William Pitt Ballinger: Texas Lawyer, Southern Statesman, 1825-1888

Moretta has illuminated and obscure but imporant figure in Texas history. William Pitt Ballinger Was one of the most active and imporant men in Texas legal circles in the mid-ninettenth century. He left a very significant body of papers both personal and legal which are housed in three archives in Galveston, Houston and Austin, Texas. Ballinger practiced a wide range of law but was best known for his Supreme Count appeals in both the Texas and United States Supreme Courts and for representing railroads. Ballinger was widely respected which led him to be designated as the man to obtain pardons for Confederate officials and soldiers after the Civil War. His life and papers deverve more attention. Moretta has brought Ballinger to light after too many years of obscurity. A very important book in Texas legal and business history.