New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-11
"REMINISCENCES OF LOUISIANA.
BY HON. II. S. FOOTE.

BY HON. IL. 5. FOOIE.
When residing in the town of Tuscum-
| bia. in North Alabama, in the winter OF
! lS2S-29. vOyaged in one of the finest
steamboats, which had then appeared on the
waters OF the beautiful and romantic
Tennessee river 20 the city of New Orleans,
which remarkable place 1 had never then
seen; but concerning which | had long
| cherished a most intense curiosity. Inc
| trip was quite prOtracted one, and was
not marked with any incident worthy OF
being here recorded Of which l have pres
| ent remembrance.
Never have been more wildly impressed
| than I was bv the spectacle which met my
| view on reaching the landing place at New
| Orleans and t1ayersing the streets OF this
renoEned commercial emporium. All that
| had ever before seen Of activity in the
| various branches of traffic; all that l had
ever read liz books or newspapers OF the
noisy and busy hum of commerce, found,
as thought, here greatly surpassed by the
excited and timultuous scenes which were
now spread out before me and around me.
and which seemed tor the moment to have
no limits 1t really appeared to me- that had
| suddenly reached new world, with which
| it would REQUIRE many days, if not many
| months, to render me familiar and enable
me fully to appreciate. Several days were
occupied by me- in traverslng this remark
able city in every direction, and in visiting
the many interesting localities in its envi,
rOns, which I cOnjectured to be worthy OF
special examination and remembrance. l
took particular interest in wandering over
that part of this remarkable place which
was then occupied almost exclusively by
persons Of French or Spanish derivation,
where the costume and manners of many of
those whom | encountered, and the archi-
tectural pecu' la-ities displayed alike in pri.
vate mansioEs and in public edifices, all
possessed FOR me the interest of novelty.
On forming some acquaintance with the
mercantile class of the population, most Of
the members of which l found accessible
and polite, was very forcibly struck with
the fact that very large proportion of
those with whom held intercourse, as we'll
as those described to me by others. were
young and enterprising men who had evil
IDENTIFY not yet reached the meridian Of life.
l found among those engaged in trade much
more of intellectual culture and general in
formation, both as to books and men, than
l expected to meet, cOnjOlned with
promptitude and celebrity of movement and
seeming maturity of Judgment as to bust
ness concerns which it was indeed most
gratifying to behold.
As had been for several years meditat-
ing a removal to New Orleans for the
practice Of my profession there, and had
been making what preparation l could for
entering upon this attractive theatre, 1
very soon found my way to the places
where the various courts of New Orleans
were then holding almost continuous
session.
l need hardly remind any man of or
binary intelligence that the courts of Lou
isiana were forty or fifty years ago of
remarkable celebrity, alike by reason Of the
learning, the ability. and the unQuestioned
integrity and patriotism of the judges who
therein presided as of the high character of
the lawyers who were then practicing
before them. Among the judges of that
period who attained the highest rank as
expos;tOrs of the law were Judges Martin
and Porter.
The first mentioned of these, Judge Mar
tin, was Frenchman by birth. He migrated
to the United States in the days of his early
manhood, resided for several years in North
Carolina, and afterward located in Louisi-
ana where in few years he was elevated
to the bench. which he subsequently con-
tinIled TO adorn for many years. He was
man of most majestic stature, and had a
face and head that alike indicated the
high intellectual powers which he uc-
doubleday possessed anG that calm i'm
partially and conscientious regard for
Justice which rendered him an OBJ
ject Of universal respect and conf
dence. His published opinions bear evi-
dence of his extraordinary merits as Judi
cial functionary, ard are justly regarded as
OF the highest authority IN every State of
the Union, especially upon quest lions Of
| commercial law or those Involving the priv
ciples ut the civil law syetem Of jurispru-
dence. Judge Martin was for many years
of his life ia a state OF total blindness, but
he still remained upon the bench, where he
continued to discharge his duties with
steady industry, with unremitting zeal and
with = quiet, dignitied and patient demean.
or which it was indeed most delightful to
behold.
Judge Alexander Porter was a native of
Ireland. He is reported, on coming to this
country, to have spent several years in the
city Of Nashville, where he read law, and
formed many friendships, all of which con-
tinued unbroken throughout his long and
brilliant career. He was possessed of
most active and vigorous mind, had in his
early days enjoyed the advantages of
thorough education, and was a constant
reader Of books to the latest moment of his
stay on earth. His conversation in social
life was most entertaining and instructive;
he was often pleasantly facetious, and, when
he chose to exercise his powers in that line
he displayed a caustic severity seldom
eaualed. He was thoroughly versed
in every branch Of his profession,
and many of his opinions as a
Judge are distinguished by singular beauty
and elegance ct expression, ingenious and
exhaustive logic, and copious citation of
authorities, both in the civil and common
law. He was for several years in the United
States Senate, where he obtained most en-
viable reputation for industry, for atfable
and engaging manners, and for infexible
integrity. He did not speak often in that
body, but on several noted occasions delv-
cred able and statesmanlike speeches, re-
plete with argument, richly humorous allu-
siOls, and chaste, classic ornament, which
called forth at the time of their delivery
much and deserved commentator.
should wish to be able to give fuller
and more accurate account of the bar of
New Orleans at the period of my first visit
to that city than l find it in my power to do.
1t was thronged with attorneys, many of
whom were doubtless superior men.
John L. Grymes was then in the prime of
life and in the meridian of his fame. He
was Virginian by bilth, and well con-
nected there. He was, when l first beheld
him, man of most imposing aspect and
demeanor; he was tall, slender, and admira-
bly, proportioaed, and his manners, though
a little marked with hau;eur, were grace
ful, polished, ald in general sufficiently
cordial. l had the pleasure Of seeing him
frequently. and Of convers;ng with him
familiarity upou many subjects of interest
When he chose to be entertaining his col
lolulal powers were such as are rarely met
with anyv here. His learning was profound
ana various, and the personal anecdotes re-
lated by h!m were often in the b CHEST degree
racy and illustrative. He was accused by
some who did net like him OF sometimes de-
pending upon his fancy for his facts. but of
this trait, it iDee, d it ever belonged to him,
never became personally cngnizant. Upon
the whole. should say that Colonel GRIMES