The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-14


sn,s red upon The d,schsrgs Of my onie'sl duties
with determination TO preserve II possible The prin-
ciple On bich the post Office system OF the Unned
states had peen established-the principle that its
own re sources should meet It's expenditures. This
can be onl, done by requiring all who use the post
office for their private purposes 10 ay the expense Of
trans ortston and delivery OF their letters aud papers
no more principle essential, IN my opinion, 10
pa aud beslihiui administration OF the powers
cessarily vested in the chief OF The department
You, sir hsye been pleased 10 aludo IN Kind, aud
may, wit.sut aheetaio0, say IN unmarried terms 10
the manner have discharged the trust eonhded 10
me thank you, most cordially do | thank rou, and
my friends present. for this expression OF lbor oph-
ion OF inc. II more than eompensstss me lof all my
toilsone laboB with them. That l have devoted
most assduously my whole time and such talents "a
have To the abors OF my Office, Is most true and
YOU are che witnesses Of the fact lie who under.
take. The mansg ment OF the General Post Ohee,
las no snecure on which 10 islten, or Oed oil down
on which to repose.
The circumstance calculated TO embarrass aud
cripple the operations Of the Department, inleriostd
by selfish interests TO which you have referred con
duce greatly TO mere the difficulties OF my Official
duties Bot sir took the law Tor the rule OF my &C
tion-the advancement OF the public good as Tie
great end, acted upon principle whieh nave ever
adopted IN private veil as public life :hrsl sslis
4, nv Judgment of the right, then pursue H. leaving
consequences To take care of themselves. You sIr
who have been most familiar, not only win my pub
lie acts in the Department, but win The various mo-
tyes aud objects BY which they have been prompted,
have this day given TO me and 10 The world your s'-
denco of approval sustained by the gentlemen around
m terms most hatterng They have made upon my
heart impre sions which time cannot- VIII not oblh-
crate. Ia the retirement OF home, surrounded by
family aud friends, my memory will oien and long
turn this more than triumph over those who have
ipno rsnty or basely sssaed my motives Upon such
evidence submit my public acts TO the enlightened
iudgme nj OF nv fellow citizens.
leave the Department W itb no regrets save those
which belong 10 separation oil friends. leave u
with more Joy than entered II, and have cause oil
graduation IL | have loft IT, under all The clrcum-
I stances Ia no worse condition than found H. sur
render It's responsible duties cheeruy 10 one whose
long experience IN public affairs whose business hab
its and devotion TO the public interests, have long
been conspicuous IN the halls Of legislation One
who, unlike myself has the hope derysble from
majority administrator TO lean upon aud cheer HIM
in The path Of duly. One iiom whose labor and tai
enis 10 the discharge his official duties the coun
try has right TO expect much, and, am persuaded
will not be disappointed To him | commend each
and every one OF you as faithful public servants
Sir, would not fu I'll my whole duty on the pres
ent occasion, nor obey the dictates of grateful
heart II did not bear testimony to the fidelity and
business talents Of yourself and the whole corps oil
officers and clerks who now surround me, and BY
whose lsbors have been 40 promptly aud efhclehlIy
aided Indeed l ought - extend this remark 10 The
| thousands who have en- co-wOrkers IN our joint
! labors
One thing will say, because it is due TO truth
there is double the labor performed IN the Pot.
Office Department, in proportion TO the number Il
clerks employed, than IN any other Department oil
the Government
The allusion you have been pleased to make to the
social intercourse and hosptaes Of my family calls
for the expression Of their thanks Let me- IN Their
name, assure you that they have been more than
compensated by the pleasures Of social intercourse
with the citizens Of Washington. They leave the
society Of the metropolis with pleasing recolleeton',
and most happy arc they to know not without Tue
regrets Of kind friends.
There is a charm around homS, to which place we
shall in a few days return which, in some degree, at
leyiates the pain at parting with dear friends.
Again, gentlemen, thank you for this manifesto
ton of your personal gard and in parting allow me
10 say that, If any act OF mine has, Fundamentally,
given pain TO any connected with tie Department
most sincerely do regret 1t. 1t remains for me only
to add f~arsH May happiness and prosperity al,
tend each one Of you through life
At tile conclusion of this speech, the whole compa'
ny united in several rounds OF applause.
During the delivery Of these speeches, silent but
expressive tears to steal down the cheeks
and gsten IN the eye of many manly form. The
interview was strkIngly indicative of the highest aud
hottest feelings of our nature and surely never
be forgotten by those who participated in II, or
even admitted as spectators. CUsMoPoLiTE.