The Arkansas banner., 1845-05-21
THE NEW SECRETARY OF THE NAVY


 HE NEW SECRETARY OF THE NAVY / u VIII De seen by an announcement in ano
 ther place that our distinguished and esteemed |; lellow-cltlzen, George Bancroft, has been con.
 lrmed by the Senate of the United States in tbt office of Secretary of the Navy No annoint, ment could have been made more acceptable to the democracy of Massachusetts-an in- deed, of New Engand-then the present: and none could better adom and honor the station to which he has been summoned by the wise councils of the President.
 NIT. Bancroft is no common man As 9 statesman and as a schoar-as man of en- iafged views and most intutiye perception. : ile ranks among the highest of our New Eng land sons. His fame has gone out from onr own granite hills to do honor to his country Tn other and distant lands. He is known at London as he was at Boston. His reputa- tIon' and his immortal history of American eVents' and the theory of our institutions. nave reached the lterati of Germany. savans ol rance, the Car on his northern throne. the recluses and artists of Rome, and the land oi the Farthenon and Coliseum. Wherever civilization has carried the blessings of lite falure and the arts-wherever liberty, with us Drlght tram Of enlightened institutions. has winged It's flight,-there the name of Bancroft IS known, appreciated, and honored. When we see his name recorded, and his talents applauded on the page of foreign literature. we feel proud In owning him as an American. and as the product of our New England schools and seminares.
 He IS no less distinguished as statesman and enlightened politician, than as the able historian of his country. He belongs 10 no | clique, but battles for the freedom of the race. and the dissemination of democratic princi- pies. He goes for measures, and not men. Whenever a question comes up, national in US character, and involving the welfare of the natlonEh he IS ever to be found on the high table land of sound public opinion and on the side of the people. He does not hesitate nor despair; but puts forth his eloquent voice and ndomtable energy in behalf of the measure.
 The Annexation of Texas is a case in point. Mr. Bancroft was among the first to hail 1t as the rallying cry of the party, as the greatest and most important measure that has agitated the public mind for a long series of years. While others despaired and feared its agia- ton as fatal to the democracy, he stood forth early in its defence, and at the State conven- ton in Worcester, and before the democratic delegates ol Massachusetts, advocated it's mer- its, and set forth its expediency. We were present, and we recollect the occasion, and the intenseness of feeling manifested. The subject had not then recommended itself to our democracy so much as could have been desired, Mir. Bancroft took the floor, and with depth of reasoning, power of grasp, and felicity of illustration, explained the bear ngs oi annexation ol our social, political and commercial interests. His eloquence flowed like clear running stream, aud the cogency ol his arguments carried conviction to every mind. He pleaded, to use his own beautiful figure, for the extension of the 'sarea of free d1m,o and he was successful. These views were subsequently incorporated in the letter which he addressed to the democracy on ac- cepting the nomination for governor. and it's tenor is we'll and iavorabIy known through out the Union. The same chvalrous and de voted espousal of democratic principles has ever attended the political course of Mir Bancroft
 As an administrative officer, Mr. Bancror i Is well known to this community, and partc. ularly among our commercial men,-his dis. charge of the duty of collector at this DOT was able, and showed that his application industry, and quick perception, stood him ii good stead. He was one of the most popu- lar collectors that ever oflicated in this de- partment In this office to which he is now called, we may look for the same great and | boD ol IIo I, duty, and in connection with his able breth- ren of the cabinet, will be a tower of strength to this administration. The Presidentesteems him we'll, and has shown his sagacty and ] thorough knowledge of men, by surrounding l himself with such able opponents of our in- sttutions and the business relations of the government.
 Whatever may be the ill-omened notes o the ravens of party, we are satisfied that Presi- dent Polk and his cabinet will be a unit in council, and that their voice and actions will be one of the great interests of the country The democracy expect this, and we apprehend nothing else from the patriotism of the indi- viduals members of the administration.
 The New York Evening Mirror translates the following from French paper It de- scribes ball which it would have been plea- sing to attend:
 A frebrand has been thrown among the bellies of Paris in the shape of roya decree That Me tcelre new statues, or dered 10 complete he establishments of hc gardens of tbe Lurembowg,, be modelled from the tceloe most beautifuz vomen nou reigning aS bellies in Paris It was though by the King that marble enough had been devoted to the heather gods and goddesses But his majesty, with all his knowledge O the world, had little foreseen the frenziet en ulation he was now arousing The ap plications-the certificates of beauties undis closable except in marble-the heaped-up in fluence for one beauty and another-the rev citations made to the sculptors like to be em- , ployed-and the plotting and counterplottinG to be recommended by influential persons , have exceeded all the competitions by whicl the court was ever before made busy and bit |, ter. The selection was at last dedicated {, the Duchess of Decazes, and her recent bal presented most unexpected character. He f invitations had been for modern assembly in plain dress-but it turned out to be fan , cy ball of the most extraordinary varieties 0 , the statuesque and classic!! Scarce wo , man under fifty came without some symptom