Daily national Republican., 1863-04-03
LOCAL NEWS.

Last wednesday evening, the clerks and en-
ploysss Of the City Post once met at the rest
dence Or the retiring postmaster 70 tender TO
him their assurances Of respect and good VIII.
When the company had assembled, Mr.. RI
llot, advancing toward Mr.. ClophsnO, saldi
Mr.. CLkfHkNE noed not introduce this
company 70 you personally. They have come
for the purpose Of testlfying their esteem for
you in your Official capacity, and their regret
that Il has been so soon terminated. They this
evening held q meeting at tho ofiico and en-
bodied their feelings In certain resolutions
which they have requested me to present TO
you.
The fesoluiions were then read as followsi
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas the Official relations existing be-
tween our respected postmaster, Lewis Gle
phane, Esq, and the clerks and others en-
ployed In the Washington City post Office Is
now termlnatedi and whereas the present Is q
.ftting time 10 express our appreciation OF, and
high regard for, the personal and official char
acter Of our late postmaster, therefore, be Il
Resolved, That our thanks bo and they are
hereby rendered to Lewis Clephane, Esq, late
postmaster, for his uniform kindness and gen
tlemanly bearing toward the employees Of his
ofilce, while In the discharge Of his official
Reioived, That wc part with our esteemed
friend and official chief with feelings Of deep
regret, and that wherever his lot may cast him
and his, our kind romembrances shall follow,
and our best wighes for his health, happiness
and prosperity shall only be equalod by the re-
eponaivo emotions OF 10y we shall ever ex-
pcrionce 10 know that his life-voyage is calm
and prosperous, waiting him onward 10 the
haven Of final rest.
REsPoNBE or MR.. CLBPHANE.
Mr.. Clephane, In response, said;
Gentlemen. must again tender you my
- l. II
Thls y not the first evidence have received
at your hands OF the friendship entertained
towards mo. / am glad to welcome you all
here tonight. l am thankful to you for this
marx or your appreciation, as embodied In the
resolutions which you have presented to me.
And whilst am glad To meet you here tonight,
cannot but regret the circumstance under
which we meet. We meet 10 part. The rela-
tlon which has heretofore existed between us
Is this day dissolved. You, trust, will con.
tinue In your accustomed course Of duty-it
win be mine 70 pursue another.
Wehave been associated together not In pleas.
suro but In labor. And whilst you have been
pleased by these resolutions, to signify the Ap.
probation In which have been held by you,
must say that feel, in parting with you, that
Ipart with a class Of men whom respect
nay, more, love. And whilst you have com
plimented me, and whilst l do not believe In
returning this, because Of the favor l have re-
" colYed, must confer to you as have confer
red 10 my successor, and as have done on al
=, occasions, that a more faithful and hard-work
ing class Of men Is not TO be found certainly II
any department Of the Government. II hal
been necessary for you, gentlemen, owing Il
the military necessities of the times, TO work
greater number OF hours than had a right Il
exact of you, but am happy to say that nom
Of you have shrunk from the performance o
your duty, though many Of you know hav'
overtaxed your strength, was asked by m,
successor whether had any. .droneS among tn
employees. / told him we had none such, bu
assured him that II perchance drone got int
our department, like the drone bee, he woul'
soon have been expelled from the hive. ZAP
plause. .-#I-.
Gentlemen, in parting from the Office whicl
: i have held for nearly two years, leave II witt
aconseiouspess that l have faithfully performe
my duty. feel that have served, not onl
the once but the cnmmunlty, as faithfully a
- II was possible for me under the circumstances
lApplause.l When took possession Of III
Washingtoh City post ofice It was but small al
fair In comparison with what II is now. ImmS
dlately upon my entering IL, we found popu
latIon Increased from probably 90, 900 TO owe
million, bytho immense army which was ST.
noned In and about Washington. The capac
ties Of the Office were not sufficient for this vat
increase OF lAbor--eVOrything had to be gotte
up In hurry, but believe, gentlemen, It la
beon ls faithfully executed as Il could possibl
have been under the circumstances. tAI
9 plause. . .. .
Gentlemen, You arc aware that In the seleI
tions Of those who were to assist mo In the POI
formance Of thir duty, L have looked alone
capacity. have not made that party office {
II which many supposed would, on enterin
upsn t. l have sought TO serve the Cover
nd ment and the public faithfully, and in my 81
lectlons Of those who Wereto assst me, locke
70 those who were best quAlihedto perform thu
duty; and ! say 10 you here, gentlemen, that
am fully satlShed with the selections haI
., made. tApplause-1 It Is true, my friends, 1
has been expressed by the Postmaster Genera
- l have not sought, or he may not have gaine,
any political influence by my appointment.
Is true, az he has said, that have proved .
politician. plead guilty to the charge tina
In selecting my men, have sought the citiZeI
OF Washington as far as was able-[ applause
-A-or, as the Postmaster General has exPresst
1t, "the fellows OF Washington who have I
Influence" II Is true, gentlemen, have n
sought TO make the Washington city office
political machine, either for my advanceme
or for the political advancement OF any ma
Applause felt that had higher duty
perform. felt that had to seek the publ
convenience, and attempted SO to do. l ha
,, also thought proper TO retain In our midst son
! tho old and tried and faithful seryants-tho
who had been there for many years. For thi
too, have been blamed.
Gentlemen, the post office Is not like al
other branch OF our Government. Ii Is not |
office that man Is prepared TO go into and tai
eflcIent post Office clerk requires that Uni
should serve In that capacity, not for mon
or two months, but for years. There Is som
A thing alwas 10 acquire, and hope the time
no far distant when new system will
adopted with reference TO post office clerks.
long 10 see the time when position In a pc
ofico wall be more desirable than that Of o
In any other branch Of our Government, !
cause such positions shall continue for II
Applause. l have always advocated the q
prentice system In post office. believe II
the salaries should be made such as TO indu
men TO seek positions there rather than as NJ
TO avoid them. My own opinion is that m
should be taken In as apprentices and gradu
>ly work up to high position. In that way
shall have perfect post Office system, and I
until then.
Gentlemen, In parting with you, feel tina
am under many obligations TO you. l feel Il
Ihaye over-worked you. II has not been, |
sure you, of my choice, l have felt also Il
many of you had not tho adequate salar
which you ough TO have had. This, too, II v
out Of my power to remedyj but l trust Il
my successor will have greater advantages tn
have had, and that he will be able to caro-
you much better than have been able to. u