A Chief Justice's Progress: John Marshall from Revolutionary Virginia to the Supreme Court. (Book Reviews).A Chief Justice's Progress: John Marshall from Revolutionary Virginia to the Supreme Court. By David Robarge. Contributions in American History, No. 185. (Westport, Conn., and London: Greenwood Press, c. 2000. Pp. xxvi, 364. $65.00, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0-313-30858-6.) Literally hundreds of books, essays, and articles appeared during the twentieth century focused on the life of John Marshall or on some specific aspect of his lengthy career. Consequently, reviewers of a new biography of this pivotal figure in America's political, legal, and diplomatic history cannot be faulted for wondering what new things can be said, what fresh perspectives can be shared in retelling re·tell·ing n. A new account or an adaptation of a story: a retelling of a Roman myth. the story of this man's life? David Robarge appreciates that concern and answers that "[w]hat is still lacking in the Marshall historiography historiography Writing of history, especially that based on the critical examination of sources and the synthesis of chosen particulars from those sources into a narrative that will stand the test of critical methods. is an interpretive `half-life': a biography that emphasizes the formative influences on John Marshall during the years before he became chief justice" (p. xviii). In A Chief Justice's Progress, Robarge seeks to remedy this perceived dismissal of the first forty-six years of Marshall's life as simply a prelude to greatness. With a clear mastery of the contemporary sources and the secondary literature, and with engaging prose, the author has produced a richly detailed picture of Marshall's own life and the myriad events and personalities that shaped his world. Not surprisingly, some of the weakest moments in this volume occur in its initial chapters. The sparsity of evidence regarding Marshall's early life has always plagued biographers, so much of what may be said about that important formative period must be speculative in nature. Unfortunately, Robarge is hesitant to press the limits here. While he acknowledges, for instance, that Marshall's father, a Fauquier County, Virginia Fauquier County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 55,139. Its county seat is Warrenton6. This county is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. , justice of the peace, probably regularly took his son to sessions of the county court, he does not paint in his usual exacting detail what experiences might have been like in the courtroom, nor does he ponder what legal knowledge Marshall might have absorbed in that setting. Given the young man's role as deputy judge advocate general judge advocate general (J.A.G.) n. a military officer who advises the government on courts-martial and administers the conduct of courts-martial. The officers who are judge advocates and counsel assigned to the accused come from the office of the judge advocate in the Continental army well in advance of his formal, if short-lived, legal instruction, not to mention his comparatively quick rise in Virginia's post-Revolutionary legal circles, the absence of more venturesome speculation on his exposure to the law is disappointing. Robarge is on firmer footing in subsequent chapters, especially when he weaves together the intricate strands of Marshall's story as "Southern Federalist fed·er·al·ist n. 1. An advocate of federalism. 2. Federalist A member or supporter of the Federalist Party. adj. 1. Of or relating to federalism or its advocates. 2. " (p. 129), depicting the complex life of a lawyer, legislator LEGISLATOR. One who makes laws. 2. In order to make good laws, it is necessary to understand those which are in force; the legislator ought therefore, to be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of the laws of his country, their advantages and defects; to , politician, and would-be land baron. His chapters on Marshall's role in the XYZ Affair XYZ Affair, name usually given to an incident (1797–98) in Franco-American diplomatic relations. The United States had in 1778 entered into an alliance with France, but after the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars was both unable and unwilling to lend , his service in Congress, and his appointment as secretary of state summarize in masterful fashion those well-known episodes and provide a convincing reassessment Reassessment The process of re-determining the value of property or land for tax purposes. Notes: Property is usually reassessed on an annual basis. You may request a "reassessment" if you disagree with your assessment. of Marshall as a crucial Federalist Party Federalist party, in U.S. history, the political faction that favored a strong federal government. Origins and Members In the later years of the Articles of Confederation there was much agitation for a stronger federal union, which was crowned with leader. Finally, for all the emphasis on formative themes, Robarge must bring some closure to his book. He does so in a lengthy, well-written, but overly ambitious concluding chapter on Marshall as chief justice. Although this new biography does not treat its subject with reverence, it clearly views the chief justice's life and contributions in a favorable light. The author calls attention to some of Marshall's failures, along with some of his successful machinations, but rarely does he assess them for either their indications of character flaws A character flaw is a limitation, imperfection, problem, phobia, or deficiency present in a character who may be otherwise very functional. The flaw can be a problem that directly affects the character's actions and abilities, such as a missing arm or a violent temper. or their clues to who Marshall was or who he became. Robarge also falls into the familiar trap of attempting to gauge Marshall's personal attitudes--about slavery, for instance--by reading into his arguments in court cases. Eighteenth-century lawyers said and did what was necessary to win their clients' cases; one can hardly take such words and actions as indicative of any personal point of view. David Robarge has produced a valuable treatment of the early years of a great historical figure. Ultimately, his readers may question how deeply he has actually measured the formative influences in his subject's life, but they will surely agree that he has presented here a compelling picture of a man who proclaimed his simplicity but proved to be a highly complicated and fascinating individual. E. LEE SHEPARD Virginia Historical Society |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion