Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-25
GREAT SPEECH OF A COL0RED D
MEMPHIAN. r.f.

the PUBLIC LEDGER, from an address
recently delivered by common sense
(colored) philosopher, in. the suburbs of
Memphis: ls,. L1ssat ..fI
But" said the speaker, in conclusion,
"My colored friends, while responding
to call of my acknowledgment and
others, on this picnic occasion, allow me !,
in my place, to allude TO our present
surroundings. Let us not forget the
olden times, when we we're ,ndulged, en-
couraged and honored, as our good or
bad characters deserved; let us not i'm
agne the world, or the course of nature,
has changed in day respect those
who, in the honesty of their hearts, mean
us well, but prefer the easy wear and re
liability of our old friends. Some wouH
make US believe, if we had been properly
washed from our birth, we would have
been as white as bronzed statues
white. washed with chalk, and that there
would have been an end to African arp
mas, noses and lips, which Nature has
devised for our race There are some Of
us so ignorant as to believe this / came
here when Memphis was babe have
been treated as | deserved, and, though
l may not have grown as rich as my old
master / was probably the better known
of the two, and my credit as far as ever
asked, was equally as good as his, |
know, and everybody in Memphis who
is familiar with our history as draymep,
knows, that the word of at least two
thirds of us was as good as our owners
bond. When did one of US, when con
sdered worthy, ever want if our want
was known do not object to freedom,
where freedom is honored by its posses
sors, nor have any business with those
things with which / see others meddling,
to so little preft; yet, allow me 10 say
in reference to those who would make us
out as good as the whites, that if it is SO
am sure the cause is not in the mere
color of the skin. | hope my white
friends standing around, honoring me
with their attention, will look toqthe
meaning, and not the form of my express
sion, when / say / know have always
had better common sense, a higher ap-
probation of my own character, and
that comprehensive view of my own sur
roundings than to believe that a psa IN
singing set of imported hypocrites Who
would register themselves as far ahead
of nature as the 10th chapter is ahead of
Uncle Toms Cabin, in context and phi
losophic discretion. In fact, believe
we, who are honest, industrious, and at
tentive in the observance of the rights
of others, are better off than the white
skin rascality of the universe, partieu
larly that which would and does endea-
vor, through specious pretexts, to decoy
US away from our natural friends and
affiliations.
do not believe that fanaticism of
any sort, though quoted at par, will DE
able, when its issue is called In, to pay
one per cent on an original skull, stolen
from the catecomb of a republic Of heart
less wooden-headed fools. rn sa
If nature has turned out our race as a
half-6nished job, had much rather trnst
to her own time for its completion than
risk fanaticism with our future hopes of
elevating our honor, when she has been
so unmindfui of hers. Those, in fdci,
can but be considered meddlers who at
tend to everybodys business save their
own. There are those among us who
seem to wish us to set out to heaven with
them. / suspect their object is il possi-
BILE, to steal our passport by the way, and
crawling through some sewer into heaven
under our names, claim our seat there IN
der their own plea Of heavenly compass
sion for the down.trodden African, the
simple-minded serf--of their ideal crea-
ton. Fanatical rant has not advanced
us q peg since Mathuselah was a hedge
born babe Retired from draying, l ex-
pect to leave my old home, for Ohio, in
a few days, where can purchase small
bit Of land, and no longer be compelled
10 encounter the disgraceful tendencies
that now seem as if dragging Us down to
the contagious graves Of sinfamyy and
shame. This may seem paradoxical, yet,
like you, have, for my course, reasons
Of my own. find the influx of capital to
this ruined country considers me spir-
itless fool have always been consid-
cred honest to immediate trust, but am
considered so no more; and should times
and circumstances change, /, aud if not
i, my children win return when the fas-
cality Of accession, as leveled against
Us, has run it Infamous course. But,
away with this, all this, let Us take our
natural places aud be as true TO others
as ourselves, and il We are ever sur
rounded again, We shall have fostering
home wherever We 70. .... M
Such is the import Of a few remarks
recently made by one of the Oldest, most
popular and esteemed draymen Of Men,