John Marshall

NILES' REGISTER—JULY 11, 18[35] [p. 322]

It may truly be said, that "a great man has fallen in Israel."—JOHN MARSHALL, chief justice of the U. States, died at Philadelphia, on Monday last, the 6th July, in the 80th year of his age.

Though it could not have been expected that he should much longer remain with us, and notwithstanding the public was prepared for his decease from previous annunciations of the state of his health—still the shock was not the less severely felt; for, next to WASHINGTON, only, did he possess the reverence and homage of the heart of the American people—not forced by any sudden burst of party zeal, but gently and kindly, yet ardently, flowing from a deep conviction of his long public service, and private practice of whatever embellishes and adorns human nature. No man that lived more nearly "filled up the measure of his country's glory" than he.

Some other will attempt a sketch of his character—the task will be performed, but we are incapable of it; and shall content ourselves with the humble duty of presenting, from other papers, a few brief minutes of the events of his life, with a notice of some of the honors that were paid to his memory.

Mr. Marshall was born in Virginia, on the 24th of September, 1755; and, as early as the summer of 1775, received a commission as lieutenant of a company of minute men, and was shortly after engaged in the battle of the Great Bridge, where the British troops, under lord Dunmore, were repulsed with great gallantry. He was subsequently engaged in the memorable battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth; and, in 1780 obtained a license to practice law. He returned to the army shortly after, and continued in the service until the termination of Arnold's invasion.

In the spring of 1782 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and in the autumn of the same year, a member of the executive council, and married in 1783. In 1788 he was elected as representative of the city of Richmond in the legislature of Virginia, and continued to occupy that station, for the years 1789, 1790, 1791, and upon the recall of Mr. Monroe, as minister, from France, president Washington solicited Mr. Marshall to accept the appointment as his successor, but he respectfully declined. In 1799 he was elected and took his seat in congress—and in 1800 he was appointed secretary of war.

On the 31st day of January, 1801, he became chief justice of the supreme court of the United States, which distinguished station he continued to fill with unsullied dignity and pre-eminent ability, until the close of his mortal career. His biographer eloquently observes—"What indeed strikes us as the most remarkable in his whole character, even more than his splendid talents, is the entire consistency of his public life and principles. There is nothing in either which calls for apology or concealment. Ambition never seduced him from his principles—popular clamor never deterred him from the strict performance of his duty. Amid the extravagancies of party spirit, he stood with a calm and steady inflexibility,—neither bending to the pressure of adversity, nor bounding with the elasticity of success. He lived such as man should live, by and with his principles. If we were tempted to say in one word in what he excelled all other men, we should say, in wisdom; in the union of that virtue, which ripened under the hardy discipline of principles, with that of knowledge, which constantly sifted and refined its old treasures, and as constantly gathered new. The constitution, since its adoption, owes more to him than to any other single mind, for its true interpretation and vindication. Whether it lives or perishes, his exposition of its principles will be an enduring monument of his fame, so long as solid reasoning, profound analysis, and sober views of government shall invite the leisure, or command the attention of statesmen and jurists."

He died calmly and tranquilly, surrounded by three of his children and many valuable friends. The blow was not unexpected, and he was fully prepared. But a few days since he penned an inscription for his tomb stone. [Phil. Inquirer.

Pursuant to public notice, the citizens of Philadelphia, assembled in town meeting on Tuesday afternoon, July 7, 1835, to express their sentiments in regard to the recent death of their [...]