Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-20

died that pure and upright man, that
fearless and illustrious Judge, whose
name aud history is co-eQual with
that OF Tennessee. IL was on this
place, seven miles south Of Nashville,
Enoch knsley, the subject al this
sketch, was born. the day being No
vember s. 1893. His father was a man
Of WONDERFUL energy and industry. as
before stated, possessed Of an
extraordinary JUDGMENT. With a
widowed mother and an
orphan sister to care for, and
a limited education, he kept pace with
the progress OF his State and day, so
that when the thunder OF war burst
upon the country in 1861, he had
smassed fortune appr0ximating the
princely sum OF one million Of dollars,
all Of which, be it said to his honor
and credit, was the result OF honest
toll and ceaselss energy backed by a
solid judgment and answering integ
rity Ii was not the fruit Of wild
speculation aud gambling schemes by
which the fortunes OF our day are lost
aud won
Colonel Ensley, Of whom we now
write, was educated 10 the primary
schools near Nashville, and in the lie.
erary department of the Cumberland
University. He studied law in the
law department in the school at Leb.
anon, and obtained and still holds a
license to practice that profession.
But the death of bis father having 90
Cured, and the war having interviewed
its disastrous effects, forced him to
turn his back upon the poverty
stricken Geld Of law and yield his un
divided time and talent TO other and
more profitable pursuits. The war at
one stroke liberated for him over three
hundred slaves aud almost shattered
the remainder of his fathers estate
But with that energy and judgment SO
prominent in his fathers character, he
soon regained what had been lost. and
to day ranks among the most success
ful aud wealthy planters in all our
southern land Of the family Of
children, consisting Of two sisters and
three brothers, Colonel Eosley is the
only survivor, the others having died
in early man aud womanhood.
AS fnancier and executive officer,
Colonel Ensley will rank with the
first in the country. Ten years ago,
tor his superiority in this regard,
be was chosen President of the Mem
phis Gsslight Company, and, notwith-
standing he found this institution
10 the coils OF serious LITIGATION; its
finances in crippled condition, and
its bonds and stocks less than par, he
has, in the face OF fearful epidemics,
aud great financial disaster, maintained
its credit, brought its stock to such
premiums as to render its purchase
next to impossible
AS another evidence Of the prof
cheney and ability OF Colonel Ensley
in this regard, be has been elected By
some Of the largest capitalists in the
country. President of the famous
Pratt Coal and Coke Company Of Ala
bams, which is perhaps the largest
coal mine in the entire South, and by
long shot the largest bituminous
coal mine in the United States. His
success in working and developing
these fields and mountains Of coal this
inexhaustible supply Of Southern
wealth hitherto dead to our Southern
soil, entities him to no little degree
of Southern gratitude and public es,
TEEN.
Aside from these practical pursuits
in which Colonel Ensley has displayed
such skill and ability we find that his
merit is not confined to these alone,
while his natural, aud we might add,
cultivated and refined, instincts
have kept him aloot from the seeth>
ing pool Of pOliucs, yet be
has exhibited wonderful research and
well digested capacity upon the
leading political issues OF the past
In 1873 he addressed letter to
General John Q. Brown on the ques-
ton of taxation, a letter which, from
Its merit, made It's way into the press
Of Tennessee and many leading jour>
mails Of the Union, The main features
Of this document was its opposition
TO tax upon manufactures, trade or
pursuits Of business, 10 which capital
was employed The wisdom of this
policy and the sjundness Of his logic
never has been nor never will be sue
cessiully denied. His motto is:
Never tax anything that would be of
value to your State, that could and
would run away, or that could and
would come to you.
Again, ia 1875, Col. Eosley addressed
letter 70 the Memphis Avalanche on
National Finances" in which his
views we're so clearly and oogently ex-
pressed, the argument 50 conclusive in
response TO general: demand the sans
was printed 10 pamphlet, and stands
to day as a lasting monument TO the
financial ability Of its author. He
urged aud demonstrated to an absolute
certainty that the then financial de
preston all over the land-the failure
Of the banks, the army Of tramps.
worthless realty and the great financial
trouble prevailing everywhere-was
born oil the womb Of that policy which
lead to the contracting Of the national
currency. Subsequent events have
fully verified that Colonel Ensley was
not only man Of foe practical judg~
ment, but shrewd political economist
As prOphesied by Colonel Ensley, the
law of Congress reducing the interest
upon the bonds Of the government, By
which slumbering millions have been
Withdrawn and put in circulation by
which, together with the coinage of
silver and restoration OF the money Of
the fathers, have brought about a state
Of prosperity hitherto Unsurpassed in
the history Of the government,
Col. Eusley also delivered an adore 8
before the American Social Science
Association" at Saratoga, New York.
on September 5. 1877. which Wolld
reflect infnitg credit upon the cele,
brated NJ. Say, or any other great poli-
teal economist, Of this, or any other
land, Of this, or any other time. Well
may Tennessee be proud Of such a
son. We only regret that want OF
space iorbids further notice OF his
successful career. Suffice il to say
! hat it has been one OF which bis
[.ts. his children and friends will
ever be proud.
IL letter from HoS MA1. PERY,