Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-28
THE PRESIDENT ELECT.

Nashville, that in free conversation WIN WI
Polk, he declared that, "come what nisns ne ~.
tended 10 be President of The Gn'tea Stdtcs -tnal
he should have great difficulty in forming his va.
bine but that he intended 10 meet II manfuliy ana
overcome il: that his Cabinet would be his poitt-
cal G1mily-and that he thought he oughi 10 NC
permitted 10 make up this CABINET al MS own
pleasure"
We have already published portion OF the
above extract, We now repubish ii, with its
context, that the country may understand the spl-
r in which Mr. Polk will assume The relns OF 90
vernment We concur with him perfectly IN
the sentiment which he expresses lie .hould,
indeed "be President ofthe Z. States" and deter
mined to exercise his powers, with The energy
which becomes him; superior 10 all The cliques,
which NAV happen TO be formed 10 coun-
teract him above all threats, above all Sc
ductions, above all the influences which might
be calculated 10 swerve him from Inc hfm
and elevated sphere OF duly ID whlcn II PC
comes him 10 move. Let him bring into his
Cabinet The ablest and purest men he can induce,
10 co-operae with him in the discharge OF the
Executive functions-to advise him-to tell HIM
Tie truth freely for truth is The scarcest and We,
the most precious thing which comes TO the ears
Of men in power-Princes, Presidents, call them
what YOU will The vulgar great, or the tawning
sycophants OF power. believe that nothing but
praise is acceptable 10 their ears, and that incense
ought to be continually burnt before them. But
wise man viii tespise these parasites, and seek
the truth from men who Till dare 10 speak it
He ought also to have 4 Cabinet OF iirm and
energetic character. who will assist him in re-
sistng The threats q The arrogant and the am
bilious pollcians-and defying every clique that
attempts to control him, and every would-be
great man who aspires 10 share his power,
or 10 rule the succession. Mr.. Polk has
come up from the bosom OF The People, and he
must look 10 them for his main support. His
election is The greatest popular increment oil The
times-and il will prove the finest moral lesson in
the election CT our Presidents and in the con-
Quoting OF the Government, # his administration
should prove to be successful. II ii succeed TO his
own glory, and 10 the good OF his country, the les
son will be compleie-and the ambitious aspi-
rants, like Henry Clay, who have hitherto proved
the bsne and the ruin of all Republics, will I've
taught, that 'this world was not made for CGsar.'
The People alone are The sovereisns in this Re-
public. 1t is their power, which ought 10 he
fill, in the selection Of their own agents. /, is
their own office which is conferred. It's theirs
10 give, and theirs TO take away-and blessed shall
be the name OF The People. Ii is theirs 10 call
upon any citizen to serve them-and 10 tell the
ambitious aspiranls 10 wait until they arc called,
and to bide their time
Such are the circumstances under which Jas.
X. Polk has been called 10 the head of the Go
vernment. Let him bu. act as The President OF
The u. States defying all factions, Drawing all
threats; scornins 10 be ruled by any combination,
but calling around him those men whom his own
judgment pronounces to be the best and mos qua
lifted men 10 serve their coun,ry-y,t doing his
duty himself, redeeming the pledges under which
he has been elected, carrying out the Republican
principles OF the Baltimore Convention, and he
may trust 10 the people with every confidence that
they will support him.
For one, il such humble citizens as the Editors
of Ibis paper may venture 10 place themselves
in any connexion with this great theme, We say
boldly, that we ask nothing of him. but that he
should be the President OF The United Siates-and
in tina, high capacity 10 which the people them
selves have called him, Lei him discharge his
duties cnnscieniiousy and firmly, and we Tor one
will stand by him with all the energy which we
possess. We supported him tiom principle-we
will continue 10 support him from principle if he
continues 10 deserve the support OF the Republican
party We are slaves 10 no man. We despise
all those peuy ciques, all those tactious COM
binations which may be got up by discontinued
and aspiring men 10 advance their own narrow
interests. This noble Country, with the features
of greatness stamped upon her very landscape
endowed with 50 many blessings, of physical
was never intended To become the sacrifice OF
few would-bc great men, who after all are no bet
Ter than hundreds OF others who do not push
themselves into public places, and grasp at the
hshes honors OF The Stale. But the people
must t.ke their own cause into their own hands
trust no man too much-and still remember that
tine price Of liberty is eternal vigilance"
Should we notscorn the man, who, at such time
as this, is looking TO the succession, and is trying
to raise his little self 10 the head Of affairs a
Such n,en as Daniel Webster, who after playing
a variety Of characters, like the common come
dian OF the stage, goes once more into the Sc
nate, 10 see whether he cannot make himself the
President, or whom he can support 10 do the most
for himself What a mar would he indeed be,
yves what man would Daniel Webster have
beenD if his course were only as direct as his Ia
Ter; are diStnguished-and il the moral force Of
his character bore any proportion TO the brllian-
cy Of his genius. Great however, he cannot
be rallied, because, we repeat, greatness is in the
compound ratio Of principles and talents
We did not intend 10 write more than few
lines, when we sal down 10 copy out the extract
OF orr letter from Nashville. But We cannot drop
the pen without repeating, ina, We trust Mr. Polk
will in the true and wise sense of The expression,
"bc The President Of tic United STATES" The
times demand sonndaeSs u principle and frmness
of ,urpose, above all g tcar and all iaror." The
People expec! il al his hands. Act in this spirit,
and though he may lose some disconnected poll
tcan here and there; and though he may have
TO encounter an unfaitering and vndclve oppo-
sition from The Wings, and few camors from
a few men Of his own party, let the Young Hick-
DRY 60 on and, with The "iron nerve" Of the
Old Hickory, do his duty-and the people will
stand By him. In this sense Of The term, we bid
him 10 'be the Presiden. Of the United States