Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-14
y,s RECORD. Of Two A,p,ran,s.


The Records of Two Aspirants.
Enron LEDGER: | wonder if an ar
ticle signed "Old Acquaintance" in re-
lation to Mr.. NJ. d. L. Stewart, was writ
ten in sincere belief of the wondrously
sublime character of that gentlemat; or,
was only designed by some pleasant Jes.
ter as o piece of bsainpge and burlesque
If serious, all sensible men know such
extreme adulation to be mere atfectstlon
and foolery. No man can be so good and
great, so brilliant, brave and benevolent
such model of ell worth and virtue-so
transcendently superior to the rest OF
mankind, as this writer represents Mr..
Stewart to be. Butt so, il ia despising
the gifts OF God; flying in the face OF
His mercies;" prostituting to base ends
the divinest exaltation Of human char.
acter, designed for the amelioration OF
our suffering race; and depriviug our
people of the Legitimate exercise OF such
powers in their behalii by dwarfng their
development within ibe marrow and OBJ
scure rails of clerks office He
should withdraw from petty strife for
mere pen-scratchers of an inferior court,
and announce ITO his legion OF
friends" that "he deserves at their hands
the loftisst aud most responsible position
recognized under our government. II
Mr.. Stewart is not awakened by his ad.
mirers 10 this just perception and
sppreciation Of his influence, in
corruptibiliiy and intellect, aud made to
consent to accept some high political
station. then he ought TO be beaten for
the trihing Clerkship, to which be
strangely aspires, and be forced, by the
people, to occupy some Office OF dig
nifty and power as matter OF lmpera-
tive necessity Bat, seriously, ! make
no quarrel with what would seem to be
the fulsome praises of an enthusiastic
friend. do object, however, to that tone
Of supercilious contempt which pervsdes
the article, for all who do not participate
in his exstatic admiration of Mr.. Stewart;
and to that holy indignation be so sternly
expresses because the immaculateness
and grandeur Of his ideal have not ex-
empted him Of the immunity" of oppo-
sition, 10 which grosser mortals might
reasonably have been subjected The
mort 6cation which this fact bias inflicted
upon the writer is most wondrous pitt
ialp and exciles general commissera-
ton. However, at the hazard CT beng
criticised for nay iEpudence and andacity'
| humbly dare TO suggest that Bsn. NJ.
Bradford, an old and ife-loug friend Of
mr. own, is q candidate for Clerk Of the
First Grant Court; and boldly chal-
lenge the aiost eeerching scrutiny into
his history--ibs segerest analysis OF the
man. in ell the relations OK l;fe==sEd the
/ closest dissection of his peculiar oualin'
cations for the cffice he seeks. His his
tory. character and capacity were briefly
but uGihisiIy presented in the LEDGsT
a few days ago, Nv some friend wht
| knows bin we'll. shall edd pctking u
that portrsiiUre. But there 10 one polnl
of yiew-snd an ATTRACTIVE one--in vhief
/ will present my old friend to thu
good. true, and brave men OF Shelby
conn,v. in which the friend Of Mr.
stewart has not deemed proper to pre-
sent Kim. / mean his connection will
The great "los, eapse." and Identification
with that grand slrsgEis. lhe memory o
] which is the treasure OF the Bouth. pen
| Bradford was represented Ia bis sens
on nearly every bsll-ploughed and blood
drenehed Geld Of that disastrous conflict
o ae after another, rntii he Eas left alone
did this genuine old patio. k;a faFeEel
TO his Eve noble boys aud ssndn-lay
| who Joined the martyr army, aud FOL
loved our tattered flag while stsinel
fraaaent of its once blue beauty I'D,
tered ;p tbs ginds. One Of them wa
killed, another Fogndss g, Sharpsburg
a third was captured at 6etiysturg. ~,
rotted 10 the hellish prison at Fort Dels
ware fcs aiSs months. All of them wer
regarded by their gallant Aississipp
comrades as among the bravest shI
best"
Ben. Bradford was rich man befor
tho gar, and throughout the eatire strug
gle. s. long as he had dollar, he spen
il like water 10 sehslf Of his county HI
expenditures in behalf Of sick an
wounded soldiers. ia support OF di.
trassed families, aud ia assisting penn
Iess sEd acueleas refugees, awakened tn
love and admiration AZ every true ma
converssnt with his pfoeigai iiharslity,
have heard the amount be TINS distrit
uted variously estimated a. from ten
thirty Thousand dollars year darin
every year Of the war. hszird the 3
sertfon that be bad s. may negro me
in the army duripg the entire war as 40
man 10 the South 10 proportion 10 nun
bers, for which be neither desired nos r
ceiFed q cent, His fortune, ia sge, be
passed away with the foriu ies Of b
country, and this truly worthy man, bF
patriot and genial gentleman asks 3 sna
Office, for which be is az peculiarly ftie
By character, capacity asd long eKper
ence ss any man in the United Stale
Mr.. S eWari, comparatively younr, :
hast man. has occupied the Office I
many gears, and, whatever may be b
, worth, should not claim life term Of 4
position. On FRIExD.