Warren telegraph. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1857-1861, 1860-06-02
With emotion which at times nearly overpow.
cred him, the aged man responded as follows,

|
cred him, the aged man responded as follows,
Gentlemen I'll accept at your hands this tcstmoni-
al presented by you in behalf Of my fellow citizens
To them tender through you my grateful acknowl-
edgements, for this substantial expression of their
kindness and confidence And return to you, per-
sonally, best thanks, for the liberaty and good
taste you have evnced, in carrying on the vote of
the town-and for the manner in which you have
been pleased to speak of those which gra-
cious Providence has permitted me to perform, for
half a century as Town Clerk of the town Of Warren
/ / am old man of more than four score years.
and at this evening hour Of my long life. need not
say that it is most grateful to my feelings to have
this spontaneous expression Of the approval of my,
friends and neighbors, at the close OF ofcia.csS
reer that has been protracted to a period which
has left il almost without parallel in the mubicip
Rarely indeed has Il fallen to the lot of any man to
serve in any Office for the period Of half centu
ry, and that one Office annually elective.
was elected Town Clerk on the 23d day of August,
A. d. 18O9 to succeed the venerable William Barton,
(then deceased,) VINO had served in this capacity
thrty-three years. From that time to this have
when the late Gen. Joseph Adams was elected in my
place. With this exception, have received, so far
as now remember, the unanimous suffrage OF my
fellow citizens through all the political srifes and di-
visions which have marked the political history OF the
last half century.
1t is worthy Of observation that with the exception
of single year Of Gen. Adams service, Warren has
had but three Town Clerks-a fact significantly ind-
cativo of that political stability for which this COM
munity has be n heretofore somewhat distinguished.
| have been spared to see many changes among
those who have been associated with me in the ad-
minisration of the town affairs. Scarcely an ind-
vidual now lives who held appointment in the
town when first entered upon the Office from which
have Just retired. If mistake not, every memter
of the Court Of Probate, for the first quarter of a
century of my service has passed away and Of those
who occupy that honorable and responsible sta.
tiou of them were not born, and the oldest Of
them was hardly out of his mothers arms, when
| entered uDOu the duties of Probate Clerk.
! came to this town young raan. II has been my
! only place of residence since graduated at Rhode
Island College. Almost from the first of my residence
here, have been connected with the administration
Of town affairs. have endeavored so to discharge
the duties of my Office, to merit the reputation of
an honest man, and faithful public servant. The
dongs of to-day are most gratifying assurance that
my endeavors have not been altogether in vain.
! shall preserve this testimonial rs among the
choicest Of my earthly treasures. l shall look upon
it while live q memento of the proudest day of
my lifeand shall leave il to my children to be hand
ed down to theirs, treasure above price-.an heir
loom which records in pictures of silver the pub
lie appreciation Of their fathers a3ors for fifty years.
Again thanking you, gentlemen, for your kindness,
wish you, individually, all manner Of happiness
and the constituency for whom you act every
Of that prosperity which clevatcs and ennobes peo
pie, and in the direction of true progress, makes
them loyal citizens and good Christians. and thereby
fits them for their duties here, and for the joys Of
better life in better world.
In the ordinary course Of thingsit is not long
that we can expect to meet tho venerable form
Of this public functionary Of half a century. II
was meet ere the curtain of night darkened the
evening Of his days, that in so unmistakeablc q
manner, his constituents should thus ovince
their appreciation of his sarvices. May the re
msinder of his pilgrimage be as happy as the
past has been useful and honorable.