Interesting. Jefferson's grandson wrote something nearly identical.
From the memoirs of Thomas Jefferson Randolph:

"The manners of well bred gentlemen were always kind and courteous to
slaves.  On riding with Mr. Jefferson when President we met a negro,
the President returned his salutation, I did not; he turned to me
after we had passed and asked if I permitted a negro to be more of a
gentleman than myself."

Henry Wiencek
Charlottesville

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