National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-17
HON. JOHN W. DOUGLASS.
Expressions Of Esteem for the late Commits

Expressions Of Esteem for the late Commits
sioner.
The employees of the Internal Revenue De-
partment held meeting in the Commissioners
office, Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of ex-
pressing their feelings in relation to the dssolu
tiOn Of their official connection with their late
chief, Hon. John W. Douglass.
The new Commissioner, Hon. d. d. Pratt, was
called to the chair and the following resolutions,
prepared by Israel Kimbsll, were submitted, read
and unanimously adopted:
Whereas the official relations which existed
since March, 1869, between the Hon. J. W. Doug
lass and the officers, clerks and other employees
OF the office Of internal revenue, having been this
day dissolved by his resignation of the office Of
Commissioner and retirement therefrom, we deem
1t an act Of duty to ourselves less than or JUS
tice to him, that we tender him an expression Of
our personal appreciation Of his character as
gentleman, Of his uniform kindness and Courtesy
toward US as colab0rers with him, and OF his
faithful services to the Government as Commis-
sioIeT Of Internal Revenue; therefore,
Resolved, That We congratulate Mr.. Douglass
that, having spent nearly thirteen years OF his
lii e in the revenue service, seven OF them under
commission issued to him by President Lincoln
as collector OF an important collection district,
two as First Deputy Commissioner, and the re-
naming four as Commissioner, under commits
siOns issued to him by President Grant, he retres
from the service with no public or private spOils
having been content with the moderate wages
accorded , him by Congress, without breath OF
without the slightest Etsn Of fraud or corruption
upon the official robe which he has to-day laid
aside; thus demonstrating that IL is possible for
a Publicanus, and for one who holds the office of
chief Of the nations internal tax gatherers, in
time of war and Of great public Generalization,
to maintain his official integrity, and remain an
honest man.
Resolved, That the favorable opinion we had
formed OF Mr.. Douglass while he was collector,
from his oficial correspondence with, and his oc
caEOpal visits to, the Office OF internal revenue,
was not only GoIHfned Int became greatly
strengthened by intimate and daily contact with
him as the head of this bureau, and here, with
pleasure and unhesitatingly, we bear testimony
TO the extent and value Of his knowledge. to the
quickness of his perception, clearness and accu-
racy Of his Judgment, 10 his zeal to promote the
interests OF the Government, to his candor, pa
thence and equanimity OF temper-qualities which
command respect, and by which he gained our
once the confidence Of all who had occasion to ap-
proach him as worthy othcial and an equally
worthy gentleman.
are due, and they are hereby rendered, to Mr..
Douglass for the uniform kindness and courtesy
he manifested toward all who served under him,
for his ready and quick appreciation Of ability
and merit, and his disposition TO reward such
Qualities TO the extent of his ability to do so, and
for his kind words Of approval IN all cases Tor duty
RESOLVED. That Mr.. Douglass Will carry with
him into retirement the good will, kind regards,
and friendship of all in the Internal Revenue Of
nee coupled With the desire that his future life,
whether public or private, may be cminently
prosperous and happy, and crowned with the
blessings promised TO the good and faithful SER
want.
Commissioner Pratt then addressed the meet
ing, and appropriately declared his sympathy
with the friendly and deserved manifestations
contained in the resolutions. Referring to his
own appointment, he said that 1t had come uneX-
pecteGly and without solicitation. He hoped that
at the close OF his term Of service he might enjoy
the same appreciation and good feeling which had
been manifested for the outgoing Commissioner
by those who had been so long associated With
him.
At the close Of Commissioner Pratts remarks
it was resolved that q copy Of the preamble and
resolutions be engrOssed and presented to Mr..
Douglass, and that a copy be furnished TO the
press for publication.