New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-05-23
JuDeE EDWARD a. DCRELL.

years, during a part OF WHICH tiMe NC n"'
served also as circuit Judge. Since bis
iucumbency to this position tue amo1nt
of business which has come before MN
and the nature Of much Of tia. business
have been such as to tax to the limos
every quality demanded Of a Jud9e-leg"i
lore, judicial talent, patience hr"nes''
impartiality. upr;ghtness and that nice
discrimination of points 9. equity "nlcn
or;ck,v comes to the kernel in pew and
involved cases. Dur:n: the earlier par
of his j1d;c:.! career these qualities were
often tested by cases arising from circam-
stances connected with the way. when
had no proper parable. and for which
| there was consequently 10 precedent. 1s''
acting in accordance with tie general prin'
| ciplas of Law and equity. he rendered dec:-
! s;ons 50 wise sndiust that IN very 'e" cases
have any of them beer reversed by 'Ae
| Supreme Court. To sly that he has,
! been a JUS: jnis. is 70 say that lie
has been the obj &C! of ceu5ure u MIS-
! representation: 70: what j-dg: cou!d nam
tain his integrity in s1cG troub.ous times
; a, he las passed through and escape H.
| Bu: there Is a tria! more severe even tAan
! the s~eyeres: ceusu:e. y tria! wLi:h every
| man @. socia! nature arI human sy'npa'
! thies might vel! pray to be s~parea~'ne
enerva,ing Influences G: seeming appre.
! citation offered BY those Of high social
standing AMI culture. skilled to conceal by
! specious lau .uagc the corrupt nature OF
the expected equivalent: tie 3is~ingen7ous
praise which suggests as certain to be thai
! which it would have. but dares not plainly
! ask. Such Liandishmer.s were as futile
% move him as were tie unde;e'ved re-
peaches Of the tougher sort. IN his
hands the scales Of justice have not cor
| ruptly turned were it bu: in the estima-
ton OF a hair" bu: eve. balanced Lave
deal: equity to all.
Sorisi it only in hisjudicia! capacity that
Judge Dure!i has won honorable distinc-
! ton in this community. Years ago. when
! the urban genius Of Samuel J. Peters was
d~ev;sing plans to raise our city to that
condition Of prosperity to which her posi-
ton aud commercial facilities en.itie her.
be was aided by the advice and Suggestions
| Of a young lawyer FROM New Hampshire
| whose zeal for Lis chose. profession. and
| fondness for the higher walks Of litera-
cure. did not dull his perceptions in prac.
| tical matters. That yoDg lawyer was
E. II. Durall: and so highly were his adj
vice and Suggestions valued by our citi-
zens at tia: day-more than a quarter Of
a century ay,-that his was the per which
drafted TIE city CHARTER under which New
Orleans fourished for many years after
wa.d. Associated with TIE sane
Samuel J. Peters ard othe. public.
spirited men CT tha: time. air. Durell
assisted in recognizing the public school
system. acd took a creditab!e part in vari-
GUS othe. municipal Improvements. His
natural t.rderc:es. however. being for a
retired and s:cdious life. Judge Ourell
never soUgL: public office nor mingled
much in political affairs: but when the
storm arose which preceded tAf rebellion.
he took tina. side which patriotism pointed
ont. His lerunciation Of tie celebrated
iniammatory speech Of Yancey. and his
subsequent consistently patriotic course
made him al ohiec: Of suspicion and i'll
will amors the adLezents Of tie secession
movement. and of tie Confederate cause
but SO commended hial to the esteem e.
Union men that upon the restoration O
tie city to the authority Of the na:iona
government, he was Immediately reco.
nized as prominent among the few vbt
weie E: and ready to aid in the re
organization Of civil government. 81
wa: accordingly intrusted with the admin
~is:ratior o: the city affairs. and SO wei
did he accuit himself that that sensitive
mete. OF public confidence. the city credit
instantly rose to testify &c lis success. Il'
city debts were promptly paid:rublic work
resumed: and tie city notes were taken il
preference 10 sreerbaek,. While occu
pied in these administrative duties b
found time TO participate in tie labor o
recognizing the fundamental law OF tn
ss;.s::e: SC as te bring it iGto harmon mon. viii
tie new orisr Of thing: produced by tn,
war. IL. was chosen rrasiden: Of tn
assenbi! called by fe :era: authority 70
tia, purpose. aud filled the position wit!
frmuess. dignity and impartility.
Influenced by tie high reputation wLicl
Mr.. Dure.: had de*ervel!y acquired fo
legal ability. %uprightness. stability ant
patriotism. President Lincoln offered hin
the judgsship which lie now holds
highly responsible position a: ali times
douhly So a: that time. as Indeed il is still
How ably lie discharged its duties V,
have euleavore! nos. iuadeara.el,
T. show. HOW L.-a.siuc those du
..o> Lave been. IL ole. perhaps
h.: lie "Lc La. performed then
can fully appreciate. And ye: fol
: ten years. with ro iutermissiou during
term time. and bu: very short seasons O
recreation. Judge DurelI has been steadily
a. his post. doing an au."un; Of brair
work under tie load Q: which any mar
les, vigorous in mind and body could moi
bu: s.ccunb: aud i. i, oLlv G: late tia,
lie speaks of the need Of resi-. Two years
age he had tie intention Il resign and