The Life of John Marshall (Volume 2 of 4)

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Beveridge Albert Jeremiah. The Life of John Marshall (Volume 2 of 4)

LIST OF ABBREVIATED TITLES MOST FREQUENTLY CITED

THE LIFE OF JOHN MARSHALL

CHAPTER I. INFLUENCE OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ON AMERICA

CHAPTER II. A VIRGINIA NATIONALIST

CHAPTER III. LEADING THE VIRGINIA FEDERALISTS

CHAPTER IV. WASHINGTON'S DEFENDER

CHAPTER V. THE MAN AND THE LAWYER

CHAPTER VI. ENVOY TO FRANCE

CHAPTER VII. FACING TALLEYRAND

CHAPTER VIII. THE AMERICAN MEMORIAL

CHAPTER IX. THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN

CHAPTER X. CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS

CHAPTER XI. INDEPENDENCE IN CONGRESS

CHAPTER XII. CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES

APPENDIX

I. LIST OF CASES

II. GENERAL MARSHALL'S ANSWER TO AN ADDRESS OF THE CITIZENS OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

III. FREEHOLDER'S QUESTIONS TO GENERAL MARSHALL

WORKS CITED IN THIS VOLUME

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The decision of the French King, Louis XVI, on the advice of his Ministers, to weaken Great Britain by aiding the Americans in their War for Independence, while it accomplished its purpose, was fatal to himself and to the Monarchy of France. As a result, Great Britain lost America, but Louis lost his head. Had not the Bourbon Government sent troops, fleets, munitions, and money to the support of the failing and desperate American fortunes, it is probable that Washington would not have prevailed; and the fires of the French holocaust which flamed throughout the world surely would not have been lit so soon.

The success of the American patriots in their armed resistance to the rule of George III, although brought about by the aid of the French Crown, was, nevertheless, the shining and dramatic example which Frenchmen imitated in beginning that vast and elemental upheaval called the French Revolution.1 Thus the unnatural alliance in 1778 between French Autocracy and American Liberty was one of the great and decisive events of human history.

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Among these latter was John Marshall, although he also held the view of the commercial classes from which most of his best clients came; and his personal loyalty to Washington strengthened his opinions. Hot as Virginia was against the Administration, Marshall was equally hot in its favor. Although he was the most prudent of men, and in Virginia silence was the part of discretion for those who approved Washington's course, Marshall would not be still. He made speeches in support of Washington's stand, wrote pamphlets, and appealed in every possible way to the solid reason and genuine Americanism of his neighbors. He had, of course, read Hamilton's great defense of Neutrality; and he asserted that sound National policy required Neutrality and that it was the duty of the President to proclaim and enforce it. Over and over again, by tongue and pen, he demonstrated the constitutional right of the Executive to institute and maintain the Nation's attitude of aloofness from foreign belligerents.271

Marshall rallied the friends of the Administration, not only in Richmond, but elsewhere in Virginia. "The [Administration] party in Richmond was soon set in motion," Monroe reported to Jefferson; "from what I have understood here [I] have reason to believe they mean to produce the most extensive effect they are capable of. Mr Marshall has written G. Jones272 on the subject and the first appearances threatened the most furious attack on the French Minister [Genêt]."273

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