Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-31
AN INDUSTRIOUS MAN.

1. 3 .
Our city can boast Of at least one great
man. He is handed down to US from
antiquity, and is to-day. white with the
frosts of age, and burdened with many
recollections. His name is unknown to
the world, but it is avery plain and sim
pie one. 1t has been in the mouths of
great men from the time Of MADISON to
the epoch of BUCHANAN Without having
served in the Cabinet or Congress, or in
any official bureau, he has served about
them. He was for many years an init
mate and useful associate Of the courtly
and accomplished WILLIAM r. KING, of
Alabama. He. travelled with him TO
Washington and back 10 again to Ala
bama, aud rarely were the two dis
tingushed men seen except in company.
He knew all the strength and weakness
of the Senator-uuderstoo his moods,
and, like true friend and philosopher,
respected and honored them. When
that distinguished man passed away,
his attached friend was inconsolable.
Already far advanced in life, his hair
gathered additional SHOWS, and his frame
lowed beneath the burden of greater
sorrows.
During the administration of JAMES
X. Polk, he lived at the White House,
Il
and was an important member OF the
Presidential family, He knew many of
the secrets Of state, and though he never
spoke in public, could discuss the great
questions of the day witE all corners.
With the retiring President he went to
Tennessee, watched over him in his last |
illness and saw him die The loss Of his |
great friend was a sad blow, but his elias
ITCHY of mind enabled him TO recover SO
far as to plunge again into the world.
The opportunity was not long delayed.
Repairing to Washington, the scene Of
his early triumphs, ne threw himselfinto
the society of great men, and thus found
consolation. He heard all the great
speeches at the Capitol, and can describe
the manner of each speaker His ia
miliarity with the celebrated beaux of
the past generation, has stored his mind
with "reminiscences Of fashionable life.
and rendered him one of the most inter
esting OF coRyersationists. He saw all
the great ladies, from Mrs. MADISON to
Mrs. Polk. and remembers what they
wore on certain great occasions
This distinguished man Of Antiquity
may be seen upon our streets every day.
And yet who knows him The few, not
the many. What is his name 2 That is
the question. Shall We tell it, and Thus
rob him of theiuxury of passing the rem
nant of his days incog2 Shall We drag
him back TO fame? We shall. The
name of this great man is-BoB The
Caucasinn race cannot claim him. Nor
ally, he is white. Physically, be is
black Blu. white or black, he is a gem
tleman He belongs TO 4 race Of black
men who were content, happy, with
the position ofuferiority, and possessed
sense enough to inform them that they
were not, and could by no possibility be-
come the equal Of the white man. To
the Vaccinations Of the Abolitionists
they attribute all the evils that have
fallen upon them. This venerable ne
gro boasts OF having BACKED The boots of
WEBSTER and CLAY. We doubt if many
dozen members of the present Congress
are worthy of such an honor, for honor
it is. Well may the old man be proud of
it Who would not now be glad to
possess sn old boot OF WEBSTER, or an
old slipper Of HARRY of the West? We
shall probably never see snch men again.
The world only produces them at inter
walls. 1t is an honor for any one now
living to have touched hem Of their
garments Bon is singularly fortunate
in having BACKED their boots