The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-22

The Testimonial 90 John Mcleod Murphy.
We noticed the other day the presentation 70 Mr.. Mur
ply, BY the mechanics and workinsmen Of the Navy
Yard OF splendid service Of plate and gold wstch and
chain which took place II Nbos Saloon Tho great press
Of important local matters prevented until the posi-
h,,,,- =. . .aa.A A~tA~AAd =, ;. s>a~ =
-. . mo.v --r.,svi the Interesting pro- |
a.a,rgs There was . large meeting assembled at the
,npouted hour and the gifts we're prominently Delayed
On a table ON the platform.
the Hon. JOHN Kelly, Member OF ,r..
'duced by the President, ~se'' e'Ae
uuue' ,uo-s ~. ynes, Esq., spoke substan-
'""' 49, turning 70 Mr.. Murphy, he said, The
psaA ~ devclves upon me- sir, Of presenhngto you,
In hS name II The mechanics and workingmen Of the
Navy YarG Hs magnificent testimonial Of their appeci'
Atom h Sour private and professional character It an
honor which you have merited by your devotion 10 duty
yOur steadness Of purpoee-your ability and your worth
s man In your hands these precious gifts will serve 10
yoS had friends who your character and
esee med your manly conduct Take them, and hand them
down your children as keepsakes from the mechanic
there to be cherished tokens OF gratitude and Affection
and when your children speak Of you they viii proudly
point to these gifts and ray such man was our ather,
and sn cas- ha held in the estimation Of those who knew
him. (Applause.) . ..,.
MI j. GcIBeD MrRruY then said-ln accepting this mag.
n,6cen TESTIMONIAL to that this Is the prouuest
moment OF my life, should be giving auerance " t"a.
which hardly true The fact Is, this hour Ia TO me one
of deem unWOftnlneSs
si IT, az assured, this Is token of gratitude to
me because distributed the patronage Of the government
in that was satisfactory TO you then the GIN
should have appropriately been given to the honora
BILE gentleman who has just presented IL TO me- His un'
firing Efforts work for the mechanic and the
laboipg during the seventies Of the last winter, en-
titles him 70 your warmest gratitude Nor his ap
peas UNDECIDED by the late Sec etary OF the Navy was
enough for him to know that poor mans child was weep
ing for bread-and through Ice and rain and seet
be wandered until its cries we're hushed with plenty Nor
we're these acts Of generous exerton 10 behalf OF the
workpgman limited to bis own Congressional district No
such barrow policy crcumecrbed his conduct for there
are hundreds in all parts Of this city and Brooklyn
from the blight of deness has been banshed
In this respect was but agent But gentlemen that
agency destroyed The official relations between US
forever exnguished, and while shall no. aude to the
events circumstances that have led TO that exngsh
ment of associations and ties, dearer far To my heart
ana memory than any OF the obligations of office,
ever ene be- that nv manhood is OF more inanite
value than any place. Your here to night
| and the occasion which has summoned TO
exchange gances Of ancient friendship before we part
prove that beneath your manly bosoms there beats
q response TO that sentiment This is testimonial Of
Combination Of circumstances my lot has been cast
among them from childhood More than sixteen
made grave, under the willows in the old st.
Marks churchyard, and recsle what she said
we sa, BY the cracking &c Light Of the sss's ha.
chds confidence asked her, "Mother, ~hat shall be2
Choose, my boy said She ":Ome profession in LIFE the
wants the necessities Of the poor and In that
will ever have before you the commands of our Divine
Father" From tina, bour that dear mothers Injunction
has been with me. Even amid the gay AMI brilliant
Of Italy my companions were brawny sailors and
while they taught me 70 knot and to splice learned from
songs Of poor Dbdn. In exchange for well thumsed
volumes Of Maryatt and Basil Hall, gave
them the Hawks Of Hawks Hollow and the poems of
Iandon. But glance back through that vista OF
years. remember with deep affection one man, whose
the Dust But poor and despised as he was, he was
learned and educated man, and Wild uu-utored lad
whose scholarship was limited to what had gathered in
the dresry months Of winter among ragged boys on
oaken bench in the wlds Of dear old Rockland He
my defects and with generosity that neither time nor
circumstance eace from my memory, he became my
friend preceptor Together oambered the heights
Of vesavus Together visited the tomb Of Virgil and
oered amcsg the ruins Of ancient Postum Together We
rode the dusty plains Athens and wept he read
to me the songs Of burning sAPpho And many time a.
ships lantern he pointed out the beauties OF shsks
pere, Of Milton, and Cowper To night he sleeps In .
his epiiAph is written in the neaceabe language Of gra
tltude upon my heart In me society Of such
my life been spent and while have learned Sy this cons
panonshp measure The vcsstudes that encompass the
homes Of the poor, have learned likewise to know how
rich they in hearts and hopes and memories. on,
my friends you cannot boast Of your scrip
in banks and railroads. you have than equal share
recording angels you than mere in
that invisible railway which, traversing the atmosphere
with It's freighied trains Of generous thoughts and noble
impulses, its terminus in heaven. (AppauseJ II is
disgrace IN be impoverished and II Is no shame to
handle the pick to WELD the sledge But 10 wrong
attempt TO dig for gold In the sands OF life, where lis gilt
tcripg particles only washed out with tears You live
for higher objects and nober purposes than this. The
heart and the hopes OF this mighty nation nay, or all hu
mainly, OF all liberty OF all religion and OF all civilization
dependent upon the strong and patriotism Of the
working and the mechanic for the rich are after ALL
only the Disturbing agents OF the poor Be steada then
in the fulhment or these sacred duties and when my
children grow up by the side OF yours they will by
the precious gfrs you have given their father TO night
and striking hands inupserabe friendship climb together
the rugged sleeps Of life. Uong continued applause)
Letters Of apology were then read from Judge Rasse
nopy to Mr.. Murphy g worthiness.
Mr. KELLY being again called upon, sad-H Ia proper
should add before this interest ceremony cosed
IN Mr.. kurphys noval from the Office he held Con-
structng Engineer under the government, there
charge OF derilecon Of duy-no charge Of lack Of pro
fessiona capacy-no charge Of political isddely 10 the
democratic party. His offence was defence Of his
private character against the groundess accusations oone
who ought 10 have been his friend For this reason,
this alone the aid o. the executive invoked 10 enforce
his removal; and say IT, In my capacity representa-
tive In Congress from New York, without qualification,
that such Interference the part Of the Chief Magis
rate Of the Union In private quarrel, unwarrantr
able, uDdemocratic, and without precedent But M
Murphy has manhood and ability enough 70 live without
the patronage OF the government; and, II estimate him
rightly he will yet enjoy place Of distinction among the
people OF this Union when the memory OF those who
have attempted 10 crush him will be lost In oblivion
Abou one hundred ard twenty Of the Immediate friends
Of Mr. Murphy then proceeded TO Kcces Saloon where
they passed pleasant time over an excellent repast