New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-11

to insult him or unduly to disparage some
much respected client. He enjoyed Iull
and paving practice - an attorney up 10
the close Of his career, and when he died
all who knew him were ready to admit that
he had left no equal behind, either as
lawyer or advocate, at the bar where he
had so long practiced.
n ia nv no means to be inferred that, be-
cause MIR, Grymes had shown himself ca.
pable during so long period of professional
labor Of holding his own temper nnder con
troll, and of practicing, under all clrcum-
stances the established amenities OF tne
bar, he was in the least degree wanting IN
manly sensibility and heroic courage. fef-
haps a more fearless and resOlute person
never trod the soil OF this continent. Be
fore he left the honOred State OF his birth
for the far Southwest he had been CON-
PEELED to appear on the field OF honor, and,
IA the voluntary aid Of General jackson IN
the memorable battles fought in defense OF
New Orleans, he had so conducted himself
IA to win the permanent friendship and es-
TEEN of his hOnored chief.
Mr.. Grymes, though Jealous and un-
swerving supporter OF the Democratic
cause, was never remarkable Tor excessive
partisan zeal, nor was he ever suspected OF
being unduly ambitious of political prefer
ment. l have no knowledge that he at any
time delivered what is called stump
speech, nor do l suppose that he would
have gained much reputation in this line
had he been tempted to seek political noto-
riety by such expedients as AS have con-
ferred much temporary eclat upon class
of public agitators whose potentiality for
mischief is quite equal to their capacity for
good, and who for the most part are, in my
iud gment, little entitled to the influence
over public affairs which they seek to
WELD. Once only, if l have been in
formed Alright, was Mr.. Grymes induced to
become a candidate for the United States
Senate. and then he was sigpally defeated
by q gentleman much young and less ex,
perienced than himself. This result, l
have reason to know, for a time more or
less disturbed Mr.: Grymes' accustomed
euuanimity, and undoubtedly extinguished
in his bosom all hope Of ever being able to
serve his country upon theatre where,
had he been allowed to appear, he would
have infallibly earned undying fame, and
heye row been numbered among the Web
sters, the Clays, the Choates and the
Pinckneys of former generations.
There was number Of other attorneys
belonging to the bar of New Orleans forty
six years ago, and with whom formed
some acquaintance either then Or in after
years. whom l should not pass by in silence.
Mr.. Henning, who lived to be almost an
Octogenarian, was then q white haired gen
tleman somewhat past the prime OF life,
but still healthy and completely occupied
with his professional duties. He was man
of very impressive appearance and man.
ners, Of rare industry, and thoroughly &C
auainted with law as a science. He spoke
with great facility both the French and
English languages, but did not strike me as
being graceful and polished rhetorician,
or a particularly clear and vigorous rea-
soner.
General Ripley, who was afterward in
Congress, was a tall and sOldierly looking
parsonage of much complaisance and cor
diality, but he was an ungraceful and unim-
pressive speaker, deficient alike in cogency
and methOdical arrangement. He seemed
to be warm hearted and unassuming gen
tleman, and doubt not had many friends.
heard Judge Watts, who had not then
been elevated to the bench. He struck me
as being much too formal and ostentatious,
and as giving forth no decided evidences OF
prOfundity as lawyer, or of high lit
erary culture. He was accused Of having
delivered on some occasion q funeral
speech, which was literal trans
lation from the pages of some Greek
historian. Whether this was true am not
prepared to say, but l never heard OF the
charge being repealed. If even this accusa-
ton be true the admirers of the present
British Premier will at least excuse it, mas
much as this parsonage stands charged
with having delivered ON the occasion of
the Duke of Wellington's decease the fnne-
raj Grafton previously pronounced by M.
Theirs over the remains of Marshal Soult.
Men of known mental wealth may, perhaps,
be allowed to borrow occasionally from
others without having reason to appreheDd
any decided loss of intellectual credit. 1t
would be very decent, though, always to
confess the obligation thus incurred.
Mr.. Soule, who afterward was so much
distin guished as a Senator in Congress from
Louisiana, had just commenced his very
brilliant career as an advocate in New Or
leans in 1923. l saw him repeatedly, and
in after years heard him speak often. He
was q man of much personal comeliness.
Many said that he greatly resembled the
taller, and, should suppose. of far more
complaisant physiognOmy. He was a
Frenchman by birth, and had been driven
forth from his country by the tyranny Of
Charles X. Mr.. SOule was undoubtedly q
man of most consummate scholarship, a
sound lawyer. and one of the most fascinat-
ing and eloquent speakers ever listened to.
He came to Richmond during the Coded
crate struggle, fought valiantly as volun-
teer in several battles, but, having voted
for Mr.. Douglas in 1860, and being not at
all addicted to arts of serviity, he never
found favor in Mr.. Davis sight. He lin
gered about Richmond for several months,
became moping and melancholy from some
unknown cause. and finally, rs have heard,
died in a madhouse.
Mr.. Mazureau was in the meridian of his
fame as an advocate. He claimed to be a
thorough scholar and a profound jurist.
His appearance was decidedly impressive.
He spoke with much tuency, but was dog
matte, vain and egotistical to degree never
exceeded. Some thought him neither
man Of high scholastic attachments, nor Of
profound legal erudition. Such in truth
was the opinion expressed of him by his
countryman, Mr. Soule, who never admired
or loved him.
At the period to which l refer heard it
said that a number of persons who had been
Involved in the famous Burr conspiracy
were residents of New Orleans. One Of
these in particular was pointed out to me,
who was then highly respectable member
of the New Orleans bar. | allude to Judge
Workman. This gentleman was a native,
as l learned, Of one Of the New England
States, was man of sound intellect, not at
all deficient in legal knowledge, and was
one of the most pleasant and atfable men to
be found in the city.
A gentleman was then presiding in the
Criminal Court of the city by the name of
Turner He was brother to Judge Edward
Turner, of Mississippi, and, like him, had
been born in the county of Fairfax, in Vir-
ginia. They were both of them grandsous
of the Mr.. Paine who is reported to have
knocked down General Washington at Fair
fax Courthouse, when he was engaged in
recruiting soldiers there tor the prosecution
of the famous Braddock campaign against
the French and Indians At the time that
| saw Judge Turner then of New Orleans.
presiding in the Criminal Court of the city,
as l have already mentioned, l heard a
rather curious and amusing story with
,rhicl, tkis .,.nrthx dant lauaau stood Co,.