The national Republican., 1861-10-12
Presentation Of silver Plato to Hon. J oh n
r. RaflarA


Presentation Of silver Plate to Hon. job
f. Potter.
Tbs Wisconsin friends of this gentlemen, now
residing temporarily, or permanently, in Wash |
ington, gave him supper on Wednesday even.
ing, ut Cay's Hotel at which they presented
and salver. The presentation was made on
behalf Of the gentlemen who united In the tes.
timonial, by Mr.. Holden, Of the Sixth Aud tors |
ONCE, in the following terms
Sir: The Gentlemen here present have de.
puted me the honor Of rendering you, on this
occasion, an expression Of their appreciation
of your public services. They; have deemed
the present occasion to be not only appropri. |
ate, but that 1t demands Of them some word Of
praise and commendaton In your behalf. You
have lust concluded the labors OF an arduOus
and difioult investigation, the most important
in its character and results, ever instituted In
the history Of our Government. II has been
your duty as chairman OF committee, raised
States, to investigate and expose the character
and designs Of those persons who either boldly
trample upon the Constitution, and seek tod
overthrow the Government, or who passively
but no less reasonably are willing to assent to
its destruction.
And need not assure you, Sir, how firmly
we believe that you have faithfully aud impar.
TALLY discharged those duties. We know how
impossible 1t would be for you knowingly to
consent that even a shadow of suspected dis.
loyalty should unjustly rest upon any one, and
we know how equally impossible 1t would be,
that any consideration, either of wealth, posi-
tion, influence or friendship, could induce you
to spare any man who entertains sentiments OF
hostility TO the Government.
OF the estimation in which your labors may
be held by the Government and the people,
may not speak, 1t Is sufficient for me TO say
that they were performed at time when the
very temple of our liberties was shaken with
the tramp of traitors inside the ediflce, no less
than from tho assaults of foes from without,
aud the history of the times shall assign you
Just record. But of the estimate which these
gentlemen from your own State, who have been
in Washington during the progress Of this in.
vestgation, and who have been cognizant OF
those services, place upon them, am author
iZed to speak; and in token Of their high appre.
citation Of your labors, they have requested me
to present you, and ask your acceptance OF
this pitcher and these goblets, and they also de.
sire me to assure you of the profound regard
they cherish for you personally, no less on ac'
count Of your private virtues and moral worth
than for your patriotic and eminent public
services.
Mr.. Potter responded in the following Ian.
guage:
GENTLEMEN: can but feebly give utterance
to the grateful emotions with which receive
this unexpected testimonial of your personal
regard, and, as you are pleased to express IT,
your high appreciation of the services of the
committee, of which | have the honor to be
chairman. l can only express my unaffected
encouragement and sympathy with which you
have followed me in my labors, and for the
kindness which prompts this generous mani'
festation. The united testimony of my fellow.
citizens of Wisconsin, now residing in Washing
ton, to the Importance and necessity ofthe duty
which has devolved upon the committee, es.
pecially in view of the opportunity they have
had Of forming correct Judgment In the pre-
mises, cannot but be most gratifying to me; nor
will it, l trust, be without its influence to re
move the prejudices and correct the misappre.
tensions which may exist in any honest mind
In relation to this investigation, and which,
from its peculiar nature, could hardly be
avoided.
For myself, lam frank TO say that from the first
of this unhappy rebellion, have felt less appre
henson from open treason than from secre
dislOyalty. The former could be successfully
met by the loyal hearts and strong arms OF the
people; but with an insidious, cunning and
devihsh conspiracy which has already brought
the country to the verge OF ruin, and which
has fermented every department Of the public
service, 1t is more difficult to cope even with
the entire disposition on the part Of those upon
whom the responsibility rests, TO remove all
persons froil office upon whom reasonable
suspicion of disoyaty can be fixed. After the
experience of the past, 1t was natural that we
could trust, and must confess to strong soli'
citude, which | doubt not the country has
shared, lest some new phase of this conspiracy
might, at any time, appear to seriously em6ar
Government.
The labors Of the committee, as you vel
say, have been arduous and difficult. That they
have been arduous will be readily seen in the
fact that more than four hundred cases of al
legged disloyalty have been investigated. Tha,
they have been difficult has resulted from the
very nature OF an enquiry into the loyal char
acter of the citizen, In the prosecution OF
best intentions, there is danger of doing injus
tice. The responsibilities of these labors, fol
one would gladly have avoided. could have re
conoled 1t 10 my sense of pub ic duty.
Of the mode in which the investigation has
been conducted, it does not become me tC
speak. II in the course of 1t any one has suf-
fered wrongfully in his character or feelings
no one would regret it more than the commit
tee. 1t has certainly been my own most earnes
desire 10 put aside every unworthy and per
sonal consideration, and to do even and eXac
Justice to all.
In conclusion, gentlemen, let me again thanh
you from my heart for your beautiful gift, ant
especially for the generous sentiment whiel
you have had engraved on its solid silver.
will ever be preserved by me as the memoria
of one of the most gratifying incidents of my
life, and will be transmitted as preciou
legacy to my children. In this day of the coun
try's gloom, and after the embarrassments ant
discouragements ofa protracted investigation
it IL a consolation to me. In after years, wher
the great rebellion has been, as 1t Is my abb
ding conviction that 1t will be, effectually ant
spread her wings over our beloved land-whei
the country shall again become united, pros
porous, and happy, III all the amplitude OF 1T
magnificent domain" not star erased iron
its glorious banner, its contemplation and thu
associations which will cluster around 1t, VIII
be to me source of unalloyed satisfaction.
Among others, the following impromptu sen
timents were offered on the occasion:
l. Our distinguished glest-The fearless de
fender of The freedom Of speech, and faithful
representative of his constituency. May hi
future be as glorious rs his past has been hon
orable and patriotic.
2. "J FP."-Justce, Fidelity, and Patriot
ism; the three distinguishing characteristics o
our guest, the Hon. John F. Potter.
8. The dtsloydl men in The employment of III
Government they be rs clay in the hand
of the Potter, all to be fashioned into vessels c
dishonor.
The following inscription Is engraven upol
the pitcher:
Presented
to
HON. JOHN y. POTTER,
By his fellow-citizens Of Wisconsin,
now in Washington,
. slnt. 1. ,..l.n atntlN.