Early deprivations, and the necessity of a most rigid economy to meet
the exigencies of this straitened condition, created habits of
abstinence and saving which he never gave up. On the contrary, like
all habits long indulged, they became stronger and more obdurate as
life advanced. Before his elevation to the supreme Bench, he had
accumulated a fortune of at least one hundred thousand dollars, which
he had judiciously invested in the city of New Orleans. The tenure of
his office was for life, and his ambition never aspired to anything
beyond; but he devoted himself to the duties of this with the
assiduity of one determined, not only to know, but faithfully to
discharge them. Judge Martin was conscientious in all that he did as a
man, and remarkably scrupulous as a judge. He was unwilling to hasten
his judgments, and sometimes was accused of tardiness in rendering
them. This resulted from the great care exercised in examining the
merits of the case, and to make himself sure of the law applicable to
it.
The peculiar organization of the Supreme Court of Louisiana imposes
immense labor upon the judges; they are not only charged with the duty
of correcting errors of law, but the examination of all the facts and
all the testimony introduced in the trials in the District Court.
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