strong.] ^^ [Jan. 5, 



was quite possible to make a mistake, and mistake might 

 have brought early shipwreck to our institutions. 

 Happily, Chief Justice Marshall proved himself equal 

 to the demands of the time. Aided by associates, 

 themselves able, but who deferred much to his judg- 

 ment, he laid down principles for constitutional con- 

 struction which have made our government what it is ; 

 which have been accepted since his death without 

 question, and which have given stability and efficiency 

 to the Federal Union. With sufficient knowlege to meet 

 the necessities of his position, with powers of reason- 

 ing of the highest order, with a comprehensiveness of 

 view rarely equalled, and with a patriotism that never 

 faltered, he met the questions presented, and did his 

 great work. To use the words of Mr. Binney, " He 

 looked through the Constitution with the glance of in- 

 tuition. He had been with it at its creation, and had 

 been in communion with it from that hour, * *. Both 

 his judgment and affections bound him to it, as a gov- 

 ernment supreme in its delegated powers, and supreme 

 in the authority to expound and enforce them, proceed- 

 ing from the people, designed for their welfare, pos- 

 sessing their confidence, representing their sovereignty, 

 and no more to be restrained in the spirit of jealousy 

 within less than the fair dimensions of its authority, 

 than to be extended beyond them in the spirit of usur- 

 pation. These were his constitutional principles, and 

 he interpreted the Constitution by their light.'' The life 

 and services of such a man were a theme worthy of Mr. 



