The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-05
CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL
THE Hon. WAYNE MACVEAOHS TRIBUTE
To THE GREAT AMERICAN JURST.

Today is dedicated to the law | there
| iore speak to you as a lawyer; and | con-
graduate you that it is part of our happy
| fortune that the occasion which brings us
together offers in itself its amplest and
completest justification II would indeed
nave been grave dereliction Of duty IL
the brotherhood of American lawyers. on
the bench and at the bar. had not assem-
oled 10 honor with fitting observances the
centennial anniversary OF the entrance by
John Marshall into the Office OF Chief
Justice OF the Supreme Court of the Uni
! ted States.
And the place where we are assembled
| is OF all places the most fitting for these
ceremonies; for II was here in the Capital
| OF the country he loved so deyotedly and
served so faithfully. that he was attended
! by those patient and achieving years dur
ing which his labors enrolled his name
among the few immortal benefactors of
mankind. It is also eminently fitting that
such an occasion should be honored by the
presence of distinguished Senators and
Representatives in Congress OF the States.
whose proper and abiding place in our
governmental system was determined by
him: by the presence Of members of that
illustrious tribunal the vast extent of
whose rigbtful Jurisdiction was deter
mined by him: by the presence of the
Chief Magistrate and members of the Cab
met. whose subsection to the law was de-
termined by Kim. and by other citizens
of the country which under his forming
hand. instead of becoming a dissoluble
confederacy of discordant States. became
great and indissolubie nation. endowed
with all the powers necessary to enable
1t not only to protect itself against enc
mics at home or abroad but also to ac-
cept and discharge the splendid and en-
nobling mission which had been ccnided
to 1t in the divine purpose for the educa-
tion of the world. and which he recognized
when first of all men he spoke of the En-
pire of America-that of securing to the
whole American continent government of
the people. by the people, and for the peo-
ple.''
A WONDERFUL PERIOD.
The small Virginia hamlet in which John
Marshall was born on the 24th day of Sep
TENDER. 1855. is almost within sight from
the noble terrace OF the Capitol, and much
as the world has changed, that section of
Virginia has not very greatly changed
since that day. His birth fell almost half
way between the opening Of the seven
teenth century and the opening of the
twentieth-midway of the three centuries
which, in many important respects, OF all
the centuries. have been the most fruit
full. the most interesting. and the most
benefcent
Change alarm, surprise witnessed
what is probably the most far-reaching
and certainly the most romantic drama OF
history-the colonization OF America. The
landing at Jamestown had followed the
dawn Of the seventeenth century by only
seven years. and the Pilgrims having
landed in Massachusetts in 1920 and Viii
liam Penn having landed in Pennsylvania
in 1855. ii is reasonably accurate to con-
bors OF the first settlers extended over and
were comprised within the $50 years pre-
ceding John Marshalls birth, and that a
like period of $50 years extends from his
birth TO the day on which We are assem-
bled to do honor to his memory
l know not how others may feel. but ]
have never been able to read single page
CT the marvellous story of the settlement
OF America without an access Of generous
enthusiasm. and of seeming to be lifted
into a purer and serener air. The men
engaged in those Transforming labors were
fully conscious Of the greatness Of the work |
given them to do: and they addressed !
themselves TO it as cO-workers with God
for the advantage, not only of themselves |
and their children. hut of tie future gen.
erations which were to rise up and call |
them blessed.
A HERITAGE OF CITIZENSHIP.
1t is too often forgotten that we are in /
almost all essential things only their law |
full heirs. and such will be our ehildren's |
children to the last syllable Of recorded |
time. We sometimes talk with dull mis- |
OF our inheritance, as il the |
here of the different nationaiities /
of the earth was a mere accident of our /
own time and as il because some OF cur I
misfortunes are traceable to ii, we ere
to deny to any less fortunate /
brother such opLas;ru 20 seek home /
upon this free and bountiful continent as
our ancestors enjoyed. The truth is that I
the citizenship to which John Marshall 4
was born. with all its far-reaching oppor-
Lunities and inspirations, was due to just
such mingling of the blood of different
"a, es as we are now witnessing. y Jesuit
father is authority for the statement that
eighteen different languages were spoken
IN what is now the city of New York two
centuries ago. and probably no greater
number is spoken there today; while as
Early as 1851 il was declared By very
competent authority that the diversity
# peoples. religions. nations. and Ian
yuages in America is prodigious.'
This vast continent of America is also
.harged and will. believe. always remain
,harged with another mission. impressed
mon ii by the men who settled it-that OF
being the refuge and the home of true
equality and OF the republican form Of
government 1t was settled and civilized
md defended by men 10 whom the idea OF
privilege was abhorrent, and to whom the
ensa OF substantial equality of oppo- uni
Y was the very breath OF their lives.
To estimate properly the true grandeur
f character of any great man it Is always
ecessaey to understand his environment
md the spirit of the age in which he lived
he vibrant and electric atmosphere, into
which John Marshall was born and
n which his youth was passed. was
he inevitable consequence of the
memories which the colonists had
with them from the old
world to the new, and of the eleyating
experiences of the life of adventure, of
ourage of intellectual and religious fer
or which they had lived. Not many no
lie, not many mighty were enrolled in
heir ranks. They were people of the mid
lie class. such as We all have continued to
e. and. however reluctant some OF US
nay be to admit it. We all are likely to
emain They did not primarily seek I
-ealth, but they avoided poverty and ac-
ai::-ed property by hard and honest toll.
THE FREEDOM of WORSHIP.
And as these different Municipalities were
and were rapidly being fused
Ito one people, the professors of all the
ifferent religious creeds gathered here
ere united in their devotion TO the land
hich gave to each of them the right to
.eedom of religious worship; and when ,
ohm Marshall was born the American :
,Ionists, thiuly scattered along the Att a
mite Coast from Massachusetts Bay to !
eorgia, were as one people slowly march !
IL inland TO take possession of the con- 6
nent and to establish a great nation Z