New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-06
A Sketch Of the Life and P"nhe services
OF THE LATE
HON. LOUIS BORDELON.

Hg 8t OF THE LATE 1850 "A
HON. LOUIS BORDELON.
When. in the inscrutable dispensatons Of Divine
Providence good man and faithful puhlic Servant
nasses away, those who survive him can do no more
than to record his Deeds and by knowledge OF MS
virtues endeavor to initiate them. The good that men
d. should i've after them although in the course OF
events it is too frequently the case that their evil
deeds are remembered while their merits inter
red with their bodes.''
If the late Judge Louis Bordeon was not great
man he was truly and emphatically good man.
" His life was gentle and the elements so mixed IN
him that Nature might stand up and say to all the
world, this ,oas a man." He was born OF poor ana
honorable parentage in the parish of ST. Landry, La
on the 18th day of February, A. D. 1909 His mater
terna tongue was the French. AT the age OF Twelve,
A. D. 1922, he became a student in St. Mary College
in the State of Maryland where he remained until ne
had completed his seventeenth year.
During this period of five years he made very ereo
liable progress in all the branches OF study assigned
him by the institution, and acquired thorough and
accurate knowledge Of the English language Ere he
had taken the degree of A. b. he returned to his nate
State and applied himself study OF the law hnoer
1 Judge Bronson, of the parish of ST. Martin. FROM
some cause unknown, he never appeared al tne oar,
where his quickness Of perception and soundhess o
Judgment might have been made the more consp'cu-
ous. His accurate and facile knowledge of the Eng
lish and French languages emnenty quallhed MN 1or
the nractice hut he seems never to have been ambl-
tous to acquire eminence as lawyer. Shortly after
arriving at the age of majority, he located in the
parish of Avoyeles. He had not resided there long
when Governor Roman, by virtue Of the power grant
ed him by the 9th Section of the Sd Article OF the
: Constitution of 1872 rendered him the appointment
Of Parish Judge of Avoyelles. This occurred IN NO
yember A. D. 1881. As by the constitution, the DILL
ces of the various judges of the State were tenahle
during "good behavior he discharged the duties OF
his office well and faithfully for period OF eight
A years, and resigned it in 1889.
In October of that year he returned to the parish
Of St. Landry, for the purpose OF embafklhs Ill hiet
camille business His usefulness had then developed
itself and his fellow.citizens among whom his popu-
larty had already been firmly established, were NOV
disposed to deny themselves the benefits OF his puDllc
services.
Accordingly, in 1912, he was placed before the peo-
nile Of his native parish by the Wing party as can
ddate for the popular branch Of the Legislature He
was duly elected aud after serving the constitutional
term was reelected by the same party in the fall Of
1915.
at the expiration of his of service no member OF
that bodv stood higher in the confidence Of tie peo
pie or enjoyed wider spread personal popularity
than Judge Louis Bordelon. In 1914 he was noml
mated by his party as a suitable candidate for Con
gress, in opposition to the Hon. Isaac b. Morse, but
the odds were too great against him, and he was de
: feated by small majority. His popularity was
. however made apparent for the result showed re
: duction of the Democratic majority of several hun
bred votes.
His defeat served rather to increase than to dmln
ish his popularity with his party and to introduce
him to the favorable appreciation OF the people OF the
State at large.
> In 1877, the term Of his service in the Legislature
- having expired he nominated as candidate ant
elected to the office of Auditor Of Public Accounts
under the Constitution of 1916. The office having
been but recently created he had but little to guld
i him save the simple provisions of the law defining
his duties. But his well.balanced mind enabled hin
to prosecute them correctly and at the expiration
!, his term of office he was reelected.
In 1851 he was elected for the third and last tim
:. Auditor of Public Accounts In 1852 he was brougn
forward for the last time before the people of tn
y State as the Wing candidate for Governor. Severa
causes combined to bring about his defeat and the de
q feat of the entire Wing ticket of that year.
e. This gallant and devoted party was on the wan
We everywhere, and its speedy humiliation had bee
predicted by its leaders and seers, whose utul
promotions depended upon its perpetuity Thus I'll
ii, confidence necessary to the success of any party VIZ
IN impaired yea, destroyed and its tlmid adheren
y scarcely yentured to maintain its identity in their SUI
port of its candidates Tt is not necessary to adye
de to all the circumstances attending his defeat, they
nd known to the country and require no comment.
- ,T,.l... 4 BOOB, afJin 4nI
I'd the gout, and at this period it had made such pr
gress upon his system, that 1T was with great dit
Guilty he could get about at all. He was thus re
X dered incapable of taking active outdoor exercis
nd and the arduous duties of an eectoneerng campa
1e were almost entirely unperformed by him. Amid {
OF the indescribabe tortures of his disease, which
nd times were almost sufficient to destroy life itself,
lat maintained his native and characteristic urbanity
r- manners and cheerfuness of spirits. His facult
in were unmpared and his genteness still shone wi
,ta an attraction that commanded the admiration of
who knew him.
!. After the expiration of the term of his office,
returned with his family to the little village of Hyd
polls, in the parish Of Avoyelles where, retired FRI
the bustling concerns Of public affairs, he spent
' few remaining days of his useful life. Even in
quiet retirement he found no respite from pain,
roe his disease still haunted him. and poisoned every
ad- ioyment he sought. Day succeeding day it beca
its more violent and as if the present Affections vi
insufficient to appease the appetite of death, he
i've seized in June, 1885, with apopexy. The severity
oil this attack impaired his memory, and from it
ce, never fully recovered
~ One other attack he had during the year, and
in became apparent to his friends that his tenure of
the was more uncertain than that of ordinary morals
oy must be confessed that these were sufficient
one have destroyed the equanimity of other and
Hos have supernduced asperity in their name
md but the Judges amabity proved impervious to til
the ALL and he died he has lived, pattern of aabi
NY and kindness.
i'm On the morning of the 10th June ult, he orde
tin his buggy and drove to Marksvle, distance of
ing miles. Soon after his arrival he complained Of sh
ano ing pains in the temples, but fattered himself
49,, the idea that they would pass off in short ii
49, He mingled with his acquaintance on the sire
,,so, and seemed as gay and happy as he had ever
v Soon after taking his dinner he complained of nan
t; vomiting ensued, but it had ceased apoplexy
"a, seized upon him. He never spoke again-consci
80 ness had fled before medical aid could relieve hi
NOV and in the lapse of two short hours death had
!, =, formed its unwecome mission.
esol linus i''eu anu ''iu' a'eo 'ae o'eu anu h'''
.ha Louis Bordelon, having arrived at the age OF
wears q months and DAYS,