The New York herald., 1845-04-17
English Opinions OF Mr.. PoIk's Inaugural.
M lFrom London Times, March q and as.l

Texas is an event SO long expected, that the ques-
tion OF Its justice has gradually merged in the vi
sion OF rs certainly. There was time when the
most enlightened and thoughtful men of the Union
could venture 10 entertain a strong moral objec-
ton against II and their arguments are on record
Il was Clear however, that the mass OF the Union,
us newest and mos, active elements were III favor
OF the measure. Their eyes were always revert
ing TO Texas Texas unapproprlated, like indepen-
dent Megara within sight of Athens, was the eye.
sore OF the Union not but that there are other
eyesores to the ambitious gaze OF that people,
Whatever they see they love, whatever they love
they covet, whatever they covet they expect, and
endeavor to obtain. But Texas was the first thing
IN their way, and formed the bold foreground OF
their hopes. Texas adjacent, revolted, indepen.
dent, still menaced and molested by the weak and
lmpoltlc rulers whose yoke 1t had broken, already
or adventures of the same language and princi.
pies, was an acquisition absolutely necessary, not
SO much to the happiness, as to the very comfort,
the ease, the Sleep the digestion, OF certainly more
than halt the republic.
The only part of the business, therefore on which
there coul! be any surprise, would be the particu-
lar time and manner IN which republican wisdom
and taste would select for the acquisition To an
European understanding there IS something quite
grotesque in the time and manner actually adopt
ed. The Congress comes to this momentous de-
clsion In the very point of time between the two
presidentships. Mr.. Tyler completes his career
with determination which he cannot have the
smallest share In carrying out, and Mr. Polk will
be engaged throughout the whole term in the ar
duous execution OF project imposed upon him at
the first moment OF his official existence. The
former Presldent, as he approaches his end, seems
horr0r-struck at the thought OF leaving his four
years blank in bis counTy's annals. He must
40 something before he dies, though he leaves a
legacy of trouble to his successor. Yet why defer
It 10 such an hour? Was ii as Constantine put off
his baptism to his death bed, that he might enjoy
the nnimpaired benefit, without the arduous res
ponsbillty consequent on the rite2 Mr.. Tyler, a
President rather by misadventuYe than by popular
intention, and not reclprocating to his office the
dignity it conferred on him, procures admission to
the line OF American heroes by an act which will
entail upon him neither trouble nor risk. Should it
even plunge the nation In war, should it rend the
Union, should II finally upset that equilibrium of
forces by which the federation is now maintained
against so great diversity OF separate interests,
Mr. Tyler is clear OF all that responsibility. 1t at
taches to those to whom thu constitution commits
his newborn measure.
The fit of action seems to have seized the whole
expiring body. First the President, as soon as
deed. Then the House of Representatives, about
to dissolve, eagerly embraces it's last opportunity,
and, like the sllkworm, having laid its eggs, inn
medlatey dies. The Senate has just time to pro-
nounce. This it does on the 9th of February, and
on the LIST OF March new President addresses
the whole population on the proceedings OF the
late Congress. The interval could be but few
hours, but there was time enough, it seems, for
the late President to use the powers given to him
by the amended resolution of the Congress, for the
liberty of negotiation. Already had he sent off
ENJOYS and instructions to Texas. Such is the
avidlty tor grasping personal share IN public ac-
tons, which democracy has always been found
to generate.
The new President, however, is far from quar-
relllng with his hereditary task. His only CON-
plant probably ID, that he was not allowed to ini
tate as well as to carry on. One could almost
fear from the tone of his address that he minded to
make up tor this wrong by starting project or two
OF his own: The tone of President must needs
be lofty He must assume dignity which is not
conceded. and he would only be misunderstood
and despised by his fcllowcitizens, if he adopted
the conventional courtesies and humlliations Of
European Potentates. His office is the most honor
able in the earth his responsibility is the greatest
To disturb the unanimty of the Federal Union
even for an imagined object Of morality, is the
most stupenao%Ts us crime ct which human nature
III all directions, is the citizens first and noblest in
stnct TO be comprehended in it, the greatest
felicity that can happen to any race OF men, II Is
much or little, but in the old world it is the Ian
gLage Of men who are not conducting, but found
ing an empire.
We in the old world have long since chastised
one another's desires to at least the language OF
modesty and mutual Difference. The President is
not overawed by the presence OF one sovereign
power in the length and breadth Of his continent.
Hence he feels no indecency in expressing, In glo
rifying every aggressive impulse of the heart The
citizen, he says, must rejoice when frontier line
Is removed, when he can communicate freely, CON-
merclally and politically, with his neighbors with
foreign claims, and foreign politics and morals
When such rejolcngs are arguments, then we may
reasonabyfear for the nvid Gus frontier lines ofthe
st. Lawrence, not to speak OF that other on the
westward of the Rocky Mountains But other
difficulties will arise before that day. Neither de-
mocracy nor federation can solve the great problem
OF society. Government Is not 80 easy task: -
The creature OF mob election, addressing his
creators, may talk in the same breath OF clustering
all nations in constitutional unity, and interdict
ing moral and religious interference between the
inhabitants of adjacent valleys; but human nature
has assigned less TO system, and more to spiritual in.
luences. She will soon detect the holIowness OF
union without unity, and of political combination
that aims to embrace the world, while il is afraid
TO interfere with the grossest social corrupons in
Its own bosom.
In the inaugural address delivered by the new
President on the 4th of March, we find faithfully
reproduced all the worst characteristics OF the AL
eghanan statesmen who have been in power since
the withdrawal OF Mr.. Webster from the Cabinet
of Washington. II Mr.. Polk was chosen as the
thorough representative OF the party which makes
slavery, srepudiation, and foreign aggression its
claims to distinction, we are bound TO acknow-
ledge that he has not swerved from the intentions
Of his constituents. His language on all these sub.
Jects has the same unbushing impudence which
belonged to his predecessors, and which we had
fondly imagined that no one else could rival but
in his mouth it has this very serious aggravation,
that it convinces us he is prepared begin where
the others leave off We had carefully guarded
ourselves against any preconceptlons hostile to Mr.
Polk ard we had endeavored to persuade our
selves that we should find more moderation in his
own conduct than in that of his adherents; but
the indulgent illusion is completely dspeed by the
first words he utters; and the anxiety which was
necessarily awakened by Mr.. Tyler's strange and
Inconsruous efforts is rendered infinitely greater
by declarations from the new President OF at least
equal violence, and, we fear, much more signif
cancc.
One of the first sentiments uttered by Mr. Polk
after an exordium, in which " the most admirable
and wisest system Of wellregulated self-govern-
ment among men ever devised by human minds
receives very able panegyric, is that of "deep
regret at the schemes and agtations OF misguided
tic institutions existing in other sections Of the
country" Amongst other nations the expression
I" domestic institutions designaes all that is most
sacred among men in Alleghania it expresses that
state of bondage which is most abhorred by the
free-that system Of slavery which other countries
have practised, which some have renounced, which
all deplore, but which the politicians of Aleghania