The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01

and received his mail. An lnveteratt
gambler, Law once sent a man to Pari:
with programme for breaking the bank:
of the gambling houses in that city. In
stead of accomplishing his errand, the I'M
lucky agent lost his all. and was compelled
TO work his passage home, there 10 be
reproached by his principal for not having
succeeded.
Washington's first editor, Samuel Har-
Tison Smith, was the son of Jonathan
Smith, wealthy Philadelphia merchant
who had taken an active and patriotic part
in the Revolution. The younger Smith, a
graduate Of the University OF Pennsylva-
MIA. first attracted attention as the editor
of the New World of Philadelphia
When the capital was removed from Phil
adelphia he settled in Washington, ard on
october 81 1900, issued the frs, number Of
the National Intslligencer,' which be-
came few months later the mouthpiece
Of the Administration of Thomas Jefferson
About the same time the Washington
Federaiist'' was issued. so that from the
first the two parties which then divided
public patronage and attention had their
newspaper organs at the Capital. Smith
remained editor of tho National Intelli-
sencer' until 1915 when he connected him
self with the United States Bank as man
in 1Ss5.
Prominent Men of Old.
A man OF pith and vigor, and Of extra
ordinary sense and courage, John Adams
while President surrounded himself with
men OF like qualities. Oliver Wolcott, his
Secretary of the Treasury. was shTewd
New Englander whom half lifetime of
Of iri
cnce OF thought and action. Angered by
the ISLANDERS of his political opponents,
wolcott peremptorily resigned his post in
November, 1890. and was succeeded by
Samuel Dexter who had previously been
Secretary OF War. Dexter, one OF the
really great constitutional lawyers Of his
Gay, remained until his death = familiar
figure in Washington. appearing every win
ter in important cases before tho Supreme
Court. Benjamin Stoddert, Secretary Of
the Navy, had been a dashins captain Of
cavalry under Washington, and later a
successful merchant and shipOuner in
Georgetown. No man held in fuller noAs-
ure the ccnncenc. and friendship Of At-
ans. Joseph Habersham, Postmaster Cen
eral had served as colonel in tbs Cont
mental Army and remained during Ito ono
OF the foremost men in Georx;A. Theophi-
lus Parsons. Attorney General was pro-
found and learned iurist, no loss famous
for bis acrid wit than for his eItraord-
nary attachments as 4 scholar and lawyer.
But the dominant. IncSterful figure IN
the Cabinet OF Adams was John Marshlli,
Secretary of State. Six years an cfTic.f of
foot in the patriot army ard :e1der at
forty of tic virginia bG, it was only at
the urgent instance OF Washington ard
much against his inclination. has M<rsaa
had become an of!ce2olter. first - elvoJ
to France, later as oas OF ths Fed.ralist
leaders in Congress. and finally As S.cre-
tsry of State under Adams. Tfis Once he
filed with ability ard credit. but cas
eagerly awaiting IN early return 10 pcivat,
lie, WHEN in January. 1880. A5ans na7ied
him Chief Justice OF the Supre-D, Cou t,
which Office he held until his death talr;y-
four years later.
An agreeable tradition attaches 10 Mar
shall appointment "a Chief Justice, cost
Uhich Of all nan then living be WIS ice
one best fitted TO FL Chief Justice oliver
Ellsworth, broken IN health By winter voy-
ages TO ard from France. when he lad
besa sent as ervcy. TSsgrI his scat N
the bench in November. 1850. The P.t.i-
J
wro 6eclired 1t. dsc.3cd to ccnfer it W n
his Secretary Of State. After Adams had
had tie matter unsAsr consideraeol for
some time, Marshsli chancsi one day 10
suggest new name fer the p,ac., when
tire President promptly said:
You need not give ycu-s.lf further
trouble. fer l have made up my mind about
that matter
Il am happy 10 hear it, said M&--han
May l ask whom you have Fixed up n?'
Certainly" said Adams Il have con-
Guided to nominate person whom it may
surprise you to hear mentioned II is a
Virginia lawyer. a pain man by he name
of John Marshall"
President Adams spoke truly when he
referred to Marshall as "a plain man"
Tail gaunt, AWKWARD. and always i'll
dressed the great Chief Justice .s per-
haps. best described by Judge Story. who
sat upon the bsnch with him for many
years. His body" writes Story, seemed
as i'll as his mind was well compacted;
he was not only without proportion but
OF members singular knit, that dangled
frol each other and looked half dislCcatsd
Habitually he dressed very carelessly in
the garb, but | would rot dare 10 say IN
the mode. Of the last century. Yon would
have thought be had on the old clothes CT
4 former geusraticn. not made FOR him by
even some srpeTannuated taller of that
period but gotten from the wardrobe of
some antidus:ed si5p-shop OF secondhand
iainent. Snapeless as ne was. he would
probably have dsfed all fitting by what
ever skill Of the shears; judge. then, how
he vestmen,s Of an age when apparently
cats and brooches were cut for nobody in
particular. and waist coats were almost
jTcsging gowns. sat upon him"
I-l7ppha Story saws that MarSlali'S
hair was black. his eyes small and twink
ling. his forehead rather low, hut his fea-
TIRES generally harmonious; and he speaks
CT his chiefs laugh "tco hearty for an
intrirrer" and OF his good temper and IN
vea9ici patience on thn bench and in the
study. In truth MarshaIrs uncouth garo
and awkward Bearing were but the rough
covering Of morH and mental diamond
Of the first water Gentle, warm-heartea.
and simple IS = child in the exercise of his
chosen calling. nature had endowed him
WIKI an alJncst marvellous faculty Of de-
velcpinga subject by single gla nee of his
mind ard detecting the very point upon
which every controversy depended. He
the whole ground at once.
and wasted no time on unessential features
Marshall as Chief Justice established the
ncwer Of the Supreme Court as it is rec
ogrized today: completed the work of the
in welding loose league of
States into a compact nationality, and
FOR many years. the dangerous
doctrine Of state sovereignty. which a
!rarter % a century after his death con-
gulsed the country with civil war
The Supreme Court. when Marshall be- !
anne its head and, indeed for nearly six |
y years afterward held its sessions in the |
ow-vsulted room in the basement of the |
Capitol. now occupied as a law library. II |
then had for Associate Justices. Samuel |
chase William Cushing Alfred Moore !
william Paterson. and Bushrof Washing |
ton Justica Chase had been member OF |
IN Cr-.innntal Cclmrnrc and I'D Gil ni 1