IIT Chicago Kent College of Law - Transcript Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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THE. f Q N6 C i E in a dilapidated gig. Driving abstractedly, he- at one time departed from the road and a sapling became wedged between a wheel and the shaft. A nearby slave came to his assistance in freeing the gig. Being told later that it was Chief justice Marshall, the biggest lawyer in the United States, the negro grinned and said: Marse, he may be theibiggest lawyer in the United States but he ain't got sense enough to back a gig off a saplin'. None of the simple qualities were lost in the transition from private citizen to Chief justice of the Supreme Court. One of the newly arrived residents of Vlfashington called to Marshall as he proceeded along the street and tossing him a coin, commanded him to carry homeward a turkey which he was too pompous to bear himself. To the secret delight of the bystanders Marshall accepted the menial appointment and walked off with the bird under his arm. On another occasion he was mistaken for the butcher and ordered tothe rear of the house. One day a boy, sent to him with some legal papers, displayed his awe of the great man, whereupon Marshall, to relieve the embarrassment of the lad, said: Billy, I believe I can beat you playing marblesg come into the yard and we will have a game. When the lawyers arrived, Marshall 'was on his knees, as excited in the fortunes of the game as the youngster. He was extremely fond of children and was often seen carrying them with him on his 'horse as he traveled along the country roads. Humble and common in his daily private affairs, he possessed a certain dignity and respect which all who 'came in contact with him readily per- ceived. On the bench he was the very essence, of majesty and sat enthroned as a king. N-o foolery theng all was attention to the matter in hand. His influence on the Associate Justices was unparalleled, though some of them were his superiors in erudition and learning. In the many important cases which came before them for decision, his clear and logical reasoning formed the basis for the principlessenunciated and the associatesifurnished the legal precedents. Nor was he a jurist alone, his decisions were declarations of statesmanship in addition to precepts of law. ' For thirty-four years, perhaps the most eventful in the history of Amer- ican jurisprudence, he presided as Chief justice, but in the closing years came discouragement and disappointment to the Supreme Conservative. As the Federalists ,left the bench, those who had been most staunch in the support of oflhis governmental policies, their places were illed by the ap- pointment of those hostile to Marshall's cherished principles. He suffered the loss of his beloved wife, an incurable malady beset him, sapping his physical strength, his political opponents were fast becoming absolute in power. Throughout all he maintained the same equanimity of temper, and at his death even his bitterest enemies could not gainsay the tribute paid him by joseph Story, his long associate on the bench and his close personal friend,'whe,n he wrote: Great, good, and excellent man! I shall never see his like again! I-Iis gentleness, his affectionateness, his glorious vir- tues, his unblemished life, his exalted talents, leave him without a rival or a peerf' , Page 142 M

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THE 2 IPANSCHIPT - . 1 'X .Y ly 'x - 'N ffh mw ' 0 MW W Tiff:-' 'Q-JN XJ 01 I 5 7 . ,Ziff lm! , M' , 1 4 N31 y W r W f R G X X VN X I if 'I N '-4 ' j , Q6 rx, X 3 -X g N 64, -nf' 'TTQN xx ,wb 'fffffffbre:w.'.'.....g.:.fc 'ffffg?'f'3 ' '2:233?22:?E:,wa... .'-'I , '.0- ' +41 Q 0,0.. -' 4,4402 Q Mn new Ng r ' i The Baltle of Absque Hoc Q By OSWALD GHERKIN. CWith apologies to Lord Tennysoiml n I. Half a year, half a year, Half a year onward. In the shadows of absque hoc Floundered Higgins' hundred! Forward the pleading hounds, Their zest knowing no bounds.- Into the valley of absque hoc Burst Higgins' hundred. g 11. Forward the pleading hounds, Making the annual rounds, E'en though the student knew Someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do or die. Into the valley of absque hoc Burst Higgins' hundred. Us B5 Page 144 r