240 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 16,

an example that should be highly prized by every Maryland-
er? Born in the cap'tal of his State, trained at one of her
oldest collegiate institutions, and acquiring the rudiments
of law at the hands of her own lawyers, he entered upon
his profession with an intelligi ntzeal, and unflagging energy
possessed by few. He toiled on under all the difficulties that
beset the path of the young, until by bold strides he planted
his feet on higher and still higher ground, reaching the
plane that is only trod by the master mind, and then boldly
ascending still higher, until he attained the highest place
among his peers. But all this was the work of labor, and
of many years, a progressive work, ever onward, and upward,
with no retrograte movement, no step backward, ever climb-
ing fresh heights, and gaining new victories From law,
as studied by such a votary, to legislation, the step was a
slight one and easily taken. The Constitution of his Country
naturally became an object of careful study to such a mind,
and long familiarity with its language and spirit fitted him
to become an expounder of its significance, so that in the
hall, of legislation, he speedily took position among the
great statesmen, who have died peculiar lustre upon our
national history. In the National Senate he moved among
his peers and was recognized as one that had the right to be
considered an authority among Statesmen. He recognized
the Nation, not as a bundle of discordant States, but as an
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