, 1865-03-08

y
Treasury Department, called, on Friday last,
IN u body, to pay their respects, nnl take
leavc Of the retiring Secretary Of the Trcas-
n1y-
bureaus, addressed the Secretary rs follows !:
Mr.. sEcRErART-The heads Of bureaus Of
the Treasury Department hnye called In a
body to pay their respects to, and take leave
Of you on your refining from the position you
have for some time occupied. Called to that
was carried on upon the most gigantic scale,
requiring corresponding measure Of finan-
c!al supplies, the duties Of the Office to which
you were summoned, alike By the President
md the approving voice Of the country, were
| calculated to nuke any one hesitate, Int
| molc especially one whose mental aud bodily
| powers had for months been so severely taxed
as yours had while Chairman Of the Commit
| tee Of Finance, Of the Senate. Another cir
cumstance Tas also calculated to cause one
to pause ere assuming the responsibility Of
admills'e5ing, ~ finances Of the county,
II Of The eminent man who had presided over
| this Department from the Incoming Of the
| Administration up to that moments
| No cue could be surprised that you hest
! tnted to assume the labor and responsibility
| Of managing tile finances Of the country uu.
| der such circumstances But so loud and
emphatic was the demand Of the people, and
Euel their confidence In your integrity and
ability that. happily for the country, you
did not feel at liberty to disregard tie pub:
lie desire, but patriotica1ly, at great personal
sacrifice, accepted the position temporarily.
1t is praise enough to See that the country
has had no cause to regret the choice Of the
| President, nor to abate one fot OF tho conf
| dence it then s0 tar1eztly expressed In you.
In retiring lom the control Of this depart
men1 TO resume your duties In the Senate OF
the Unlttd States, you do but shit your
! Efa
with you the confidence aud respect Of the
entire country.
We cannot restrain the expression, on the
prestnt occasion, OF our profound seg,Ard.
Our intercourse Mith ,you during the period
we have bctn officially associated las been
most agreeable to ns. and marked by great
courtesy and kindness on your part; and, in
| taking off:c. al leave, rs VIC now do, we ten
der Yon our earnest wishes for your health
and happiness, and deyoutly pray that your
public career nay be prolonged through
ness to our conntry.
l. RESPONSE or MH. FEssEyDES.
GENTLEMEN I am exceedingly thankful Il
you for this call, and for the kind expression
Of regard ] have received from you through
the Commissioner Of Customs. I can only
cay to you what you probably all know, tina,
came here mcst unW7llingly., l ehall have
perhaps, hut single regret IN leaving ths
Department, and that arises from the neces
sity Of parting with 20 many gentlemen will
| whom my intercourse has be en- SO exceedingly
agreeable, and for whom have very friend
| ly regard. came here because conceived Il
I to be my duty under the circumstances, bu
| encouraged and sustained BY assurances o
| olilee. lte' AA "
have received that support from all o
you, without j single exception, 80 far Us
I'M aware. found every gentleman her
| 4r Af1 r.. sraf%
tleinen, with entire frankness, that betles'
NY larfng been here will prove Of very grea
| benefit to myself, from the information ans
| experience I hare acquired; and trust
has not been disadgantageous to others or t.
Il think it would be better for the Govern
| mcnt, and for the eountry,.if Congress- ant
| gcntlt men CONNECTED with the execntiy
. | branch Of the Government, better undeEstoo
each other. shall 80 back to the S=nat
| with many opinions corrected and improved
with rcga'd to the conduct Of the depart
+ connected. I think shall be disposed t
i render Justice to gentlemen who, placed i
| situations like yours labor in season and on
: Of season for tho public good, for what cor
; cciycd to be, in these times, q very fHadequat
remuneration for their services. I have n
, doubt the same is true with rega.d to all tn
: othtr departments Of the Government.
With rcga:d to my daily intercourse Wit
YOU, gentlemen, can only SLY that in m
! opinion, however we may be placed re'atls'
, ly, either in the department or elsewhere, n
,, man in this country Is above the rank Of
,, gentleman and every man who honorab,
I and copsc!entious1y performs his duty Is cl
, | titled to be treateu as such. Acting upon TIL
J belief, have regarded the humblest clerk
t this office, 50 long as he discharged his dut
, | honestly and faithfully as my equal, and CT
: titled not only to my protection, but to cqu'
rights with myself.
8 Gentlemen, you did not come here to NAL
d or'hear speeches, and will only add that
cordially recirroeate yo1a+ kind wishes: a 4
: I Shall indulge The hope that in leaving Il
. department, I shall not lose the regards
: those whose friendship have learned
a | rnlue