Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
Gullion's Victorious Speech
'John Marshall and Federal Supremacy" Topic
Which Won National Finals for Washington
Boy, Brings International Title.

/ Edmund Gullion's winning speech
on John Marshall and Federal Su.
| premacy'-the same grafton which
| together~~with his extemporaneous ad.
dress, won the national finals here
last May-follows:
These are the law givers. These are
the kings of wisdom in the ages Of
man; Moses and Solomon, Solomon arc
Pericles, Justinian and Antoninus Plus
These are the justices OF some supreme
and immortal court that sits On Olym.
pus.
In the year 1755 there came one
destined to lend prestige even to that
eternal tribunal. That one was John
Marshall. the law giver Of the new era
a new nation, q new theory OF govern.
ment conceived in individual liberties
but to be confirmed In q national
patriotism.
He saw the futility of our government
whose powers were distributed among
the several colonies; he realized that
the future of the Nation, unless SUI
preme and responsible powers were re-
posed in a strong central government
was hopeless. Finally, he knew that
the need of a fixed policy, final au-
thority. and a national organization
could be supplied only by the Constitu-
ton of the United States. But Vita
to his conception of the State as a body
of people governing themselves by
means of q written constitution was
the acceptance of the supremacy OF the
Federal Government.
AS Chief Justice for years his deci-
sions were to become the milestones OF
our progress toward nationalism. But
at the time Of his installation, the posi-
ton of the judiciary was precarious
The policy of the Supreme Court was
but indicated. Jefferson had begun To
attack II and the whole theory OF
centralized government. The Constftu-
tion. ostensibly, was the moving genius
of the Government. The people saw
and wondered Would this document
destroy the individual capacities OF the
States? Take away the initiative OF
the citizen? Was 1t charter OF tnelr
liberties or some maleficent proclanaa-
ton of their restrictions? To these
the judiciary and John Marshall came
to represent the Constitution and the
central government. Our general ap-
plication of the Constitution Is actually
determined in the cases John Marsnall
decided. In. them he established the
PRINCIPLES which are vital to Federal
supremacy. He read in the Constitu-
tion a purpose which confers 1mmof-
tality. an ideal principle that the Ma
ton was no mere compact OF states
but a Federal unit, constituted py 2
sovereign people as the agency OF
democratic government and tne sale-
Guard of individual liberty. 80 con-
stit,,ted the Federal Government was
supreme and indestructible.
Marshall, speaking for and through
an institution of uncertain prestige, YET
made his opinions the foundation OF our
Constitutional law and the embeooeo
strength Of the Constitution ltSen'
These opinions form the gospels OF ma
tionalistic doctrine. Their apostle Is
.John Marshall. Study his cases. Az
this day they are plainly to be reckoned
remarkable intellectual achievements
But imagine yourself in the time ano
circumstances Of Marshall. TO denver
a final and responsible verdict on ques
lions of contemporary controversy, ano
to initiate q national policy frequently
without recourse to preconceiveo sCasut :
or established precedent, Is, In ITSELF, q
new and radical departure. But to IN
corporate this verdict in an opinion en-
bodying the elements Of law and equity
involSed. and to correlate the whole 70
some final instrument of decision, such
as the Constitution, demands OF the
iurist. the statesman's sense OF the aim
of government. Marshalrs general
policy of Interpretation was neither
strict nor liberal. His way was the
middle course-the golden mean OF
! government. He seems to have been
| raised I'D by benefcient Providence,
happy Destiny. without him the Gov
eminent would have had no balance
| no keystone; the Constitution no In
| terpreter, no expounder. He builded
| Nation Just as Washington before him.
and Lincoln after him. There seems q
! fact of greatness in the very similarity
/ Marshall and Washington botn
marched from Virginia to position
/ around the fount Of Government
| Marshalls contribution was one OF
prophetic vision. If, as Emerson said
| ian institution is but the heightened
shadow of a great man." then the
Supreme Court, and through 1t the
! Constitution, is the full bodied, suoll-
mated shadow of John Marshall. His
| Mace in our national history Is that OF
wise man approaching across the waste
! sands of doubt and ignorance, bearing
! gifts to the newborn Constitution.