The Washington herald., 1914-03-21
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How a Great Maryland Lawyer Went
Into Court.
(written expressly for The HeraId)
BY DIR. n. j. EDWARDS.

(written expressly for The HeraId)
BY DIR. u. J. EDWARDS.
Had Andrew johnson died at any time
within a year of his succession 10 the
Presidency. In 1855 Lafayette S. Foster.
Senator from Connecticut. would have
taken the oath as President. since a;
that time the law provided In case OF
vacancy In the Presidential ofiice created
by the death or resignation Of one who
had been elected as Vice President and
who had succeeded the President. that
It be filled by the president Of the Sen
ate.
Judge Foster was for three terms
United States Senator. and In his las,
term he had opportunity to become ac-
quainted with Reverdy johnson. who was
| serving as United States Senator from
Maryland. For Senator johnson Judge
| Foster had great admiration.
He esteemed johnson as one of the
ablest lawyers. perhaps the ablest. who
had been a colleague of his own In the
| Senate. He admired, also, the unosten-
tatious personality of Mr.. johnson. who
was conspicuous for a certain demo-
ratio attitude in all personal affairs, al
though that never involvel any loss cf
dignity.
After Judge Fosters term in the Gen.
| a;s expired he was accustomed to speak
| reminiscently to his Connecticut frien Is,
especially Of an evening during the ses-
sion OF court OF which Judge Foster had
been elected as Judge shortly after his
retirement from the Senate.
II used sometimes to think" Judge
Foster would say, that the Senate was
not Q place In which Reverdy johnson
Il m N.e
| ties In my many conversations with
him he seemed 90 me to chafe a little in
the Senate Chamber. He wanted to be
free to practice his profession, and he
apparently had little or no understa nding
| OF the peculiarities OF political manipula-
| ton or management.
| He once told me that he began his Law
study in the Office of William Pinkney
who had been Attorney General OF the
United States and United States Senator
| from Maryland. as well as Minister to
Russia.
1T may be that Mr.. johnson laid the
foundation for his extraordinary learn.
ing as lawyer While studying in the
| office OF William Pinkney. who was one
OF the greatest men Maryland ever fur.
nished to the United States in those early
| days when the nation was establishing
upon a firm foundation. Mr.. Johnson had
wonderful gift of perfectly lucid ex-
position Of even the most abstract prin-
ciples of the law. That was also the gift
Of William Pinkney.
But there was this difference between
the two men-Pinkney INDUCED in ford
oratory. classical in its form and Ian
guage and adorned with quotations from
| II great authors Of the past Reverdy
| johnson spoke directly and to the point
| and have often thought that IL was
| in great measure due to Reverdy John.
son that lawyers were inspired to change
from the old. formal. elegant and fiorid
| style to the concise. clear and unadorned
style OF later years.
There was one thing Reverdy John.
\ son could not do. He would not have
/ known how TO pose. That was not the
case OF William Pinkney. I was onct
| toll by a man who knew Pinkney thai
when he had a great argument TO deliver
] before the Supreme Court he would work
| all night preparing his argument. com.
| nit il to memory and then call for hi:
horse in the early morning ride. far out
| into the country. timing his arrival al
| the Capitol at just az put the hour wher
| tn Supreme Court met Then he would
| appear in court in his riding garments
his boots sometimes spattered with mud
his face flushed with the exertion Of
| rapid riding. and then. tossing his gloove,
upon the table. would beg the indulgence
of the court for appearing before tn,
bench dressed in that manner Then h,
would go on with his argument. II wa:
all a pose. all planned like a dramatic
situation upon the stage. But il was very
| effective at that time.
| ''Reverdy johnson could not have don,
that
| Ihose who heard Judge Foster speak
/ n this nf Wf1liarY, pinEnay N
Clined to think that his authority for the
anecdote was probably Reverdy johnson
| himself.
! fCorNrirht lqll