The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-03
JOHN MARSHALL.


this period that he wrote the famous Life
of Washington"
Marshall had served In the Revolutionary
Army and had had close personal relations
with the Commander-in-Chief. 1t is told
OF him that 1t was at Washington's earnest
request that he consented to enter Congress.
His career as Chief Justice so far over
balances his other services that but a brief
mention OF them IL necessary He served
In the Revolutionary War: was a member
of the Virginia Convention to ratify the
Constitution in 17S. was a United states
Envoy to France I'm 1898. in the unfortu-
nate difficulties with the French Govern
ment: was a member OF Congress from Vfr-
ginia. 11s9-lso0: vas Secretary OF State IN
der Adams from 1900 to 1901. and In 1879 was
. member Of the Virginia Constitutional
Convention.
He served in the Virginia Legislature. and
this is the story told by his biographer OF
his election at a later period: From the
time OF his withdrawal from the Legisla-
ture. in 1890. two opposing candidates had
divided the city OF Richmond: the one his
intimate friend and holding the same polit-
zeal sentiments with himself: the other. q
most jealous partizan Of the opposition.
Zach election between these gentlemen. who
were both popular. had been decided by
a small majority. and the approaching
contest was entirely doubtful. Mr..
Marshall attended the polls at an early
hour and gave his vote for his friend. While
at the polls a gentleman demanded that a
poll should be opened for Mr.. Marshall. The
latter was greatly surprised at the pro-
posal. and unhesitatingly expressed his dis
sent. declaring that his wishes and feeling
and honor were engaged for one OF the
candidates. At the same time he announced
his willingness to become a candidate the
next year. He retired from the polls and
Immediately gave his attendance to the
business of one of the courts which was
then in session. A poll was. however.
opened for him in his absence by the gen.
tleman h first suggested IT. notwfth-
standing his positive refusal. The election
was suspended for a few minutes; a con-
sultation took place among the f~reeholders:
they determined to support him. and in the
evening he received the formatio Of his
election"
John Marshall was born at Germantown,
Va, on September "a. 1755. He was the
eldest Of a family OF fifteen children. He
early developed the tastes Of a student. and
he was a brilliant lawyer at the Virginia
bar when called TO prominent service in the
national Government. His father. Thomas
Marshall. also served in the Revolution
The son was accustomed to speak of his
father In terms OF affectionate and rever-
entail admiration: My father" he would
say. was a far ADLER man than any of his
sons. To him / owe the solid foundation
OF all my own success in life"
Here is a description of Marshall. written
hw- a rOnrArrrcrar n ta1ra ~ tha orn
mans appearance when a youth Of 10. in
I775. He had been appointed Lieutenant OF
a company of militia. and. the Captain be-
ing absent. II was necessary for Marshall
to drill the men: .
HI was about 6 feet high. straight and
rather slender. OF dark complexion. show
ing little, IL any, rosy red. yet good health:
the outline Of the face nearly a circle. and
within that. eyes dark to blackness. strong
and penetrating. beaming with intelligence
and good nature; an upright forehead. rath-
er low. was terminated in a horizontal lire
by a mass of rayen-black hair OF unusual
thickness and strength. The features OF
the face were ir harmony with this outline.
and the temples fully developed. The result
of this combination was interesting and
very agreeable. He wore a purple or pale
oAaO a4A shAAA AN a. - "a NNo
same material fringed with white. A round
for a cockade. crowned the figure and the
man."
Such is the picture which the kinsman
in youth. One cannot help being struck
with its truthfulness and simpliclty-a walk
OF ten miles from his home at Oak Hill in
N hfua hrrptinO shirt md h1rk-faf1 ~orEa1o.
a frank. friendly and hearty greeting with
his comrades: a drill In the manual exer-
else: a familiar talk about the war: foot
races and a game Of quoits at which 'theTe
was no betting" make up the prominent
points Of the picture. And It may here be
added that this admirable simplicity of
manners nay. the very tastes and
habits Of his early manhood. remained
with him through life. Thus. he never lost
his fondness for those field sports and ath-
letic exercises which In youth laid the
foundation of that robust health which
continued through old age: nor did he dis
dain his favorite game of quoits even wher
he had been placed at the head Of the Fed
| eral judiciary. The Chief Justice of the
United States never ceased to be John Mar
shall.
II win be recalled that John Adams. whit
| cherished a violent d~etestation of Thomas
Jefferson and his party. appointed Johr
| Marshall Secretary OF State In 1900, aftel
the former incumbent Of that Office had re
| signed. It must be remembered that Their
were bitter personal animosities among tn,
leaders Of the parties. Adams heaped mucl
abuse on Jefferson. and Jefferson disliket
and distrusted Adams. The election Of
Thomas Jefferson to the presidency was
bitter blow to John Adams. From the tint
\ Of the election Of Jefferson to the date o.
his Inauguration Adams sought to make ap
pointments that would restrict the incom
ing administration. 1t Is told OF him tina
he sat up all night on the third of March
1901. appointing ~oficials to serve through
Jenerson's term. This action has beer
much condemned. both In the matter o.
good politics and courtesy to his successor
II was Just a month before Jefferson's IN
auguration that John Marshall was mad
Chief Justice by Adams. II Is said that III
irascible old New Englander declared. whei
he named Marshall for the office. that h
would do all he could to keep the countr!
from going to perdition'' under Jefferson.
The new Chief Justice was to perform
much labor In the field to which he ha'
been called. His decisions will be foun'
mostly collected in the nine volumes o
Cranch's Reports OF the Supreme Court. tn
twelve volumes OF Wheaton and the frs
nine volumes OF Peters; and his decisions a
circuit in the two volumes OF Broken
brough.