Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-14

CATCHER WAS HONORED
FORTY-THREE YEARS SERVICE
Relative Possesses Document Which
Was Given by Great Southerner
to Assistant Messenger in 1895.

AprOpOS OF the unvelllng OF the statue
Of John C. Calhoun at the Capitol Sat
urday and as an Illustration of the feel
ing of the great sOutherner toward the
cOlOred people of his day, James F. Fish
er of 2122 X street northwest exhibited
to Star reporter "a rather unique docu-
ment, In the form Of parchment testi-
monial given by Mr.. Calhoun to Fishers
relative. Francis Catcher March 3, 1s2a.
1t reads as follows: Francis Catcher
has served during the last six years as
assistant messenger in the war Office, and
I have pleasure in certifying that he has
performed the duties assigned him with
zeal, intelligence, attention and integrit.-,
and is entitled to the appreciation of the
department" The document is signed
~. c. Calhoun and is imprinted with
the seal of the war office.
Furthermore, on its margins and on the
reverse side it bears the testimonials of
thirteen Secretaries of War, some of
them almost illegible. but all certifying
to the merits of Francis Catcher. Among
the more legible is one from jefferson
Davis. which recites that Though the
language of commenda ton has been some
what exhausted, four years of daily in
tercOurse assure me the merit of the sub
ject has not declined. In Francis Catcher
I have found what Mr.. Pitt is said to
nave declared lie naQ through his long
public life sought for in vain a man
exactly suited to the place he held. 1t
gives me pleasure to add my testimony
to that of so many and illustrious pred
ecessors in his favor and to commend
him to the most respectful consider
tion. This statement is dated at the
War Office, March 5, 1857.
John B. Floyd's Tribute.
There is also a testimonial from John
B. Floyd. dated December 90. 1860, which
reads: Il perform only a duty in bearing
my cheerful and sincere testimony to
the high character of Francis Catcher.
the assistant messenger of the War De-
partment. With perfect knowledge of
all the duties of his place. he discharges
them with fidelity, sagacity and per-
fectly we'll bred courtesy worthy of all
praise. He is, and deserves to be, the
object of respect with all strangers Wis
iting the department. and of sincere re-
gard to all its inmates. ! commend
fpreside over the War Department"
There is also a testimonial from Simon
Cameron, dated January Is, 1867.
The extraordinary testimony of Datch-
ers superior officers is brought to close
with the Endorsement of Edwin NJ. Stan
ton, che great war Secretary, dated
March l. 1862, which was caused to be
entered upon the official records OF the
war department.. II TedHS as follows.
1T has become my melancholy duty
to close the last page of this honorable
testimonial. by acknowledging the virtues
of the holder and recording his death
Francis Catcher died suddenly Saturday.
the 10Th day of February, 1867. He may
be said to have died on his post, for,
taken with sudden illness at the War
Department, he breathed his last before
he could reach his home. My acquaint-
ance with him was brief but long
enough to inspire me with sincere respect,
anu his manly virtues and honest worth
are attested by forty-three years faith
full service in the War Department, and
by the certificate of fourteen Secretaries
of War. What man has left on earth
a nobler record? The certificates of
Francis Datcher's faithful service to this
government are directed to be entered
upon the records of the War Depart
ment."