The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-05-26
Vol. III. No. "A.

We unite with our brethren of the bar
In deploring the loss that the profession
and the state have sustained by this
death.
Alcibiades DeBlanc lived a life Of
great purity and usefulness. Retiring
IN disposition, modest in demeanOr, and
amiable to degree rarely exhibited, he
won the confidence and esteem of all
men and the love of those who ~ers
brought into intimate relationship with
him. No one could contest with him
supremacy in the affections of his neigh
bOrs, or at that larger circle which en-
braces the communities surrounding that
in which he lived. There he was regar-
ded by all classes as an oracle whose
word was not to b gainsaid. He was
looked up to for counsel and guidance in
matters outside Of his profession as az
we'll as in it. He assuaged passions,
smOothed asperities, reconciled jarrina
interests and infused into disputants
part Of that &c tleness of temper which
so conspicuOnsly characterized himself.
A character which blended that with
firmness, and over which presided d
spirit of conciliation as q tutelary aen.
ius, could not fail to arouse sentiments
OF confidence and love, He did wrong
to no one, and if wrong were done to
him he yearned to forgive before forgive
ness was asked or deserved.
With such qualities, it is not surpris-
ing that he preferred private lille to bu-
blic station. But there were occasions
when duty called him to forego the case
and quietude which were so dear to him.
When the people of Louisiana assembled
through their delegates in convention In
1851, to determine what action should
be taken In grave public crisis, he was
sent from his native parish Of st. Martin.
Hostilities commencing, he was among
the first volunteers, and proceeded to
Virginia in command Of a regiment.
There he was severely wounded in battle,
and Tor a time disabled-permanently,
indeed. in his right arm-sO that field
service was thereafter impossible. Ira
nsferred thence to duty in this state, he
continued the performance Of such mill.
tary, services as were practicable.
After the close Of the strife waged By
arms, he bore manly and conspicuous
part In that more trying ordeal through
which our people passed, wherein their
courage and endurance were put to q
stronger test than any conflict of battle
presented. Throughout that period, the
memory Of which Is like nightmare,
he was ever on the alert to protect his
fellOw-citizens from the entertainments
of arrogant military domination, or to
evade the cunning devices by which
their liberties were attempted to be en-
thralled.
Finally, when the state recovered her
autonomy, and her citizens reposed from
their prolonged attitude of defense agai.
nst aggression, he was called to a place
on this bench as associate justice. His
services here have been aptly and feel
+ingly portrayed by the only surviving
associate OF that bench as at first conti.
nued, and /, who served with them, bear
my testimony to the excellence Of his
judicial life.
Nothing could exceed the patient in.
dustry, the painstaking care with which
he sought to discharge his high functions,
He was full Of rectitude, with the incest
sense of judicial propriety. and eager al
ways to discover where the right lay.
Slow in forming an opinion, and yet not
too tenacsOus Of it when formed, he avo4
ided the peril of over confidence in HIM
self, and was never averse from receiving
suggestions or arguments.
There have been men at the bar and
on the bench Of Louisiana more brilliant
In intellect than Justice DeBlanc, Of q
wider range Of learning and more com.
prehensive and solid attainments, but
there has never been one more spotless az
judge or honorable as a MANN. O.
PicayuRe.