The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-02-05
MINUTE ON
MARSHALL
Read in Superior Court by Attor-
ney-General Ward.
CHTEF JTTSTTCE TORE,S PFpTv
CHIEF JUSTICE LORE'S REPLY
He Said Chief Justice John Marshall
Occupied Unique Place in the
Establishment of Consti-
tutional Government.

In the Superior Court at noon yester-
day Atorney-General Herbert I'll. Ward,
president OF the Bar Association of New
Castle county, presented minute on the
life of John Marshall. He said in part:
A memorial of John Marshall must
necessarily be labor of love for any
American lawyer. Besides singulary
interesting and attractive personality
as man, he possessed worldwide
came because OF his relations toward
American political institutions and
American law.
John Marshall was born on the Gath
day Of September, 1755, in the county
of Fauquier, Virginia, Of distin-
guished family.
John Marshall came of age in the
fateful year of 1776. While not yet 20
years OF age he formed and trained a
volunteer company of patriots, who
were among the first minute men raised
n Virginia. He participated with dis
,inction in the battle of Great Bridge in
Virginia, of Iron Hill, Brandywine, Ger
nantown, Monmouth, Powels Hook and
stony Point, and wintered with Wash
.ngton at Valley Forge.
With the rank OF captain he returned
rom the army and entered on the prac-
lice OF law in his native county in 1881.
dis clear thought, patient industry,
BROAD grasp OF general principles, effec-
LlyeneSs as an advocate and personal
popularity, Immediately drew to him
large, and for the time, a remunera-
1--WE clientage. After the practice for
Two years at the Fauquier county and
adjacent bars, he removed to Richmond,
where he almost at once took his place
among the leaders of possibly the then
lblest bar in the United States-a bar
mat was graced by the names of Patrick
| denry, John Wickham, James Innes,
Alexander Campbell, Benjamin Bolts
md Elrmund Randolph.
While not yet 20 years Of age he was
elected delegate from Fauquier county
20 the Virginia Legislature. 1t was DUR
.ng this first term of his legislative SER
| nee that he was chosen member of the
5tate of Executive Council, and Was
also maue general in the new organiza-
ION Of the State militia under the peace
establishment. In 1854, although then a
esident Of Richmond, Henrico county,
lis Fauquire county constituency again
lonored him with an election to the
| General Assembly. In 1887 his adopted
,ounty paid him the same tribute OF con-
ldence, and in 1887, also, his Henrico
| 'ounty constituency elected nlm TO the
state Convention, which was called to
deliberate upon the adoption Of the late
| y framed constitution OF the United
States.
| The latter honor may well serve to
illustrate the esteem and confidence in
which he was then held by his fellow
citizens. The State Of Virginia as a
whole, and Henrico county in particular,
containing as it did the city of Rich
mond, was strongly Republican, as dis
tinguished from Feredalists, in senti-
ment, and viewed with suspicion and
alarm the ideas of Hamilton and the
other Federalists which were embodied
in the proposed National Constitution.
No man in Virginia held more advanced
tederalistic opinions, more openly ex-
pressed, than Marshall. The popular mai
Jority in the county against the adoption
Of this constitution was known to be
large. He was warned that, unless he
would pledge himself to vote against
its ratification, his election would be
lStrenuously contested. In response, he
| proclaimed his intention to vote for the
constitution if he were given an opor-
tunity. The result of the poll was his
election by handsome majority.
He was then but SO years old. In this
convention he ranged himself by the
side Of Edmund Pendleton, James Madi-
son, Edmund Randolph, James Innes
and Henry Lea, and with them, by all
the force of patriotic and analytic ora
tory, fought the cause of Nationalism
and Federalism against the eloquence
Of Patrick Henry, George Mason and
William Grayson, and won the most
nomentous of victories.
The General Assembly succeeding the
establishment of the National Consti-
tuition, because of the sentiments against
that great document, was of exceedingly
great Importance, and Marshall was
again elected by an anti-Federalist con-
stituency to the State Legislature, in
which he continued to serve until 1871,
For an interval of over four years there.
after he practiced his profession in
Richmond, but at all times took leading
part in sustaining the hands OF Wash,
ington, in his arduous task of DEVELOPING
the new governmental system and of
maintaining the international dignity of
the young nation.
In 1895, when it became apparent that
Wasbington's administration would be
severely assailed, and would need capa.
bic defense, i'll the General Assembly
of the state, Marshall was again forced
to accept an election to that body.
In 1897, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry wer.
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