Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-10
THE MARSHALL STATUE.

grown to the surprising sum of over 500, OOO an
instance OF the careful outstanding of a mOnu-
ment fund that is presumed to be without par
aiiel in America. In 1882 Senator Johnson. OF
Virginia. at the instance OF members of the Rich
mOnd bar and other Virgnians, introduced i'm
the Senate joint resolution for the erection ut
Washington of statue to Marshall. This resO-
luton was referred to the joint COM
mittee on library, and being widely no.
ticed and commended by the press it
led to the discovery in Philadelphia Of the Mar
shall memorial fund.- which had lain perdu for
over fOrty-iive years. VIM. w. Witbank. ESQ.,.
one of the trustees of the fund. called attention
to it. and soon thereafter meeting OF the sur
viving trustees of the original fund was called.
They met at Washington, and appeared before
the joint library committee with the proposition
that they would turn over their handsome fund
OF S2O.O0O If Congress would appropriate a like
amount. This would make 4 total of So 00 a
sum sufilclent, it was represented, to have the
proposed statue executed. with an accompany
ing pedestal of monumental character. in such a
manner as to be worthy the subject and credit
to American art. This proposition was accepted
by the library committee, and the result was the
act of appropriation of March 10. 1882, author
ing contract for statue to the memory of
Marshall. TO be placed i'm some suitable public
reservation to be designated by the JOINT COM
mittee on the library. The entire cost of the
statue and pedestal, under the contract of Mr..
Story with the US. government and the Mar
John MarshalEs Life.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER AS SOLDIER. STATESMAN
AND JURIsT-HIs sPARTAN-LIKE SIMPLICITY.
John Marshall, the most eminent perhaps of
all the talented men who have held the position
of Chief Justice of the United States, was born
in Fauquier county, Virginia. on the oath day of
September, 1855. Owing to the sparse settle
ment OF the country at that time as well as the
slender property ofhis parents, his education was
principally conducted by his father, who was a
man of studious habits and of whom the after
ward Chief Justice ever spoke in terms of flial
and affcctionate remembrance The Revolution
AIRY war found him ready TO enter the field and
the rank of captain was conferred upon him in
III. He was at the battles of Brandywine and
Germantown. he endured the rigOrS of Valley
Forge, fought at Monmouth, and was with
Wayne AZ the assault of Stony Point. In 1852
he was elected member of the Virginia house of
delegates from FaHquer. At the close of the
war he began
THE PRACTICE OF LAW
and his rise at the bar was rapid. His intellect
was powerful in its grasp. and would detect i'm
mediateiy the point upon which the controversy
depended.
In the discussion over the acceptance of the
constitution of the United States, Marshall, to-
gether with Madison. took q prominent part in
the Virginia convention. His defense of the
constitution Is described as mastery, and the
convention finally accepted ii. though by a close
vote As representative in Congress, az envoy
extraordinary to France, and as Secretary of
State. his abilities were marked by their pre-
eminence. In the latter position he conducted
several important negotiations with the British
ministers. and his productions hold prominent
place among the great state papers of this cOun-
try. In 1901 he was nominated as Chief Justice
OF the United States, and the Senate unani-
mously confirmed his appointment. Here he
was at nome. and his influence was over
wheiming. For thirty-iour years he pre-
sided over this court. and the extent
and variety Of his decisions. collected
In thirty-two volumes OF reports, combined
with the intellectual vigor and prOfundity of
thought which distinguished them, have given
him q commanding place among the great jursts
OF the world. In physical appearance he is de-
scrit2d as rather tall. of ungracetul FORM homely
features, and with ahead small in proportion to
MS body. He was careless in his dress, but his
manners and speech were singuarly gentle and
engaging. He was ardently attached to Lis
wife Miss Mary Amber, to whom he was mar
ried in 1888, and who lived until 1881. OF
THE SIMPLICITY OF HIS HABITS
it is said that In his journeys from Washington
to-Ralcigh, n. c., where he was in tie habit OF
presiding over the circuit court, he travelled in
q one-horse gig, with no attendant. 1t is re-
lated that on one occasion he stopped at pub
lie house to spend the night. and. after ex-
changing the ordinary courtesies with other
travellers, sat down quietly and listened to O
discussion of the merits of Christianity which
was carried on by number Of young men pres
ent Finally one Of the youths turned to the
shabby-lookiug traveller and said: well, old
gentleman, what think you Of these things:'
To their aInaZcmeEt most eloquent and I'M
answera5lc appeal followed the question Every
objection urged to the Christian religion was