The national Republican., 1867-09-02

A PRESENTATION AND SOCIAL ENTER
rAtNMEsr.-One Of those pleasant affairs which
give to life roster hue amidst all Its cares
grave responsibilities, and heart. .burnipgs, AND
proves that though man in his outward aspec
may by times, In the hurry hustle, land yioissi
tudes Of life, wear n rough or su,tere exterior
still he Is human, and within his bosom kindly
heart beats responsive TO the amenities ant
Christian graces Of his fellow.ms and that
amidst all the incongruities Of nature, one
touch Of II makes all the world kin came Of al
Mr.. Morgan's, on @ street, between Seventh and
Eighth streets, on Saturday night last. But va
let the subjoined correspondence aud addresses
speak for themselves.
All the clerks Of the Pension Ofioe and a
lew invited guests being present. as below indi.
Gated, Judge Rixford came forward and said:
GErrLEnES 1 have been assigned, on this
appreciate the compliment and thank you for Il.
The following corrsspendenoe will explain Why
we are now convened together:
WASHINGTON, D. O., August %, 1867.
Sin The undersgned, on behalf Of your
friends and associates In office, desire TO repre-.
sent that your co-laborsrs In Office would be
happy to meet you at such time and place as
you may designate for the purpose Of presenting
testimonial Of their regard for you an officer
and q gentleman.
We are, very respectfully, your obediont
servants; D. Rixford, J. P. Chapman, J. N.
IroI, d. r. lustin, FRANK W. Jones, y, L.,
Patrick, NJ. @. Baxter, Archie Cook, Tolbert
Lanston, A. r. Sparks, 7, +. Foster
JAMES A. MORoAs, Esq, Chief Clerk, Pen.
sion Office.
WASHINGTON, D. G Aug 2s 1897.
4 GENTLEMEN: Ihave the honor to acknowledge
ID the receipt of your complimentary note Of the
2 Goth instant. eincsrely thanking you for tho
expression Of esteem which your Invitation con.
vrys, shall be gratifed to meet you and my
friends and associates in social intercourse on
Saturday evening. the 3lst inst at No. 434 @
street, at 8 O'Clock, p. m.
Very respectfully, your obedsnt servant,
JAS. A. MORGAN.
Mes,rs. D. PiIfOrd, J. P. Chapman, J. N. Prior,
] r. Tustin, Frank W. Jones, J. II. Patrick,
M. G. Baxter, Archie Cook, Tolbert Lsnston,
A. r. Sparks and 7. Z, Foster, Chiefs Of Divi.
sons.
Mr.. Morgan, We, your associates, and CO.
laborers In office, arc convened on this occasion
for the purpose Of presenting to you the watch
and chain which now hold In my hand.
, 1t is as the correspondence indicates, q testi-
.monial to you as an officer and gentleman.
On the wntch is the following inscription:
Presented to james A. Morgan, etq., Chief
Clerk Of the United States Pension Office, by
his eo-laborsrs In said Office, as testimonial Of
their appreciation Of him as capable, energetic
and faithful officer"
Long before your advent to the responsible
position which you now hold your fitness there
for was fully appreciated by your more intimate
friends in the Office.
After you were appointed to that position, the
estimate that they had formed Of you was not
disappointed.
Your conduct in tn. management Of the clsri.
cal force in the ONCE has met their fullest eI.
pectations.
/ am suro that the Hon. J. II. Barrett our
worthy and efficient commissioner, will bear
witness to the sentiments which 1 have ox-
pressed.
conduct meets with the approval Of the head Of
the Department Of the Interior, Hon. o. II. |
Browning, and his assistant.
I now close by presenting this watch and |
chain. We ask that you will wear II In com.
msmoration Of this occasion, and as a token aud |
testimonial Of our regard.
II this watch beats responsive TO the pulsa.
tion Of your heart, your friends will feel, rest
assured, and know that 1t keeps time to the
music OF the Union.
Mr.. Morgan came forward and said:
JUDGE RIxPoRD, ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS
I am glad to meet you on this occasion, because
II affords me an opportunity to cast aside the
trammsls of official restraint, and greet you in
an unreserved and social way.
am also glad to meet you, because, whilst
courtesy should be the invariable rule OF official
conduct It sometimes becomes necessary for an
executive officer to exert his authority for the
public good In such manner may seem harsh
to those who are subject to 1T, although the off,
cor himself, having only the public interests
in view, may bo innocent Of any offence, and this
occasion enables me TO remove any unjust i'm.
preston, II any such may have been formed.
meet most Of you daily With the othcial har.
mess on, working with a zeal and effectiveness
that has given myself and our honored chief lust
cause for felicitation and pride.
!. For the industry and zeal which you have in.
variably displayed In the discharge Of your OIL
cial duties and for the cordial support you have
extended and the forbearance you have mani. I.
Tested toward me in a position which Is only a
synonym for perplexity and toll, desire to ten
der you my sincere thanks.
Before became acquainted with tho routine |
)f life In the Government Departments fasoied
that II was ono to be courted and desired.
remember the remark Of q recognized great
man. that "among clerks few die and none 70. 2
sign" and thought that here would find an !
honorable and yet an easy place. and that, more =
fortunate than Ponce do Leon when, in his min q
rled views Of resurrection and abundance, he de-
scred our Flower Land" / had discovered I
the celebrated fountain In which my youth might .
be renewed but, my friends, although not
" driven of by the natives Of the coast, " like the
old Spanish adventurer, find no priceless treas.
ures and no fountain Of rejuvenescenee.
Experience has taught me that clerks do die
hud do resign, and that "time writes wrinkles on
their brows."
In this pleasant summer evening talk It may a
hot be amiss to say that sad as the occasion may
have been, I feel proud Of the Pension Office 70.
cord. In 1860 1t had about eighty employees,
and now nearly four times that number, while Its
work has increased at least thirty fold. And a
then, too, 1t executes the only pension system on
The face Of Gods green earth that Is worthy OF Q
Ihe name, and, inadequate as 1t may seem, the
pnly one at all Commensurate with the sublime !
dea OF q republican government,
''Brosd based upon the peoples will
And compassed BY the inylolato sea-
Although our holidays like angels visits, are
sw and far between and our labOrs arduous and
our work Is nevertheless q glorious >,
one
The widow In her weeds and tears, the child
n its orphanage and dsstitution, tho mother in q
hSr penury and distress, and the disabled surv.
yors Of the grnndest contest chronioled on the y
historic page, with record proudor than the II
,oterans Of tho Revolution made, and fame "
,ternal as the stars, look to US as tho almonsrs
N no small degree, of the muniacence Of their "
rescued Government. And Is this n menial L
,sryico We arO required to perform? think
not. 10
Among your number arc lawyers. physicians al
md editors and not a few Of the heroes who fol-