The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-14
MARSHALL IN DEFEAT
The Vote That Beat Him When
He Ran For Congress.
AMERICAS GREATEST JuRlsT

Great Lawyer With a Short Political
Career - Washinston's snub and
Subsequent Frank Apology.
Judge Marshall was not only a great
lawyer, but he was fighter and mill
tant to the last degree Some insight
into his character may be gained from
his letters, one Of which, dated March
q, 1904, is in the possession of his
granddaughters. 1t was addressed to
Archibald Stuart, a lawyer Of Staun-
ton, Va, and friend of Marshall. The
second war with England, which did
not actively begin until 1912, was al
ready brewing, and 1t was no small
tribute to Marshall's precedence that
he was able to detect trouble so far in
advance.
Seriously" he wrote, "there ap-
pears to me every day to be more
folly, envy, malice and damned ras-
callty In the world than there was the
day before, and l do verify begin to
think that plain, downright honesty
and unintriguing integrity Will be
kicked out of doors. We fear and not
without reason a war. The man does
not live who wishes for peace more
than do, but the outrages committed
upon us are beyond human bearing"
The chief justice, like General Wash
ington, was an aristocrat by birth and
breeding, and he kept a retinue of
colored servants, who were housed in
a long, rectangular brick building,
which is still standing at the rear of
the Marshall home. Jim Actor was a
character, but his position with the
Marshall family was eclipsed by that
of Robin Spudlock, the chief Justices
body servant, who wore livery and
long, fine stockings Of brilliant color
and Travelled around with his master.
His appearance was so unique that
once in Philadelphia when he was
walking alone with an air of considera-
BILE Importance a mob gathered and
threatened him with violence, as a
black and Inverted valet was quite I'M
usual in those parts. No more faithful
body servant ever lived, however, and
the chief justice included In his viii a
bequest for his trusty valet, who was
to have a room In the servants build
ing on Marshall street all his life and
a woman to wait on him when he
should become old and feeble.
Once John Marshall was induced to
undertake a political career, and it
proved the most bitter experience Of
his life. In 179S, the year before Gen
eral Washington died, he summoned
Marshall to Mount Vernon. Washing
ton knew Marshall not only as a man
of wonderful ability, but also as
FederaIist in politics. Washington was
anxious to strengthen the Federalist
party in congress, and his purpose in
inviting Marshall to Mount Vernon was
to ask him to run for the house Of rep
resentatives as the Federalist candi-
date from the Richmond district Mar
shall was opposed to the idea, and
they argued the proposition until late
at night without either bending his
strong will to the other. At last Wash
ington, with considerable heat, abrupt
ly babe Marshall good night. At sun
rise the next morning Marshall arose,
intending to make his way to the
Mount Vernon stables and ride off,
trusting to time to heal the breach.
Out in the gardens he met General
Washington, who had OWNED his pur-
pose. The general begged his pardon
for treating him so abruptly the night
before and smilingly asked him what
he was going to do.
"Do?" said Marshall. why, sir, I'm
going to congress"
He returned to Richmond and began
his canvass The Republicans NOW
the DemocratS) nominated John Clop-
ton on a state rights platform. In
those days the formality Of voting was
quite different from the latter day pro
cedure. A citizen would walk up to
the election sheriff in full view and
hearing Of everybody. shake hands
with him and say:
81 vote for John MARSHALL or Il vote
for John Clopton," as the case might
be. There were two persons in Rich
mOnd in whom the people had great
confidence. They were Parson Blair
and Parson Buchanan. Neither had
been In the habit of voting or taking
any part In politics, but ParsOn Blair.
who was a stanch friend of Marshall,
persuaded Parson Buchanan to go to
the polls with him, assuming. as a
matter OF course, that his fellow par
son agreed with him as to choice Of
candidates. Parson Blair cast his vote
for Marshall. Then Parson Buchanan
stepped up, saluted the sheriff and
said:
II vote for John ClOpton."
There was a numerous family here
then whose surname was Enroughty.
Just as Parson Buchanan pronounced
ClOptOn his choice a large delegation
Of the Enroughtys put in their appear
ance
What is good for the parsOn Is good
for u.s." they declared. and all Of them
voted for ClOpton. This elected Chop
ton and defeated Marshall. The two