Evening star., 1901-02-04

sutiection Of the head of the executive de-
partment to the law. Having settled the
undoubted right of Congress to determine
in it's unfettered discretion, what means
were necessary to give effect to the pow
erS the Constitution conferred upon 1t, he
next addressed himself to securing for the
means thus employed absolute freedom
from interference by the authority of any
state.
His next great step forward was to with
draw the obligations Of contracts from the
power Of the state legislatures to impair
their validity, and to place them also be-
meath the protecting aegis of the Constitu-
ton. 1t is now recognized that one of his
greatest services to his country was in
withstanding a wave of great popular ex-
element, shared and fostered by President
Jefferson himself. and declaring the true
doctrine of the Constitution to be that no
man can be convicted of treason against
the United States unless he Is proven by
the testimony of two witnesses. to the same
overt act, of levying war against the ma
tion, or of adhering to Its enemies.
In the years to come il will probably be
recognized that among his decisions none
will surpass in permanent material ad-
vantage that decision which determined
that the power to regulate commerce re-
sided exclusively in Congress and must be
kept inviolate from any intrusion by the
states, under any guise whatsoever.
1T is not too much to say" declared Cen
eral MacVeagh, speaking of the work of
country drifting rudderless without chart
o., compass, and he left it with its course
as definite and certain as that of the fixed
stars in their courses, and invested with
all the sovereign powers necessary to
great nation.
Long and SpOtless Record.
The ssssa and spotless record Of labor of
honor ef John Marshall was completed in
Philadelphia July g, 1885, when he entered
into rest.
In concluding General MacVeVagh said:
THE passing years bring with them great
conversations and among them is a seren-
ity of Judgment which enables us TO recog-
nize as literal practical truth that, however
we may strive to persuade ourselves to
the contrary, no nation ever has gathered
or ever will gather grapes of thorns or figs
from thistles; and, as the sense of separa-
ton of the world in which we are from
the world whittier we are going lessons day
by day we come at last to believe with
faith which never can be shaken that the
true mission of nations of men Is to
promote righteousness on earth; that con-
ferring liberty is wiser than making gain;
that new friends are better for rs than
new markets; that love is more elevating
than hatred; that peace Is nobler than
war; that the humblest human life is
sacred; that the humblest human right
should be respected; and it is only by recog
niZing these truths, which can never fail
to be true, that our own beloved coultry
can worthily discharge the sacred mission
confded to her and maintain her true dig
nifty and grandeur. setting her feet upon
the shining pathway which leads to the
sunlit SUBMITS of the olive mountains and
taking abundant care that every human
creature beneath her starry flag, of every
color and condition, is secure of liberty,
Of justice and of peace in the republic
of God.
'In chershing these aspirations and in
striving to realize them, we are wholly in
the spirit of the great chief Justice: and
in no other way so efectually
honor his memory as by laboring in sea-
son and out of season to make this whole
continent of America 'one vast ana spien-
did monument not of oppression and ter
ror. but OF wisdom, Of peace and of liberty,
on which men may gaze with alEliration
forever"
Mr.. MacVeagh's peroration provoked an
outburst of applause, which was led by the
President, his cabinet and the members of
the Supreme Court. The exercises closed
with Denedlction by Rev. Couden the chap
lain OF the House. In one of the galleries
was +. Lewis Marshall of Orange Court
House, Va the oldest descendant of Chief
Justice Marshall.
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Exercises Commemorative of the
Career of Chief Justice Marshall
The one hundredth anniversary of the
day John Marshall of Virginia took the
oath of office as chief justice of the Su
preme Court Of the United States was fit
| tingly observed this afternoon in the pub
lie schools Of the District of Columbia
Appropriate exercises commemorative of
the services of the chief justice were held
at the Central High School, the Eastern
High School, the Western High School
the Business High School, the Colored
High School and in the two highest
branches of the graded schools. In most
of the buildings the execution of the pro-
grams occupied the time from l o'clock
until o'clock.