The Washington bee., 1897-05-15
HENRY PLUMMER cHEATHAM.

WlllG ne was IIlSINDSI Vi OOHSI IcSS
from the "Black" or Second North
Carolina District. That biography is
commonplace compared to the pecu-
lar and romantic facts and circum-
stances which eliminated in making
man, born a slave in small North
Carolina town, an alumnus of the
leading university of his state for col
ored people, and afterwards member
OF the House of Representatives from
the district in which his former mas
ter's family still lives
Plummer Cheatham, as is Familiarity
known there, has good white blood in
his veins. He is what the Southerners
call a "ginger cake" negro! His
youth was an easy one. AS boy he
frequently accompanied Mr.. Cheatham
and his sons on hunting and fishing ex-
Cursions. The senior MIR. Cheatham
was partial to him. Another easy task
Nas to drive his "old masters" buggy
for him. But the result of the war
brought freedom to the boy, and the
events which marked the reconstruc-
ton period fired him with ambition to
secure an education, and thus better
enable him to make his way in the
world. He is and always was popular
with the better class, the old landed
class, of people in his section. Many
of them voted for him in preference to
less conservative and less educated
men of his own party when he ran for
his first office, that of Register OF
Deeds for the town of Henderson,
where he lived. He never betrayed
the confidence they showed in him.
He always "knew his place." as the
white gentlemen averred, and even
after he got into Congress 'never had
the first Symptom of the swell head"
He learned to read and write at the
meagerly equipped public schools for
the colored people of the South. He
longed to go to Shaw University, at
Raleigh, but had no money. Finally
he resolved to appeal to the Commits
sioner of Education, Robert Alexan-
der Jenkins, Esq, of Williams boro, a
gentleman of wealth and we'll known
for his strong opposition to secession.
A large slave and land owner, he was
staunch friend of the negro race, and
was famous for the kindness he had
always shown to his own slaves. The
ambitious young colored boy went to
see this gentleman, and said; "Marse
Robert, | want an education and you
can help me get one. Give me an ap-
pointment to teach a certain school
within your jurisdiction, make them
pay me good salary, and | will do
my duty, save my money and pay my
way through Shaw University"
An eye witness tells that Mr.. Jenkins
took the boys hand in his and,
pleased with the young applicants
bearing and earnestness, said cor
daily:
"Plummer, you are pursuing exactly
the right course. Education is the
only thing that will fit your race for
the right use of the ballot. ] believe
you will not disappoint me and will
do my best for you. Go home and make
your preparations to take charge OF
the school you mention. In week or
ten days you will get the appointment
you desire will make the salary as
large as the funds in hand will permit
and the work as light, so that you can
study while you teach"
The young man was delighted. He
saved $500 from the school and with it
paid his way through college, 1t was
the beginning of the career of the man
whose nomination for an important
Office in the District Of Columbia was
Tuesday sent TO the Senate Of the
United States.
CheathaE1 possesses another rare
-gratitude-Which he showed in
this way way: When he was first elect
ed o Congress daughter of Mr.. Jen-
ki-ls (who, by the way, is tax payer
of the District and strong advocate
of Cheatham' asked white Repub-
lican member of the North Carolina
Legislature to introduce her TO the
colored member from her old home,
as she wanted him to nominate her
young brother to the cadetship at An
napolis! She had forgotten the color
ed youth and had never heard the
facts above narrated. The member of
the State Legislature escorted her to
Congressman Cheatham's house on
Connecticut avenue, and commenced
his introduction. The Congressman
grasped the lady's extended hand and
said; Miss C-you need no 1ntroduc-
ton to me; you have forgotten me, but
have known you all my life. | owe
it partly to your father that am here'
Then he told her the facts given above.
| She said:
81 am glad my father had it in his
power to help you and that you have
proved so worthy ofh his faith in you. !
have come to ask favor of you now.
want you to nominate my brother
to the cadetship at Annapolis" "
| The answer was:
"Your fathers daughter can ask no
favor l would not grant, if had the
power to do So"
! The nomination was made and the
old obligation wiped out, but every
member of the family in North Car
olina as well as in Washington feels
the keenest interest in the welfare OF
Plummer Cheatham.
With fine business foresight he in
vested a part of his salary as Con-
gresham in real estate in Washington.
He bought property that nearly fronts
on Dupont Circle, and the ex-slave can
look from windows over the columned
portico Of the Chicago's millionaire's S
house that ornaments that ultra-fash-
ionable locality. All North Carolina
is pleased at the appointment without
regard to party, and Senator Pritchard
whose influence with the President Sc
cured the place for ex-Congressman
Cheatham has added to his popular
i+y b,, hic selection of an honest hard