The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-10-16

81 -
.rnI1I1lp A,azpponp
ORATOR.


Though Tom Marshalrs eloquent
voice is hushed forever, his memory is
vet green in the hearts Of all Kentuck
III. sThfy hive buried Ii faults And
a6Sukfi6 Rd cdr; ;sand levs tb:dwell
dHK 6ns tie brighter and more genial
traits of his character. With a wit as
brilliant as that Of Prentice, sarcasm
as severe as that of Randolf Roanoke
and the eloquence Of Pericles, he was
etratic as 4 comet.
His fund of anecdote was inexhaust
able, and he delighted in telling many
a good one on himself, a few of which
we remember, and now propose to put
iAiIpfint lbelaf4 we forget them. 1 One
he used to tell of difficulty with a
quartermaster during the Mexican war
TomMaS q captain Of q company in
Col. Humphrey Marshalrs regiment Of
cavalry. Oneevening, when very much
under the influence of liquor, he went
to the quartermaster with whom he was
intimate, and behaved in so outrageous
q n,exner tha4the latter was compelled
to.kfek linn PodS:: Next morning the
quartermaster was the recipient of a
cartel from Captain Marshall. The
challenged officer declined to fight a
duel for the several reasons that he held
a profitable position, from which he de-
rived a cpmfortshse support.for his fam
lily, who depended upon his exertions
for a living; that he was constitutions
ally Opposed to 'dueling anyhow; that
he had taken an oath when sworn to
his commission not to engage in duel
so long az che was7 an oficeri p the
United States army, and he did not de.
sire or intend to forfeit that commission
and laff@ ignclninipt,s dismissal from
the service by gratifying Captain Mar
shalps very evident mania for the duello
"But," wrote the quartermaster in con-
caosiQn.) cas- Captain Marshall is dis
satisfied with one kicking, l will pledge
myself to give him a kicking every
time be, comes about my quarters and
pisbehaYes himself as he did on the
occasion complained Of"
sHGelfdemen;e Pom would say in that
becalhr seri9dtoll way Of bis, II would
rather the rascal had shot me dead than
decline my challenge in that manner"
In 1852, Tom made one of. his mysti-
&ing,poitical somersaults, and landed
DION His feet an advocate Of the cleo
ton of the Wing nominee for the Pres
idency. He had been advertised to
speak at Lexington, and left Versailles
to fulfill the appointment. He said, as
he was passing along street of Lex
ington, he heard one man say to anoth-
er: "Bill, are you going to hear Tom
MARSHALL speak tonight" well, l
dspf know" tas the reply, which
sidv 81 Vom on:ttis tin1c!p az .#
When he got down into the Coving-
ton district. the Democrats had Dick
Carpenter (the late carpet-bag Chief
{ps3iee Of South Carolina and the flu
sion candidate for Governor of that
State at the recent election) to reply to
him. Tom had never heard of Carpen-
ter, and was not aware that he was to
be replied to. Telling the circumstance
afterwards to some Of his cronies at
Versailles, Tom said he left all the gaps
down behind him, and Carpenter paced
right through them as though he was
familiar with the pasture. He tore
my speech all to pieces, boys, and gave
ne Gh-llof asdrubbing. ! soon. saw
hewas considerable Of a blackguard,
and, as there was no ladies present, l
told him if throwing filth was what he
was after l was in; and don't you
think 'Ms eyes twinkling merrily at
tie Mc6lfection, the id scoundrel
took me up and beat me at my own
In 1865 Marshall removed to Chica.
go, Ill. Without a sign, Office or II.
brsRy.- he sat himself down to practice
his pf6essioMf There CHANGED to.be d
great will case on trial, in which the
most eminent legal talent in the State
including Linco1n, Trumbun and Linder
we've engaged. Unknown, but vigilant
he was q constant and attentive wit
ness Of the proceedings. At length the
evidence vas closed, and the time had
arrived for the argument Of the cause
TOMS sympathies had all been enlisted
Of 3hBdAe,of the plsntif.L Approach
ing one of the lawyers for that side, he
offered him fifty dollars for permission