The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-03-21
From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE pIsESENT ADMlNiSTRA.
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The ship is launched, and the pilot
and crew are, on board We wi,hher
favorable gales and afortunate voyage.
Wefcel efy'nterest inher success.
Mr. Polk has every claim to considera-
ti6n which pure man, with the best
motives, can possibly possess. He has
obtained that great power which he
neither expected or Solicited; and il is
Our honest conviction thatno President
was ever. more sincerely desirobs Of
exercising his clear Understanding and
strong sense TO the best advantage, and
Of doing his dnty 10 the country which
has invested him with the highest hon-
OF 10 the world. rss 3e 57'di''' s''si'
In his hands, indeed, is placed The
greatest possible responsibility. Not
only are the true principles Of the con.
stitntion involved in this administration.
but the unity Of the republican. party.
and Of course the prosperity Of his
country; and, whatis stiIl more, the
purity of future elections for the presI-
dentiul office la a7@Joj ca st 3
: I'm his hands is placed the result of
one of the. greatesI experiments we
have ever made upon ourtrepublicnn
institutions. We, for our own part,
have done all the little which we could
contribute'to bis election We rej,i-
ced in his triumph, because the republi-
cans had not only defeaied,he bo!dund'
dangerous politician who opposed HIM
mot only because we expected him
TO carry out theapolitical principles OF
the republican States rights party of
'98, i99-but because of the great mo-
rallesson which was inculcated bv his
election. Ours ought to be in practice,
ssit really is in theory, popular gov
ernment 1t belongs TO the people OF
the several States in this great conted.
eracy to give and TO take away the
highest offices. In the nomination OF
Mr.. Polk, this feature was signally en-
hibited. lie had been taken by the
immediate delegates of the people from
the ranks-from the bosom of retire.
ment, and from the great body of the
people-and placed over the heads of
The most distinguished men in die ma
ton. II was scornlully asked "Who is.
James X. Polke' and the people res
ponded at the ballut-box, s.He is our.
man, and it is our right and our pleas
pre TO place him at the eadofthe gov
ernment." No moral lesson could be
more sublime none more tongenialt to
the true character of our government.
The moral whiclilt is calculated to
teach is, hencelorth that no: aspirant,
who is ambitious of the office, should
be induced to bide his time, and wait
thewiil of the people. Iii is calculated
10 teach ambition, which proved the
bane ofthe ancient republic.,to repress
its too ardentnspirations--to avoid all
restless intrigues-and TO look more to
the country Than to itself. aa' a99' aals
il BUTT has been well remarked, that
the moral lesson is not yet complete.
If the administration of Mr.. Polk sue.
ceeds, then shall we have entire conf
denee in the manner of the selectIon.--
We shall rest thoroughly satisfied with
the bold experiment which has been
made by the people; and We shall take
care to practise it IN future times. Hit
fails, will spread a doubt over the
whule, and make our hig ghest honor the
football OF iactiors cIiques and Of aspir-
ing ambition. This great issue IS now
at stake. We state the problem freely
and boldly, without eGuiyocatlon and
reserve And we tell Mr.. Polk, with
alipossibIc respectand Kindness, upon
him rests the great, the awful response
bilitv its solution. He has taken the
first step in his administration. 1t was
his duty to SUI round himself with the
purest, ablest, best councillors Tin eve-
ry sense OF the wordD whom he could
command tor the pot!ic service. lie
has made up his cabinet; and now he
has called them to his side, it is IN their
power to contribute to lhwart or ad-
vance the great principles on which he
was eIected-to redeem the solemn
pledges under which he was nolalled
Ito fulfil or to dissipate the moral les
son which is sought toJbe established
to make it the government OF the peo-
pie. or the instrument forg gratifying The
ambition of aspiring citizens. Mr..
Polk will, of course. consult them on
all great occasions--but he will also
advise with his other friends. If there
be any particular man who is his Men
tor, next to James X. Polk, that man Is
the most important man in this coun-
try. He ought TO be the wisest, the
purest, thefrankest, the boldest patriot,
al Al brand