Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-01-13

JUDGE MARTIN.-The following bio
graphical sketch of this eminent man is
given in a New Orleans paper. His will
disposng Of an estate Of half million, is
in six lines. He had adjudicated thou
sands of wills, but was determined there
should be no litigation about his:
FRANCOIS Xavier Martin was born at
Marseiles, France. When he had attain
ed manhood, he left his native land To seek
fame and fortune in the new Republic,
which was then just sprlnglng into exist
ence on this side of the Atlantic. He
landed on our shores young, moneyless,
and friendless, and what was harder
fa:e than that of most of the poor emf
grants, he had no trade or profession to
which be had been trained, and rpon
which he could always re y for support
Ii is true that some taste for books, and
aptitude for study, had enabled him 20 ac-
qure scant knowledge of Latin, and the
ordinary elements of learning, but these
could be of little use to him in rough
country, whose language he but imperfect
w spoke and understood. Under these
| dfscouraging circumstances, young Martin
wends his way to Newbern, then the ca
pital of North Carolina, wheLe he present
ed himself to the publisher Of a newspa-
per as a printer He was engaged, and
when he commenced his work he handled
his composing stick 50 unprofessionally
that the publisher discovered that he knew
nothing of the business. Young Martin
frankly confessed that i was true; that he
was ignorant Of type setting, but had a
great desire 10 learn, and offered to ap
prentice himself to the business. He
was accordingly employed for some year:
in the business--soon became experien
eed as a printer-set up for himseli-pub
lished books--and by an easy and very
common transition, from publishing took
to writing books. At the same time thai
he pursued the business Of a printer, hC
also practiced law. On one occasion, ha'
wing an important case to argue, he lief
word with the sheriff, when his case was
called, to send over to the printing office
where he had heavy job on hand, and
could not afford TO lose the time by waiting
in court. Accordingly, just as Mr. Mar
tin was in the midst of his job, picking up
types as fast as he could, there came q
message from the court that his case was
called. The printer-lawyer rushed over
n lust as he was, and commenced addressing
the court before he discovered what called
forth severe rebuke from the Judge, tina
he ha! on his paper apron, and has hand
were as black as the type he had beer
handling, A history Of North Ca DINA
written bv himself, brought him into no
tice as writer of ability and great indus
! try. Certain political articles, referring
, to some disputes between our government
and that of France, first fixed upon hin
: the eagIe-glance of Mr.. Jefferson, VIII
had a great pcnchdnt for Frenchmen, an
evinced, on many occasions, most libe
D raj and generous spirit towards the native
] Of that country who embarked their toI
= tunes in The United States. By Mr..
: he was appointed Judge of the MISSISSIPPI
S Territory, previous to the organization
n the Territorial Government OF Louisian;
!. which the President vas then engaged |
e endeavoring to effect. When Louisian
p was ceded to the United States, and tn
r Territorial Government fully organize
= Judge Martin was appointed one OF u
e Circuit Judges.
r On the formation of the Stale Cover
e ment in 1912, Judge Martin became, 3
d appointment of Gov. Claiborne, the ilr
p Attorney General of Louisiana. In iSi