The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-11-27
From he N. Y. Express.
RELIEVED FROM SUSPENSE.


JAMES X. Polk PRESIDENT, AND HENRY
CLAY PRIVATE CIrIzEN.-"Hope deferred
maketh the heart SICK" and we are free to
confess that we have been sick at heart at
the eventlul misfortunes which, one day after
another, for the ten days past, we have been
compelled to announce to our readers. Our
only consolation is, that suspense is changed
to certainty. We know the worst. and that
is something, after the long campaign and
hard fought battle through which we have
passed. We expected success because we
felt we deserved it, and the result more and
more has convinced US that success was our
desert, since more and more we have seen a
development ofthe base means by which
we have been defeated. The experience Of
the world has shown that in struggle like
that in which we have Just gone through the
wrong as often triumphs as the right. "A lie
will travel a league while truth is putting on
his boots" SANDER iniuses more poison in
the public mind in day, than truth can
root out in year,-Had the Wing party
been as hypOcritical in their opinions as their
opponents were, -had they worn Free Trade
face at the South and Tariff face at the
North,-had they been for annexation where
annexation was popular, and against 1t where
1t was not,-had they become the allies oil ul-
ira abolition at the North, and more ultra
pro-slavery opinions at the Southland they
concealld what they were for and what they
were against upon nearly all the measures of
public polIcy,-had the Wings filled the bal
lot boxes with tens Of thousands Of foreign
votes, and thousands of fraudulent votes,-
had Henry Clay, like James X. Polk, been
as silent as the grave when questioned as to
his opinions, and suffered every latitude of
country TO have different Interpretation Of
his political faith,-we should have seen not
what we do see, James X. Polk made Presi-
dent by a nominal majority of perhaps hir.y
thousand votes but Henry CLAY the Presl-
dent Of the People in his place. A pure bal
lot box would have secured us this great pub
lie good, and even without that we should
have seen the like result, had not our candi-
date been covered with SANDER as with gar
ment. Had the truth but reached the pub
lie ear and eye,-had our opponents exercised
the christian virtue ofdoing unto otlres as
they would have others do unto them,-or
the mere manly virtue of an honest confess
sion of creeds,-or had they acted up TO the
principle that rogues adopt Ofbeing honest
among themselves,-we should have seen
been so fortunate as to have seen any com
mendable course Of conduct among our op-
ponents. Some there are who started hon
estly in regard to the Texas and Tariff ques-
tons; but ere long las with the Evening Post,
consistency and integrity of character proved
losing honesty, and they abandon their high
position, aud sink ten times deeper than
those who, making less pretensions, were en-
abled to preserve more character.
There are some pecuiidrties in the result
we are considering. A party has triumphed
without principle TO stand upon. Discor-
dant elements have combined TO overthrow
a common good. The aholitionists have
made Southern man President, and the
Southern man expects to repay them by en-
forcing measure against which they mani
fest the greatest hostility. The high Tariff
State Of Pennsylvania has given her vote to
an anti-Tarif candidate for President. 1t
remains to be seen what such coalition, en-
bracing the extremes ofan opinion, can ac-
complish.
James X. Polk is President, and Henry
Clay is private citizen. The one remains
at Ashland, and the other goes to Washing
ton. The hearts of an intelligent people will
cluster around the private citizen, in grateful
remembrance for long life ofdevoted, faith
full, and untiriag public service. While there
is head clear enough TO appreciate the ex
celence Of patriotism, and the greatness Of
wisdom, and a heart warm enough to cherish
public servant whose whole life has adorned
the history of his country, Henry Clay will
live IN the hearts of his countrymen. He
has had friends who have loved him better
than a brother. He has tens Of thousands
of such now, all of whom, in union, with his
own approving conscience, rise up and cry
swell done, good and faithful servant"
An exalted place could add no dignity TO
such man; and for one, we like him the
more as we contemplate him in his exile,
remembering as we do, who and what have
triumphed over him. There will be more
true honor at Ashland, than in the mansion
of the President at the capitol ofthe country.
| History will abound in remembrance Of one,
while it writes down the other as the temper
airy upstart of day. Greatness has defeated
Henry Clay, and meanness has elevated
James X. Polk.-The country, has wronged
herself more than the man she has rejected.
We abide our time for a better appreciation
of what is good, and for a more thorough con-
tempt of what is evil. Suspense we are free
from. and that for us is something gained.