Evening journal., 1901-02-04
Court Ceremony to be Fol-
lowed by Banquet
JOHN BASSETT MOORE TO SPEAK
Distinguished Orators Subjee. Will be
"JOhR Marshall" Delaware Law
gers Will Speak

-
Delaware is doing its share to-day in
paying tribute to the memory of the
nations greatest jurist, John Marshall,
of Virginia, who took his seat as chief
justice of the Supreme Court Of the
United States on February 4, 1901, one
hundred years ago. In County Court
this morning Attorney-General Her
bert II. Ward presented a minute on
the life of Marshall, which was re-
sponded to by Chief Justice Charles B.
Lore. This evening members of the
State bar will sit down to a banquet
in the Clayton House and listen to dis
tinguished orators recall in eloquent
words the valuable services rendered
to his country by John Marshall, sol
der statesman. diplomat and judge.
This occasion possesses a peculiar sig
nifcance in Delaware. for he spent
many months of his life here, not as a
jurist, however, but as an officer In the
Colonial army.
The dinner will be a most elaborate
affair. Former Senator Higgins will
be the POSTMASTER and tOasts will be
as follows;
John Marshall" John Bassett
Moore.
THE Federal Judiciary" Judge
George Gray.
THE State Judiciary" Judge James
Pennewill.
THE Bar of New Castle County"
Levi C. Bird.
The Bar Of Kent Comfy" Henry
Ridgely.
THE Bar Of Sussex County" Charles
+. Richards.
MR.. WARDS MEMORIAL.
1t was y o'clock before Chief Justice
Lore ordered the courts opened. There
was present a large number of the
members Of the bar, among them be-
ing Attorney-General II. II. Ward, who,
as one of his first official acts, present
ed and read the following minute on
the life of the distinguished jurist:
A memorial of John Marshall must
necessarily be a labor of love for any
American lawyer. Besides a singularly
interesting and attractive personality
as a man, he possesses worldwide
fame because OF his relations toward
American political institutions and
American law.
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
in Virginia. They wore the words
Liberty or Death" in large white let
ters on the breasts Of their home-spun,
home-woven and homemade shirts and
f..T N I,r Il
rattlesnake with the motto Don't
Tread On Me-" He participated with
distinction in the battles OF Great
Bridge, in Virginia, of Iron Hill,
Brandywine. Germantown, Monmouth
Powel's Hook and Stony Point, and
Wintered with Washington at Valley
Forge.
With the rank Of captain he return
ed from the army and entered on the
practice of law in his native county in
1881. He at once attained prominence
at the bar His clear thought, patient
industry, broad grasp Of general prin-
ciples, effectiveness as an advocate
and personal popularity, Immediately
drew to him a large, and, for the time
n remunerative clientage. After the
practice for two years at the Fauquiel
county and adjacent bars he removed
TO Richmond. where he almost at once
took his place among the leaders O
possibly the then ablest bar in th'
United States-a bar that was gracet
by the names of Patrick Henry, JOIN
WicNham. James Innes, Alexander
Campbell. Benjamin Bolts and Edmund
Randolph.
Very late in his administration. OF
the 3lst Of January. 1901, Presiden
Adams nominated Mr. Marshall chic
justice of the United States. On tn
4th of February one hundred years ag
to-day, he took the oath of office AM
his seat upon the Supreme Cour
bench. For about a month, during tn
balance of Mr. Adams term, he con
tinued to act as secretary of State. i
addition to his duties as chief iustic,
He was even invited by his ancient DC
litical antagonist, Thomas jefferson
after his Inauguration as president. [
continue in the office of secretary {
State until his successor was named.
It is as chief justice of the Suprem
Court that John Marshalrs fame chief
rests. In his thirty-four years of sci
vice as the controlling spirit OF th
highest judicial tribunal in the worl
there is abundant material for eulos
and for undying historical celebrity.
1t has been said of him that he wa
not, in the common acceptation Of II