Douglass is describing events from the past. These "boys" are now adult men, so why would he avoid giving their names?

I think it is more important what the boys represented to Douglass rathar than what their individual names were. Many of the "poor white boys" were his friends, the only real white friends he had for much of his life. 

I don't like when Douglasses they gave tongue to interesting thoughts how is he using the word tongued