"This gentleman, when aroused, has strong reasoning powers; they are almost unequalled. But before they are excited, he has frequently, nearly, destroyed any impression from them."[1092]
Such was Marshall's work during his six months' service in Congress, the impression he made, and the estimate of him by his party friends. His "convivial habits, strongly fixed," his great good nature, his personal lovableness, were noted by his associates in the National House of Representatives quite as much as they had been observed and commented on by his fellow members in the Virginia Legislature and by his friends and neighbors in Richmond.
The public qualities which his work in Congress again revealed in brilliant light were his extraordinary independence of thought and action, his utter fearlessness, and his commanding mental power. But his personal character and daily manners applied a soothing ointment to any irritation which his official attitude and conduct on public questions created in the feelings of his associates.
So came the day of adjournment of Congress; and with it the next step which Fate had arranged for John Marshall.
FOOTNOTES:
[993] Sedgwick to King, Dec. 29, 1799; King, iii, 163.
[994] Cabot to King, Jan. 20, 1800; ib., 184.
[995] Annals, 6th Cong., 1st Sess., 187.
[996] Wolcott to Ames, Dec. 29, 1799; Gibbs, ii, 314.
[997] Annals, 6th Cong. 1st Sess., 194. The speech as reported passed with little debate.