Year: 1870




the rights of man in our own fair Repub-
lie, and spread the same through the
world. Accept then, my friend, this
slight testimonial of our love and esteem.
We are soon to part to go to our several
homes We shall never all of us again be
associated together as Legislators of our
noble State. God grant that your life
may long be spared to be a blessing to
your family and friends, to the town you
so honorably represent, to the State we
all SO ardently love, and to the nation
over which in all its parts floats that Star
Spangled Banner-the land of the free
and the home of the brave. When the
ftful dream of life is over, may you, my
cherished friend, having laid aside the
tolls and responsibilities of life, enter into
that rest prepared for sill those who honor
God and labor for the rights of man.
Again tender you this testimonial OF
our kindness and regard. Garry it TO
your home and family, and as your eye
shall rest upon it, remember that it is the
spontaneous gift of those who love and
cherish you as friend: honor and re-
spect you as citizen and scholar, sue
cessfnl lawyer and legislator. and better
still, Gods best and proudest gift, an
honest man.


@ COL. JoYcE's RESPONSE.


p There ia time when language is too
feeble to express the emotions of the heart.
That time is the present. To say that |
thank you for this kind and generous
token of your regard would but feebly
express what I feel. / have appeared in
my short life, before a great many differ
an hltay ut haL Lav i.,f ba fnpTfYa
and with your sons in the deadly strife.
could face, under those flags, pointing to
the tattered colors on the wall,) the des-
tructive fire of musketry and artillery,
and yet retain my self control and do my
duty, but now no language serves nv
purpose, and am overwhelmed.


came here inexperienced in the deli.
cate and difficult duties which your kind
lpartiality devolved upon me, and now to
know that have discharged them so as
to meet this measure of your appreciation
is one of the most gratifying experiences
of my life, and | feel that it is worthy of
the highest ambition to receive such tes-
timonial from the represeu' atigs9 of such
State. / love. 1ay adopted State and
have spent some of the best years of my
life for her, along with your brothers and
your sons, some Of whom have returned
to enjoy her peace, her honors and her
fame, but many Of whom, alas sealed
their devotion with their blood, and oan
answer to affections roll call only from
their honored graves on all the Southern
plains. Great as are your honors to the
living, and undeserved as | feel myself to
be, know how justly they are exceeded
by your cherished memories of the dead.


In looking back upon the arduous labors
of this session, in which I have expert
enoed nothing but forbearance and kind
ness at your hands, and L feel that with
ont your generous courtesy l should have
often failed, it affords me inexpressible
qualification that have so conducted my
self as TO deserve, IN your Judgment, this
elegant and priceless expression of your
appreciation. And hereafter, when with
the family love I shall sit at the board
whereon it may be spread, I shall never
behold it without turning my thoughts
and affections to the honored friends and
dear associates whose gift it is, and shall
point them to the lesson it inculcates. It
<hall be to them aud me at ence a token
and teacher, for as our hearts shall swell
with grateful recolleotious, we shall re-
member that while it honors duties done,
it calls to others always coming on. 1t
shall stand for me and them q symbol of
those kind and affectionate utterances of
yours, whose echoes shall never cease to
vibrate thro' my heart so long as life is
spared, and it shall ever be to me new
pledge of devotion to that noble State
which together we have served and which
so we'll we love.


You will excuse me- gentleman for at
tempting to say what too deeply feel,
and accept the simple assurance that I
will always look back to this hour as one
of the happiest of my life. Permit me to
say, gentlemen, and it is all / can say,
that thank you again and again for this
kind token of your remembrance,


Col. Joyce's remarks were listened to
with strict attention, and elicited from all
the warmest commendation.