Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-11-10
MONDAY, NOV. S, 1855.
LINK BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND THE

Col. Abram R. Woolley, a resident Of Ken
lucky, and the old gentleman to whom allusion
was made in our paper few days since, was
born in Elizabethtown, near New York, in the
year 1854, and was present at the inaugural Of
GEORGE WASHINGTON, which took place at the
head Of Broad street, New York city, on the
30th of April, 1889. At this time Mr.. W..
was S years Of age, and he says that he re-
members distinctly the features Of the great
and good man who had been called to preside
over the des,inies Of this country. He also re-
members that in order that he might look over
the crowd, and see more distinctly, his father
elevated him to his shoulder, where he sat
during the performance of the interesting cere.
monies. The scene is still vivid in the mind
of the old gentleman, much more so than many
events that daily transpire about him. He de-
scribes WAsHrNeroN's countenance as calm
and sedate, and his bearing that of an aristo-
crat, and yet there was something about him
entirely different from other men-he possess
ed commanding and attractive influence
which was irresistible.
COL w. entered the army at very early age,
and became quite intimate with Presidents
Monroe, Adams, Madison and Jackson
Adams, he described as being remarkably
agreeable and entertaining in conversation,
and possessed a very retentive memory. He
was in the habit Of taking tea with him once a
week. jackson, he says, possessed an over
powering, ungovernable temper, and sought to
make every thing succumb to his will. With
Jefferson he was quite friendly, and alludes to
him in the highest terms. He speaks of him
as great man. He was acquainted with the
lamented Harrison, and says that better man
never drew the breath of life. Harrison was
neither politician nor statesman, but he was
good soldier and good citizen, and had he
been kept out of the political arena, in all
probability he would have been living now.
Zachary Taylor he considers was the Sec
ond Washington Of his country. He thinks
Taylor was more natural in his manners than
Washington, but in other respects he possessed
similar traits of character, He esteemed Tay-
lor highly, for he knew him well-was in
Mexico with him and had fine opportunities to
study the secret springs of his nature. Blu,
his beau ideal of man was HENRY CLAY,
with whom he was on friendly terms for thirty
years. Clay he says had an irrascibe temper
but he possessed large heart and generous
soul. He speaks of him as neighbor, a
friend, a politician, statesman. and man.
The Colonel was also acquainted with Webster,
Calhoun, Benton, and others who figured large
ly on the platform of life nearly three-quarters
ola century ago.
There are but few left of those old men who
were witnesses Of the stirring scenes Of the
past. To converse with such is like conversing
with those from the grave, for it carries US
away back, far beyond our own existence,
and the existence Of thousands who now "sleep
that sleep that knows no waking" They come
up from the shadowy past like spirits from the
dead, and it is only their flesh and blood that
tell US they " still live."
We hope the Colonel may be permitted to
remain with US many years yet, and when a,
last he shall be called "to join that innumera-
bic" band Of heroes, may he, in the language
of the poet "draw the drapery Of his couch
about him and lie down to pleasant Dreams"