The ex-Secretary will remember how, from his earliest connection with his Department, I have said to him with reiteration: “Let no temptation of honor or service elsewhere draw you, let no calumnies ever drive you, from your post; but remain there till your chief closes his administration. Attest your capacity for affairs, and carry into effect the opinions and policies you have developed in speech.” And now I gladly join, when his work is finished in the “Well done, good and faithful servant!” with which this city and State salute him at the close of his official term.
Our guest has sometimes, in the pleasantry of social intercourse, said that I “invented” him. If indeed, I am entitled to the credit of having in any way called public attention to him at an early period of his career, I esteem myself fortunate. I may perhaps be allowed a moment to explain this reference by Mr. Schurz to the manner of his original introduction to this community. In April, 1859, a few of us were engaged in an effort to defeat a constitutional amendment which discriminated against citizens of foreign nativity. Meeting Senator Wilson on the steps of the State House, I called his attention to the movement. He said that he had just received a letter from the most eloquent German in the country, stating how prejudicial to the Republican cause in the coming national election of 1860 would be the success of that proposition. He gave
