The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-13
CHARLES Nj. CONRAD.

lBtIbbDi bluulDuN.
CHARLES Nj. CONRAD.
TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THE
DEPARTED.
Immediately upon the opening of the SEES
sion OF the United States Circuit Court yester-
day, Mr.. II. G. Miller. q well known member
Of the bar, addressed the court as follows:
On yesterday the announcement of the death
eminence in the profession, his great distinc-
ton as IL public man, bis worth az q citizen,
render it proper that fitting respect be paid to
| his memory.
| His adversaries and his colleagues In pro-
| fessonal life have, many OF them, preceded
him to the grave. 1t thus happens, as 10 often
the case, that the imperfect tribute to pro-
to later period than that in which Mr.. Con
rad bore so distinguished part can speak
of him professionally In the main only from
the impress which he has left us OF his labors,
those to whom have listened, and who be-
longed to q period earlier than my own pro-
| fessional life.
| Mr.. Conrad passed from the professional
| field to public life about 154s, although he had
previously been Representative in Congress
and had filled other public positions. The
profession will recall as one Of his prominent
| characteristics devotion to duty and q fear
conceived that duty imposed on him. The
earnestness Of purpose which distinguished
| him as q lawyer, and the copstancy and firm
| ness he displayed in adhering to his convic-
tons also marked his career as public man,
of which one notable instance now occurs to
me.
| This occasion carries us back to that early
period Of the history of the State when Cen
Jackson stood II this city, charged With y hd
gathered around him such an army as the
emergency had enabled him to array, and
with that army. disproportioned as 1t was In
all respects to the foe, he had to confront the
jackson had to deal with another source OF
danger that presented itself. That peril was
supposed to arise from the discussions and
want of accord In the mixed population OF the
The difficulties which beset jackson brought
him In contact with the civil authorities. The
then Judge Of this court imposed fine on the
General for conduct deemed disrespectful to
the judiciary, and that fine jackson paid. Ii
Jackson's conduct illustrates the imperious-
ness and force OF will Of the military char
acter which impelled him to, disregard the
accustomed Difference to the judiciary, when
Extreme hss ,a Measures sue Mr. Conrads course in
connection with the subject exhibits also the
love Of his profession and the assertion Of th 70
dignity Of the judiciary which distinguish the
cultivated lawyer.
Years after this subject was thrust into the
political ARENA and the proposition was made
, In Congress to remit the fine which jackson
, had paid, under Judge Halls order. Conrad,
Democrat though he had been, and a warm
admirer of Jackson, recollected that he Con
rad) was q member OF the profession, that
! jackson, In his (Mr. Conrads) estimation at
least-had been wanting in respect to the 1u-
dietary. the upholding of the dignity of which
was dear to every professional man. and under
the circumstances, the motives Of the politi-
! clan were superseded by the instincts OF the
, lawyer attached to his profession, and earn
est in his love, and sincere In his respect Tor
i, the judiciary, Mr.. Conrad, as representa-
tive from this State, spoke and voted against
remitting the fine.
Mr. Conrad is followed to his grave with the
tributes derived from well employed life:
As a lawyer he was learned, fable and devoted
to his clients; as public man he manifested
the highest qualities, and as q citizen he was
held in the highest esteem for the zeal and
fidelity with which he discharged great pub
E lie trusts.
His qualities in all the capacities in which
he presented himself to the people OF this city
and State, all commend the motion now
make, that this court do adjourn out Of re-
. spect to his memory.
Mr.. Mill4 was followed by Mr.w H. Hunt
: who said:
"When came into court just now had not
expected to hear to-day the motion which mas
!. just been made. It seems none the less propel
v on that account for me to unite in paying 9
tribute of respect to the memory OF our de
t parted brother, the Hon. Charles M. Conrad
Tor may say that / was almost present, as
0 well as your Honor and the other pattless M en-
Q Conrad, and am deeply impressed by the cir
Y cumstances attending his death.
It among the earliest recollections OF my
boyhood, I remember Mr. Conrad with 2, large r (,
J. and profitable commercial practice In the full
!. tide of success, and in the youth OF his career
4 / next knew him in the Legislature OF TIT
: State, where he was an active, Intelligent an(
J. energetic participant In almost every DEBATE
of any moment. Then he was elected to tn
House of Representatives in Congress- ant
y then to the United States Senate He wa
y afterward appointed Secretary OF War undel
= | President Fillmore.
/ "All of these distinguished trusts he dis
charged ably, faithfully and creditably, ant
to the enlargement of his own fame. 1t wa!
n while he was In the Senate that an attemp
s was made by the, Democratic party, then in
y power, to refund to Gen. jackson the fine o
g $1,000 which had been imposed upon him BY
g Judge Dominic A. Hall many years before
/ well remember this attempt which has jus
]. been alluded to. This fine had been imposed
+ upon Gen. jackson a few weeks after the bat
t. tie of New Orleans, when martial law hat
l. been declared and whilst we were almos
70 within the hearing OF hostile cannon; Judg
Hall one Of Your ra HG GsSmad Predecessor e;t
:, habeas corpus upon the application Of a pri
q vate citizen. The writ was treated with con
: tempt. aud the Judge arrested and banishe
:, from the city by order. of Gen. jackson.
y was upon his return, from Punishment tina
u Judge Hall brought tho victorious general be
fore him, and in vindication of his judicia
prerogative and the authority of the law, i'm
1T posed fine of $1,000 upon him. When it wa
W proposed, some thirty years after all this, t
:, refund this fine, Mr.. Conrad opposed tn
b proposition in the Senate, and upheld tn
d paramount power and dignity of the civ
IS ministered, and the conduct of Judge Hal
d who had fearlessly performed his duty at
10 time when Jackson was flushed with victor
s and acknowledged MS the hero Of the nation;
e "In the late civil war Mr.. Conrad took th
e side of the South, and was member of tn
% Confederate House or Senate, and gave to th
y ,Confederate cause full and determined SUP