The Sumpter
Republican - Correspondence
AMERICUS, GA.,
Dec. 4, 1872.
Capt. W. N. Freeman, late Marshal of
the City of Americus:
DEAR SIR -- On the eve of your departure
from our midst to cast your lot among strangers in the
far West, we tender to you in the name of a large number
of our citizens, the accompanying present as an
expression of our esteem and as a testimonial to the
honorable and efficient discharge of your official
duties. Though the duration of your sojourn with us
numbers but a few years, you have won an abiding place in
the hearts of our people. You will not, we trust, impute
to us any desire to flatter when we assure you that the
uniform courtesy, benevolence and uprightness of
"your walk and conversation," together with the
dignity and unswerving faithfulness with which you have
borne and executed the responsible trust submitted to you
by our Municipal Authorities, convince us that we are
losing a useful citizen, to be which is the
highest dignity and privilege of a man; and that your
departure will leave in our community a remembrance and
regret that shall follow wherever you go.
Accept then, Dear Sir, this beautiful
testimonial. Let it be prized by you, not for its
intrinsic worth, but for the sentiments that by it we
would express. May its brightness typify your
fortune; May its beauty forecast a day-dream that
you may realize and, may its purity be an
acceptable guarantee of the sincerity of our offering;
and wherever you may plant your roof-tree and consecrate
your fireside, may the smiles and continence of Heaven
rest upon you and yours, and prosperity attend you in all
of your ways; and among the household gods that you shall
there enshrine may a happy assurance of the sincere
regard and kindly remembrance of the good people of
Americus be not among the least.
N. A. SMITH }
......................} Committee
G. S. FOSTER }
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From Captain
Wesley Newell Freeman:
Mssgr. G. S. Foster and N. A. Smith:
GENTLEMEN -- In attempting a response I
do not feel that I shall be able to do myself justice.
The manifestation of esteem and
friendship on the part of the citizens of our city is to
me certainly most gratifying, and to say that I feel
highly honored and fully appreciate the motives which
prompt this action of theirs, gives but a feeble
expression my feelings. Indeed, Gentlemen, I have not
command of language sufficient to express them, and the
more especially do I feel this when I am reminded that
this is the first and only instance in the history of our
city where a manifestation of character has been tended a
retiring Marshal.
Coming but a few years since into your
community as an entire stranger, called by a most worthy
Mayor and honorable Council to a position of trust and
high responsibility, and I may add of honor, if properly
filled – I could but feel honored above my merits by
that voluntary exhibition of confidence – and that
too at a time when our city was noted for the disorder
that reigned unchecked within her borders. If such were
my feelings then with regard to that, what must they be
at this time at the spontaneous renewal – after an
interim of two years – of that confidence not by a
few partial friends but community at large. I will make
no effort to express them. The heart is too full.
I can but feel that there has been too
much praise given to my individual efforts in preserving
order and quietude in our city. Yet, sirs, while
acknowledging a due proportion to myself, I would not
detract from the others my just meed. To you, and the
good citizens generally, am I indebted, for your hearty
concurrence – for cooperation and counsels in my
official career – and to the police force who have
ably and efficiently discharged their several duties, am
I equally indebted, and to your future kindness and
consideration would I especially commend them.
For the beautiful service you have seen
proper to present me with, as a testimonial of your
regard, permit me to thank you, and through you those
citizens who have contributed to the same – and also
to return my heartfelt thanks for the warm words of cheer
which have been given utterance to.
Their Gift, which I now prize above
value, I shall soon bear with me to my distant home, and
not this alone do I carry with me, for I feel that I take
with me that which is of more value, viz: your confidence
and esteem. Be assured, sirs, that this token of esteem
will ever be highly prized, and the expressions of
confidence will ever be retained in memory’s book,
mellowing with age and pointed to with exultant pride.
Again thanking you and
those associated with you, for high consideration so
warmly manifested, I can only add that if any of you
should ever visit the "empire of the West," in
the language of the great pioneer – "You will
find the latch string of the Freeman’s cabin on the
outside."
{signed} W. N. FREEMAN
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