Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-02-19

PREsENrATIoN.-Among the incidents
of New Years day we notice that of the
clerks of the Internal Revenue Bureau to-
wards its gentlemanly and efficient Chief
Clerk, w. F. Downs. Esq. Mr.. Downs
is son of J. B. G. Downs, of Fremont
ED. JOURNAL During the day Mr.. Downs
was waited on, at his residence, by the
clerks under his charge, and presented
with a silver service, consisting of coffee
urn, cake basket, coffee-pot, teapot, sugar
bowl, creamer, &C., also, French china
tea-set of fifty-nine pieces. The presenta-
ton was made by Daniel Kalbfus, Esp,
in behalf of himself and his associates, in
an appropriate and eloquent speech. Mr..
Downs replied in very feeling and appre-
ciative manner, expressing his thanks and
kind regards to the donors for the elegant
and valuable presents. The cost of the
gifts amounts to several hundred dollars.
Mr.. Downs has been Chief Clerk of the
bureau only eight months, during which
time he has conducted It's business with
singular fidelity and impartiality.
The following is the address Of Mr.
Kalbfus on the occasion above alluded to-:
Weare here to-day, Mr.. Downs, for the pur-
pose of paying our respects to you as Chief
csI-z T,,Fo or,4 of
| pressing upon your acceptance slight testimO-
NAL of our regard for you.
Eighteen hundred and sixty three, with its
joys and sorrows; with its hopes realized or un-
fulfilled; with its myriad band of dead patriots,
who have poured out their precious life-b blood
in the defence of constitutional liberty and per-
petual union; with the trophies which it has
won, to deck the brow of Angel Freedom; 1863
| long to be remembered year-all covered over
with the glory light of victories that have crowd
ed the pathway of President Lincoln's proela-
nation of life to the dead, and hope to the liv-
| ing, has trailed past us to the tomb, and there
lies buried. What hour more propitious than
| this; here standing upon the horizon, from
| whence the first sun of the glad New Year has
| lifted up its head, in which to lay upon the no.
ly shrine offriendship this little offering of ouI
hearts esteem? Called (perhaps unexpectedly
to the Chief Clerkship Of the Bureau of Inter
nal Revenue, you entered, sir, with energy and
| honesty upon the discharge of its high and re-
sponsible duties. Late and early, you have
| stood at your post, measuring out, SO far as hu-
man judgement could detect, 4" equal and exact
/ Justice to ALL" The position of clerk, wheth'
| er in the service of the General Government, OIL
of private enterprise, is not at all times envla'
BILE, however lucrative it may be. Through
| the pomp and circumstance of" little brief au-
thority, heads of bureaus sometimes forget (l
| they ever knew that the men under their con-
troll are men, and have feelings; they forget thai
| although influence, accident, or even merit, may
have promoted them to dignities and honOrs
over the heads of others less Fortunate yet those
same others are entitled to confidence and re-
spect; and, forgetting these things, they lord i
with most unspairing hand, until the serfdon
! becomes so intolerable that the employee will
paunt want staring him in the face, throws W
his commission for the honor of his manhood
| With this entire "genus," you have never haC
relationship On the contrary, with smile
and "good morning." with kind word, and ;
gracious look, for the high and the lowly alike
you have lightened the cares of Office duty, anC
endeared yourself to u.s. not only for the tint
of our continuance here together; (whether tha
be short or long,) but for the time in the grea
future yet unknown.
We are Just entering upon the commencement
of New Year. What it hath in store for us
He who rules the stars and guides the planets
in their course can only know.
l do not know whether the end of this yea
will bring honorable and substantial peace t.
our land, and dreadful disaster to the slavehold
ers' rebellion that has Redeemed its assassin
hand with the good blood of our unoffendins
fellow citizens. That will be story for tn
year itself to tell at its end; but this do know
and this may assure you Of, that so many o
US as have taken part in this presentation a
least WILL at the beginning, and end, in tn
middle, and through this, as all the years yo'
yet may live, wish prosperity and happiness
peace and good will, for Mr. Downs and hi
family.