The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-02
The Late Hon. Henry Adams Ballard, OF
TFrom the New Orlaa N. CRESCENT Anil, 1o1

From the New Orleans Crescent, April 1911
sense Of duty, heightened By personal friend
Adams Billiard, whose death we recorded yester
day. lie was born in Groton Massachusetts-of
which town his father was the minister-on Sep
TENDER 9th, 1888. On the mothers SIDE he was
closely connected with the distinguished family
whose name he bears. He was educated at Harvard
University, and graduated in the class of 1907, at
the age Of nineteen. At the time, French was the
only modern language taught in that institution.
But while he pursued his law studies, both in Bos-
ton and Philadelphia, he acquired the Spanish,
Italian and German, all Of which he critically un-
derstood and appreciated. 1t is only few months
since, we found him and his son reading Mifiins
Iasso, with the original and heard from his sun
premeditated talk an essay on the g Jerusalem"
which would have furnished professional lecturer
with an evenings dissertation.
In Philadelphia, the acquaintance formed through
his knowledge of the Spanish, brought him in
tact with Gen. Toledo, who organizing
expedition TO reyolutionize New Mexico. Judge
Bullard, then just admitted to the bar, Joined him
as an aid and military secretary, and proceeded
with him TO nashville, where he passed the winter
Of 1872 The following spring he accompanied
Gen. Toledo and the recruits to Natchitoches,
which was the starting point. They entered the
Mexican territory, and found the people already in
aims, and the royal troops driven out of what now
constitutes Texas, except the force in San Antonio;
but these retired at the approach ofthe republicans
Here they remained several weeks, until the Spanish
General, having concentrated overwhelming
force, defeated the republicans in pitched battle,
and scattered their forces in every direction. Judge
Bullard was mounted and, with one or two COM
panions, managed to reach the American settle
ments, after suffering severe hardships. When he
entered Natchitoches he was ragged, sick-broken
down by fatigue and priyaton, and, worse than all,
pennless. Here he opened an Office, and commenced
the practice of his profession. The practice was
lu ,ratiye, and the bar numbered more talent and
learning than at any subsequent period. The
names of Wilson, Johnston, Brent, Porter, Bowen,
Bronson, Thomas, and Bullard, would have done
honor 10 any bar OF these, Gen. Isaac Til )mas
alone remains ut the bar-himseif and Mr.. Bronson
alone survive. 1t was life of grea, physical hard
ship, yet of much enjoyment.
In 1872, Judge Billiard went upon the Dis ;rict
Court Bench, and performed its duties for several
years, when he resigned; but, after year or two,
returned. In 1881, he was elected to Congress, froin
the Western district, and reelected the next
In 1884, he elevated to the Supreme Bench,
taking the place of Judge Porter who went into
the senate of the United States. In Congress,
Judge Bullard was not among the dcbaters. He
spoke occasionally great questions, and after
careful preparation Ills most elaborate speech
on the tariff bill, in 1882
lie remained on the Supreme Bench from 1884
till 1896 with the exception of few months in lcc,9,
when he filled the office of Secretary of State, and
resumed the practice of his profession. Under the
constitution of lsi5, new judiciary created,
and not one of the members OF the Supreme Court
retained He returned to the practice in this city,
and was retained in much of the important ltiga-
ton of the State. His decisions models of judi
cial lhetoric-brief, perspicuous, and pointed As
writer, Judge Buard had few equals he wrote
without effort, yet with critical accuracy that de-
fled correction. As speaker, he had the advantage
of a face of extreme beauty, which the ravages of
excruciatng disease for twenty-five years, did not
destroy,-a speaking eye, and "A musical voice. But
his command of language not copous and
though he always used the aptest words, he some
times hesitated in selecting them. When, however,
excited he spoke with feeling, force and eloquence.
In 1871, he was appointed Professor of the Civil
Law in the Law School of Louisiana, and delivered
two courses of lectures. In 1850, he elected to
fill a vacancy in the State Legislature, and few
weeks after elected to fill the vacancy in the
Second Congressional district, occasioned by the
entrance of Mr.. {. NJ Conrad into the cabinet
Judge Billiard thus returned to Congress, after an
absence of sixteen years. lie found but few of his
old friends in either house. lie did not speak
during the short session. though know it had
been his wish to do so on the California bills. His
thorough knowledge of the Spanish laws, and their
system of land titles, would have enabled him to
give Congress much valuable information, which is
now lost During the session, he argued several
cases in the Supreme Court, and was treated with
marked attention by that talented and learned
bench. His health during the winter was remark
ably good, and the cold, dry climate braccd his
constitution. But he imprudently returned home
by the Southern route, and the fatigue and expo
sure of the journey completely Frustrated him.
lie fingered for three weeks, ard died