Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-19
MARsHALLls STATUE.
Interesting "Reminiscences Respecting
the Great Chief Justice


Everybody who goes up to the capitol,
says a Washington correspondent, under
the dancing shadows of the tree-llned
approaches on its western front stops to
look at the strong face Of our greatest
Chief Justice. Everybody praises Story's
work. Most people consider it his mas
terpiece. OF course the ceremonies at the
unwilling have aroused reeolleetions in
the minds of our oldest inhabitants which
are gradually coming to the public ear.
One of the earliest depicts Marshall,
shortly after his removal from his OLD
home in Fauquier to Richmond, strid-
ing down to the court house one
morning, stopping on the way to
buy ripe cherries from passing
farmers cart. The farmer had
no wrapping paper, so Marshall
took off his big hat with great GOODNESS,
had it filed with the luscious fruit and
strobe on to court, eating as he went.
Now at the hotel was a litigant in search
of LAWYER. to whom the gOOd-natured,
well-informed landlord had recommended
young Marshall as the best lawyer in
town. The litigant said he would look
Marshall up. But just then Marshall
marched past the hotel, bareheaded and
eating cherries from his hat. The It'll
CANT, a conventional fellow, questioned
the young lawyers ability, and sought
man with an Impressive big wig, pow
dered, who dressed in the latest style with
great affluence of rutfies. Later in the
day the litigant strOlled into the court
room Just in time to see his counsellor VI
the august wig badly worsted by young
Marshall in an important case wherein
they appeared for opposite sides. The It'll
gantregretted that he had given Mr.. BigWlg
hot 10 ho1 hut
However, he promptly did the only thing
left to be done. He went to Marshall,
stated his dilemma and urged him to ac-
cept the So as a retainer as associate
counsel. Antedating this story is the one
about Marshall's great desire to be IN
Oculated with smallpox. Not being able
to find any that he liked in Virginia, he
walked all the way to Philadelphia, 200
miles and more, seeking it. 1t took him
more than six days to walk that distance,
and when he arrived he was such sorry
looking tramp that the manager OF the
hospital would not receive him. But
Marshall was not to be baked. He got in
by hook or by crook, and soon had the
much-desired smallpox, returning to his
home after a few days, proud of his
achievement and happy in its results.
Coming down to the time when he became
well known, we see him turning away
from Talleyrand and Paris with Pinck-
ney in 1898, after vain attempt to negO-
tate satisfactory treaty with the Direc-
tory. Gerry, you remember, MarshalPs
other colleague on this mission, remained
and conferred with Talleyrand, it was
said, as the personal agent of Jefferson,
who was favOrably disposed towards the
French Republic. Talleyrand muttered
something about "British gold' when
Marhall and Pinckney left Paris, and
termed them obstacles in the way of am
icable relations between the two repub-
lies. At Philadelphia Marshall and
Pinckney were received with all honor,
10000 people escorting them into town
from point six miles out on the New
York road. About the time of their re-
turu Judge Wilson, of the United States
Supreme Court died. Marshalps
demand for his appointment
to the vacancy. But it was not to be.
Bushrod Robinson, a nephew of the i'm
mortal George Washington, wanted the
place, and his kind-hearted old uncle
wanted him to have 1t. Now, old John
Adams was President, and old John
Adams had made up his mind to appoint
Marshall. Washington understood, as
well as we do, that the Adams family is
set in it's opinions, and he realized that
John Adams proposed to be President
while he sat in the Presidential chair. So
he said nothing to the President, but per-
suaded Marshall, at a conference in the
mansion at Mount Vernon, to decline the
Judgeship when Adams nominated him
and run for Congress, to which Washing
ton had no doubt he would be elected.
Marshall kept his word. Adams nomi-
mated him. He declined, and then nephew
BushrOd got the place. Marshall and
BushrOd made the journey to Mount
Vernon that time on horseback, stopping
at various inns as they went along. They
shared the same saddlebags. Being
caught in storm, they were wet through
when they reached Mount Vernon, and,
throwing the saddlebags on the table in
the hall, proceeded at once to get at their
dry clothes. Marshall opened his side
first. There he struck first of all a snack
of corn bread and ham and big plug of
tobacco. He was astOnished. BushrOd
disclaimed their ownership and a long
dispute followed. At last BushrOd opened
the other side of the saddlebags-Only to
find flask of whisky. This second find
amused Uncle George very much. When
they had recovered from their astOnish-
ment they examined the liquor, found it to
be Ofgood quality, and, sitting down, drank
the health of the good fellow who
had exchanged saddlebags with them, and
then, well mOstened within and without,
arranged the little dicker. Marshall was
elected to Congress by small Federal
majority. WashingtOn's influence was
waning. The French party was waxing
stronger. Oddly enough, Marshall's first
important duty in the House was to an
nounce the death of Washington. This he
did in chaste language and with deep feel
ing, offering the resolution drawn by Gen.
Harry Lee, in which for the first time it
was said that Washington was ''first in
war, first in peace, and first in the hearts
of his countrymen." AT the end of his
first term Marshall left Congress.
just about that time President Adams
was out with his Secretary of
State, old Timothy Pickering, of Pennsyl-
vania, who had held over from Washing
toms administration. Adams thought
Pickering stubborn and prejudiced, and
remarked that under commonplace bald
ness and a little straight hair he harbored
an ardent ambition. He got Pickering to
resign and appointed Marshall as his sue
cessor. Then, in 1901, Just before his
term expired, he appointed Marshall Chief
Justice of the United States. This time
Marshall did not decline. 1t was just as
well that he did not. Jefferson came in
that year, and between Marshall and JEFF
ferson there was cordial dislike. Mar
shall even went to the extreme of prefer
ring Aaron Burr to Jefferson, until Alex
ander Hamilton opened his eyes to Burrs
trIIa character