The national Republican., 1861-03-27
THE NEW COMMISSIONER OF THE
GENERAL LAND OFFICE.


Judge Edmunds yesterday entered upon the
discharge Of his duties as Com mis- sioner of the
General Land Office. Although strange>to
most OF our citizens, yet, from the high reputa.
tion as gentleman of ability and strict integ.
rity which he brings, we predict for him eminent
success in the discharge Of the arduous duties
he has assumed
The following, from the Detroit Daily Ad.
pertiser, shows the high estimation in which he
is held in that city;
yesterday afternoon, large number Of the
friends Of James NJ. Edmuuds, ESQ.,. assembled
at the City Hall, for the purpose Of bestowing
upon him mark of the estimation in which
he was held by them, and token which should
enable him in coming years to remember those
with whom he daily met during his term of Of
fee as controller of the city. A handsome
gold watch, chain, and key, were purchased,
and upon the inner portion Of the watch-case
was engraved. Presented to James NJ. Ed.
munds BY his friends in Detroit. March 20rh,
1861 His friends first congregated nt the
mayors office, and from thence proceeded to
the City Hall, where, alter waiting a few mo.
ments, Mr.. Edmunds met them, accompanied
by bis honor the mayor.
Immediately upon his arrival he was greeted
by Alderman H. T. Backus, as follows:
"SIR In behalf Of your friends, including
the Common Council and other members Of the
city government, now address you as one who,
with them, have been associated in the admin.
istration of the affairs of its government. Those
ties are now about to be severed, and / could
well have wished that this interesting duty had
devolved either upon the chief officer of the
city or Of the common council, rather than upon
one occupying comparatively private station.
In the separation about to take place, we can
but recognise the ordinary workings of a mys.
terous Providence, that through change pro-
vides its own instrumentalities for the accom-.
plishment Of its own wise ends, be they public
or private, general or special, individual or as
sociated.
This task Of communicating the kind feel.
ings and confidence of your and my associates
in the administration Of the municipal govern
ment of the city of Detroit, while it is indeed
pleasant one, combining the dry duties Of Of:
fetal life with the warm gush of individual es.
TEEN, and affection for the m n and officer, has
nevertheless connected with it considerations
of q painful character, for all these changes
await us Individually and officially along the
path Of life, but repeat, and re.repeat, as often
as they recur, the eternal truth, that all things
human, however pleasant they may be, either
in detail or combination, must and will have
an end.
"sir, it would be neither necessary nor
proper, at this time, for me to recur in detail to
he varied duties and responsibilities that your
official station has necessarily imposed upon
you, or the great benefit those associated with
you in the administration of the affairs of the
city have derived, from the manner in which
those duties and responsibilities have been dis
charged and met by you. Suffice it to say,
these duties have always been laborious, often
complicated, and seldom free from embarrass-
ing responsibilities. And yet do but express
the truth of my own feelings, and as believe
of those whom l now represent, when l say as
a whole, your official course has been such as
merits, and does receive, our most unqualified
approval and commendation.
"'We necessarily feel that in the severance
Of our present official relations the city will
meet with severe loss, and one that we can
scarcely hope to repair without at least much
time for experience that any successor must
necessarily require to capacitate him for that
measure Of usefulness which the severance of
your official ties will lose TO the city. While
we, therefore, do most sincerely regret, not
only the social but official loss to which your
removal will subject both us and the interests
Of the city, we cannot disapprove of your de.
termination in the matter, inasmuch as it will
translate you to another sphere of usefulness
more enlarged than the present, and where the
benefits Of those business habits aud capacities
with which you are endowed, that in our opin.
ion eminently fit you for the successful admin.
istration of the duties of the station to which
you are called.
"As a slight token of the regard and esteem
Of those with whom you have been associated,
l have the honor now to present you with this
watch. Take it, sir, and hold it, with the full
assurance that it is friendships sincerest offer
ing, as well as memento for future years of
official fidelity. In behalf of those whom rep.
resent and OF myself l sincerely wish you
full measure Of success and prosperity in the
future sphere of usefulness to which you are
called, and whatever kind Providence may in
its allotments have in store for you above, if
present fidelity and official integrity are au in.
dex Of the future, you at the end will receive
the happy Plaudit, "Well done, good and faith.
full servant
"At the conclusion of Mr.. Backus's remarks,
Mr.. Edmunds returned his thanks for the mark
of their esteem and affection thus shown to him.
and stated that he was totally unable to reply
to the words of his friend. The surprise had
coUp'etely uhWahhtu hlin, ana ne cOuId only
say that the repeated testimony of the regard
Of his friends and associates made his expect.
ed separation from them very hard to bear.
He assured them that although he could not
express himself as he desired, that his heart
was none the less touched by this evidence of
their good will"
EXTRA SESSION OF THE SENATE.
Tuesday, March &c, 1861.
The Senate took up the resolution of Mr..
Douglas, calling for information in relation to
the forts navy wards etc yben