The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-03
THE LIFE OF MARSHALL.
Soldier Patriot and the Greatest Jurist
of America.


The State of Virginia naturally takes a
peculiar pride in having furnished to the
Union in the earliest years of its life
many OF the men most prominently asso-
ciated with its growth III greatness.
Men of aIf commemorative and coun-
tries have Joined in doing honor 10 Henry
and Madison and jefferson and Wash
ington- Their lives and example are the
world over the accepted text book and
manual Of The student Of patriotism and
liberty.
1t is with peculiar timeliness that the
centennial anniversary OF the induction
of John Marshall into the office Of Chief
Justice OF the Supreme Court OF the Unit
ed States should centre the public mind
upon the life and work of the great
American jurdst. who, in The plastic Pc
riod of American institutions, saved TO
his coumTyIneI.. through constitutions.
Interpretation, the best fruits OF the
American Revolution
Fer nearly thirty-tiye years. as head
of the Federal Judiciary, John Marshall
held the scales of justice with firm and
Impartial hand. His judicial labors were
marked by a courage so absolute, by an
Intelligence SO penetrating and logical, by
IL sweep of argument so coSSnt and con-
elusive. and by a literary style so terse
and luminous that they stand apart from
ali others in American judicial history.
When it is added that the constitutional
problems which Marshall met and solved
were wholly new, that they were control-
led by no precedentS and were insoiuhle
by mere 1egal erudition. and that upon
their proper and courageous solution
probably depended the continuance of the
lettering union of the States. it Will be
seen that John Marshall is entitled TO
conspicuous plaza among the builders
and defenders of the american nation.
SOLDIER AND PATRIOT.
The graf juriSt was born III German
town, "a roadside village in Fanquicr
county. on September q, los. This young
grandson OF a royalist who had fled TO
Virginia after Charles !. was beheaded,
none the less heartily embraced the anti
inonarclical cause represented by the
Declaration of Independence.
His father before him had been a SOL
der in the French and Indian wars and
had served under Braddock. When the
news of The battle of Lexington came to
set on fire all Virginia from the noun
tains 10 the sea. it found those sturdy
forefathers OF the Black Horse cavalry
of later days. the HCulpeDer minute
men ready In their green hunting
shirts with Liberty or Death in white
letters ON the bosom. and with = banner
afsplaying a coiled ratucSnake, with the
motto. Don't tread on me- the COM
ma ny marched away to Join the Continen-
tai army. with Thomas Marshall, the vet
rran in command and John, the eldest
If fifteen children one of the lieutcnants.
Had his maturer life been less distin-
guishei in the walk 10 which arms are
supposed TO he antasonistic. r
have been still remembered as soldier
and a patriot. The future Chief Justice
fought 2allantly at Brandywine and Mon
mouth and in other critical battles of the
war. He suffered the 1lardslips of Val
ley Forge and was with Mad Anthony
WAYNE at Stony Point. SO far there APP
reared little or nothing in the career of
shc dark handsome young Nirsinian to
foreshadow The direction in which his
genius would ultimately lead him.
HIS EARLY Legal TRAINING
In l779 Marshall, then a captain, was
ordered TO await IN Williamsburg the
formation of II new company. Instead of