The Daily Union

Treasury Department.

A number of gentlemen in the Treasury Department being desirous themselves of evincing to the Hon. R. J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, their appreciation of his uniform kindness and urbanity to them in his official intercourse, and believing that this feeling pervaded the whole department, and knowing that, at the close of his official labors, his time would be seriously encroached upon if calls were made in the usual manner for leave-taking, advised him of their desires on the subject, and expressed a hope that he would fix upon some particular hour when the gentlemen of his department could call upon him and take official leave of him. The Secretary was pleased to accord with their desires, and fixed the hour of 12 yesterday for the interview. The time for a general notice of this fact was short: indeed, in some of the offices, knowledge of the matter was not acquired until a few moments before the hour fixed upon; yet the attendance was very general, and calculated, from that fact, to make a deep impression upon the Secretary, and at the same time gratify each participant in the scene, by the evidence that his own feelings for the Secretary were so universally reflected by his associates.

The kind and feeling Chief Clerk of the department, who carries his heart in his hand, addressed the Secretary in the library-room of the Treasury Department, informing him that the gentlemen present were desirous, as their official intercourse with him was about to terminate, to take him by the hand ere that connexion was severed—to thank him for the kindness and consideration that had always characterized his conduct towards them—and to wish him a long continuance of health, and a full measure of success, prosperity, and happiness in all his future undertakings. To which the Secretary replied:

"Gentlemen: During the period that we have been associated together, our intercourse has been to me of the most agreeable character. You have always treated me with kindness and courtesy. I do not know that one unkind word has ever passed between us, and I am sure that no unkind feeling has been entertained, on my part, towards you. We are now to be separated in our official intercourse; but I shall remain a permanent resident in this city, for the purpose of practising my profession, exclusively, in the Supreme Court of the United States. I doubt not I shall frequently meet many of you. I shall sympathise with you in your griefs, should you have any, and always rejoice in your welfare and prosperity. I now take leave of you."

The voice of the Chief Clerk was thick and husky with the feelings of his noble heart; and as the gentlemen advanced, one by one, at the close of the Secretary's reply, to take him by the hand, each, in so doing, giving utterance in a few words to the promptings of his heart, the feelings of the Secretary, wound up to the highest pitch, could be restrained no longer, and the pearly drops flowed thick and fast down those manly cheeks, now wrinkled with care and labor in the service of his country. The sentiment was contagious, and there was scarce a dry eye in the assembly, and you saw none emerging from that room without visible evidences of his heart having been engaged in the scene. They were tears of gratitude on both sides, and, like the showers of spring, caused flowers to spring up in the hearts of all, from seed which had long lain dormant, and of which the possessor had not even the knowledge until the time and season arrived for their full development.