Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/81

shared with him by a friend, was one of was a tin wash-basin; reciting Falstaff's joint assault and battery. At twenty-five, onset on the thieves. Col. Gamble gravely Wirt is described as, " An admired object in bowed and withdrew." About the time of his marriage he thought the court house during the day, a leading spirit in the evening coterie; eloquent on the of going to Kentucky to live but went in field of justice, sustaining his client's cause stead to Norfolk, Va., because, as he wrote with a shrewd and sometimes brilliant skill; a friend : "I heard very lately, that there is not less eloquent at the table or in the mess- no cash in Kentucky; the fees are paid in room, where his faculties were allowed horses, cows and sheep, and the eminence another range, and where he gave rein of the lawyers is estimated by the size of their to the wit and mirth which shook the roof- drove, on their return from their circuits." tree." On the 28th of May, 1795, he mar In 1806, he defended Swinney, charged ried Mildred, daughter of Dr. George Gil with poisoning the venerable and much be mer and went to live at Pen Park, the beautiful loved Chancellor Wythe. In 1807, Mr. home of the Gilmers. His wife lived only five Wirt assisted in the prosecution of Aaron years after their marriage and at her death he Burr and won by his speech, much fame moved to Richmond to live. Her great-great- throughout the country. nephew, Judge R. W. Duke, Jr., a clever law In 1808, Mr. Jefferson proposed to him to yer of the present Charlottesville bar wrote go into Congress but he declined. In 181 7 me : " William Wirt's memory here is a mere President Monroe appointed him attorneymemory, nothing more. His old law office general of the United States. One of the still stands, moved, however, from its origi most famous of his cases before the Supreme nal site and is now a negro cabin. His first Court is known as the Steamboat case from wife is buried at Pen Park, a couple of miles New York, Gibbons v. Ogden. Mr. Webster from here." Wirt was elected a member of was associated with him. About this time the House of Delegates. Atrial in which he he wrote a friend that Calhoun had advised was engaged soon after his removal to Rich him " to study less and trust more to genius." mond is historical. It was the trial in 1800 of In 1827 he made one of the greatest speeches John Thompson Callender, under the Alien of his life in what is known as the Baltimore and Sedition laws, for abusing President Ad Church case. Mr. Wirt was for the pastor ams. Wirt was associated with George Hay and the majority of the congregation, and and Philip Norborne Nicholas for the defense. was opposed to Mr. (afterward Chief-Justice) In 1802 he married Elizabeth Gamble of Taney who represented the minority of the Richmond. Kennedy tells the following anec congregation of a Presbyterian church who dote of a visit of Col. Gamble to Wirt's office were endeavoring to gain possession of the one morning, while Mr. Wirt was awaiting his church property. In 1829, upon the elec consent to his marrying his daughter: " Col. tion of President Jackson, he removed to Gamble had occasion, one summer morning to Baltimore where he devoted himself to his visit his future son-in-law's office. It unluckily profession. In 1830 he was employed happened that Wirt had the night before, in two cases which are noted, in one as brought some friends there, and they had counsel for Judge Peck in his impeachment trial before the House of Representatives, had a merry time of it, and even now, at sun rise they had not separated. The Colonel in the other as counsel for the Cherokee opened the door upon a strange scene. There Indians in their celebrated case against the stood Wirt with the poker in his right hand, State of Georgia. Miss Harriet Martineau, the sheet iron blower on his left arm, which the English writer, gives a most delightful was thrust through the handle, on his head description of the scene in the supreme