The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-28
4 Southern EXile's Career.

a few days ago, in an article on the
Tehuantepec route, We related the incl
dent of Buffers seizure Of the bank box
and appropriation thereof rs constitu-
ting the whole property Of the then Sec
rctary of State of the Confederate States.
The contents consisted of Tchuantepcc
bonds, and the Confederate secretary,
when informed of Buffers cxultation
over his capture, remarked with 4 smile
that with the loss of those bonds he
would be left without dollar in the
world. This confession was made at IL
dinner at which dish of rusty bacon,
cooked with cow-pcas and washed down
with corn coffee, composed the whole
menu. a gentleman over fifty, who had
for thirty years enjoyed and income Of
so, 900 per annum, was reduced to this
condition in two years by his devotion to
duty, to principle and to the demands of
honor and patriotism. 1t was grand
sacrifice, worthy of conspicuous record
among the many other similar examples
Of seli-sacrilice and sincerity Of convic-
tion and duty on the part of those who
have been SO grossly maligncd rs inter-
ested and designing politicians in the
late war.
In 1865 the impoverished Secretary of
State of the late Confedcracy, after the
downfall of the Conlcderacy, and the dis
persion of its government, trampcd on
foot from Central Georgia, and escaped
in an open boat to Nassau, with single
tcn-dollar gold piece in his pocket, which
he :gaye to the negro who rowed the
small boat that so safely carried him be-
yond the reach Of the pursuing foe. In
1879, fourteen years afterward, this fugi-
tive becomes the recognized head Of an
institution of all others the most cxclu-
sivc and difficult in which to attain
prominence and succcss-the bar of Eng
land. One gratifying proof of the reali-
ty Of this achievement is furnished by
the fact, which we learn automatically,
that Mr. J. P. Benjamin, Queens coun-
sci, recently purchased q very elegant
residence in Paris, giving therefor So0,-
600 frances cash. 1t is added that this
large sum does not exceed one-Ealf
of his yearly income from his practice in
the highest courts of Great Britain. To
these courts the large pressure upon his
time and labor has compelled Mr. Ben
jamin to limit his practice. The briefs
declined by him would double his in
come. But, always accustomed to do
well and completely everything he un-
dcrtook, he has been forced to reduce the
amount of his labor within the compass
of his wonderful capacity and industry.
We doubt if these have ever been cquall-
ed by any other aspirant for distinction
and success at the English or American
bar. From gentlemen who have recent
ly called on him in London we learn that
his labors are necessarily prosecuted in
his office for at least twelve hours out of
the twenty-four, and that he still has :;
few hours to spare for enjoyment and re-
creation with his friends, to whom lie is
always welcome as one Of the most geni-
al and vivacious of companions. So far
from being affected by this intense labor
his physique exhibits scarcely perccp-
tible change from that which he eXhibi-
ted when he was leader at our bar, and
at that ofthe United States Supreme Court,
Senator from Louisiana and the most
brilliant and effective orator and dcbater
III lnat oouy twenty ouu ycaI5 aSu, VI
when Secretary of State of the Confede-
rate States fourteen years ago. His hair
still maintains its raven hue, unfrostcd
by sixty-seven years of trial and labor; his
flashing eyes have all their old brillian-
cy, needing no aid of glasses to perform
their work, and his handsome face wears
still that winning smile which is rarely
preserved by masculine countcnanccs
and is one Of the happicst constituents of
womanly beauty. The only perccptiblc
change observable in his manner is in
the greater gravity and precision of his
uttcrance, and in the restraint of 4 Vi
vacity which, in his middle age, might
be properly described as boyish in its
freedom and gayety.-Ner Orleans Dcm-
Ocrut.