, which being presented to Mr.. S. after
his departure, he, impelled by chivalrous inde
pendence, mounted and spurred his horse till be
overlook his friend. He thanked him for his
generosity, but refused to accept it. Marshall
/ strenuously insisted on its acceptance, and the
es etrs ngly refused. Finally it resulted in
compromise, by which Marshall tuuk svcarity
on the lien but never called for pay. This inci-
dent only illustrates the active benevoence Of his
| whole life
/ The following pen-sketch of the emineut and
popular chief justice is from the journal Of an
English traveller, who spent week in Richmond
in the spring of 1885 ssThe judge is a tall ven
cradle man, about eighty years Of age, bis hair
| tied in cue, according TO the olden custom, and
with a countenance indicating that simplicity Of
mind and benigni.y which so eminently dis
| tinguish his character. AS judge he has no
rival, his knowledge being profound, his jndg-
ment clear and just, and his quickness in appre-
| hending either the fallacy or truth of an argu-
ment is surprising. had several conversations
with him, and was struck with admiration at The
| extraordinary union of modesy and power, gen.
| tleness and force which his mind displays. What
| he knows he communicates without reserve; he
speaks with clearness of expression, and in tone
of simple truth which his knowledge is not certain
or which admit Of doubt or argument, he de-
livers his opinion with candid diffidence and
with Difference for that Of others amounting as7
most to timidity still, it is q timidity which
| would disarm the most violent opponent, aud
will win respect and credence from any auditorS
! remember having often observed similar
characteristic attributed to the immortal Newton.
The simplicity of his character is not more singu-
lar than that of his life pride, ostentaion, and
| hypocracy are "Greek to him. and he really
lives up to the letter and spirit Of repubcanism
while he maintains all the dignity due to his age
and office. His house is SMALL and more humble
| in appearance than those of the average OF sue
cessfnl lawyers or merchants. y
In short, blending as he does the simplicity Of a
! child and the plainness of republican with the
learning and ability of lawyer, the venerable
dignity of his appearance would not suffer IN
comparison with the most respected looking peer
| in the British House of Lords"
Miss Martnean, who visited Washington the
winter preceding the decease of the venerable
Chief Justice Marshall, speaks as follows Of one
trait of his beautiful character;
'sHe maintained through life, and carried 70
bis grave, reverence for women as rare In its
kind as in ite degree. It has all the iheoretleal
Ifervor and magnifcence Of Uncle Ioby's, Win
the advantage of being grounded upon an ex-
iensiye knowledge Of the sex, He was the father
| and grandfather of women and ont Of this ex-
perience be brought not only the love aud pity
(which their Offices and position commend. and ok