Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-05
LAWYERS IN ANNUAL FETE
Omaha Bar Association Honors Name Of
John Marshall, Jurist,
CEREMONY At CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Elaborate banquet mt Downtown
Hotel IL Largely Attended-TimcIy
Papers by Judge j. VI. Wool
worth and Others.

The Omaha Bar association, with several
invited guests selected from the prom
inent members OF the tGr Of the state, held
services last night In honor Of the one
hundrt dth anniversary OF the appointment
Of Chief Justice Marshall to the supreme
court OF the United States.
The date OF the annual banquet OF the
Bar association IS February and this date
coming 80 close to the Marshall anniver-
sary II was decided to combine the two
events. 1t was further decided to permit
the laity to express Its appreciation Of the
services Of the great chief justice and for
this purpose the First Congregational
church was secured as a meeting place,
where Judge J. NJ. woolworth delivered an
address. The hour OF the meeting at the
church was early to permit the lawyers to
attend the banquet later in the evening
at downtown hotel. Shortly after 1880
o'clock T. J. Nahoney, president OF the as
ISOLATION, introduced Mr.. Woolworth. after
explaining the occasion for the meeting.
In opening his remarks Judge Woolworth
outlined the conditions OF the government
from legal standpoint at the beginning Of
the century showing how the different
classes OF people looked upon the proposed
formation OF closer union the proposed
At the time of Justice Marshall's APP
pointment there was wide discussion both
among lawyers and politicians as to the
different functions OF the state and nation.
The plan OF the present constitution was
realized at the time of the establishment
OF the seat OF government a. Washington.
with the appointment OF Marshall" 3"
said the speaker, began the unfolding OF
the deep meaning OF the constitution, which
went on under his hand for thrty-four
years, at the close OF which his country
men were able to read the provisions OF
that extraordinary instrument, to under
stand with intelligence and to take TO their
hearts with oxulting passion the fact that
these states are a nation. one and INSOFAR
able. That was his great work"
MarsbnIIs Early History.
The speaker then briefly traced the early
history OF the chief justice from the time
OF his birth in Farquler county, Virginia,
September "a, 1855, dwelling on his earlier
history as a youth not inclined to study,
but devoted to field sports until he be-
came a captain in the continental army, as
which he took part in the battles OF
Brandywine, Iron Hill, Germantown and
Monmouth lie was judge advocate OF the
army at Valley Forge and as such came
into familiar contact with Washington and
Alexander Hamilton. The general took a
great liking to the young Judge advocate
and the latter was greatly influenced by
his contact with Hamilton.
At the close OF his army experience the
future justice entered william and Mary's
college, where he completed his legal
studies, and at the age Of % was admitted
to the bar. His natural ability soon placed
him in the foremost rank OF the Virginia
lawyers and he opposed successfully such
men as Patrick Henry, the Masons. the
Graysons and other prominent men, who at
tempted to keep Virginia out OF the union
of states at the downfall of the first con-
federacy.
The speaker then referred to the state
ments that Marshall was not well read In
the legal decisions Of his time, which
statements are supported by the fact that
he cites 80 few authorities to uphold his
decisions. The speaker thought that thl,
fact showed his familiarity with them, as
he did not deem 1t necessary to cite de.
cisions so well known.
Marshall" said the speaker. was al