Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-04

PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO THE
HON G, p. VAN NESS, LATE
COLLECTOR OF THE PORT or
NEW YORK.
AT Howard's Hotel, last evening Aug
22,) pursuant to public notice, numcr.
Gus meeting Of the Officers of the Gus
toms, with many private citizens, and sew.
eraI distinguished public characters, as
semblod to witness the presentation of a
superb service of plate, Of exquisite de.
sign and workmanship as a memorial Of
the respect Of the officers of his depart
mcnt, for his "onicia, political and per-
sona character" The plate was display
edin the spacious dining room Of the no.
tel, and was universally admired. 1t was
manufactured by Mr. Gcradus Boycc, OF
Green street, aud cost precisely $1,000
1t consists Of magnificent saIyer, urn,
two embossed pitchers, tea-ketlIc, teapot,
sugar.bowl and several other pieces, all Of
solid SILVER. richly and tas,efuIly cngray-
ed, Each article except the salyer, con.
tains the inscription. "Prcsentcdto Cor
neIius p Van Ness, on his retirement
from the ColIectorshp of the Port of New
York, by the Officers of his department. "
On the saIver is engraved the longer in
scription, "To Cornelius P. Van Ness,
on his retirement from the ColIcctorship
Of the Pert of New York, July LIST, 1345,
this salver and service of Plate are cor
dIaIy presented by the officers of his de-
parment, as a memorial Of their
resp ecl for his high character and talents
in that as in every previous public station;
of their esteem for his patriotic career, as
a Democratic Republican, and ofthcir re-
gard for his generous qualities as a man
August lst, 1916"
Governor Van Ness, surrounded by a
large body of his personal friends, and Il
number of elegant ladies, whose presence
added not little to the grace and beauty
Of the scene, was then ably addressed
by Gen. Arcularius, an old and respected
Democrat, the chairman of the presen,a-
ton Committee, who with about two hun
dred officers Of the customs, stood around
lie then read the following letter address,
ed to Gov. Van Ncss:-
New YoRK, August 2lst, 1915.
Dear .Sir:-On your retirement from
the Collectorshlp of the Port Of N, York,
an earnest desire was very generally G.
yinced by the officers Of your department,
to avail themselves of that event as an APP
propriatc occasion on which to offer you
some expression of their respect for your
official, polilica and personal character
The feeling being spontaneous the oppor-
tunity was regarded as unequiyocaly sig
niicant of its disinterestodness and SINGER
ity.
Whilst, as officers under your authority
we had been daily witnesses OF your Wig
lance in supervision and perinacity in
dsiplin-quaIties at once invaluable to
the public service and gratifying to all who
partook Of the sense of duty which inspir-
ed them-our respect for your official
character was unaIIowed by the imposi-
ton Of any unreasonable or humiIiating
restraint upon our uncompromised priyil-
eyes as citizens. As Democratic Re-
pnbIicans we had beheId with parental
sentiments, your frank, direct ,open-hcur-
ted and open-handed cooperation with
the democracy of this City and State, in
the late Presidential Election; and also,
the sagacity aud tact with which you had
previously lahore to affect that harmony
and union between every sect and faction
of the party which so happily resulted in
unanimous and triumphant action. Nor
were VIC less impressed with the broad JUS,
tice and, therefore the wisdom of your
policy, for preserving that unan'mity for
the future. Recognizing the claims ONO
particular clique or com binalion of the
party, to any special monopoly of the Of
liccrs under your jurisdiction, You appa-
rently slrove to uphold the sacred princl-
pies of freedom of opinion and choice, a
mong al! true Democrats, respecting the
prominent measures and candidates Of
their party, by an elevated impartiaIity in
your appointments to Office. SO far as
our observation enabled us to Judge no
applicant was rejected and none PREFER
ed on account of his having acted with
the friends of either of'he public men who
were popularity named as desirable NOM
inees of the Democratic party for the
pros;dnncv W. do not llllSOmeIy aSCrlbe