Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-06-26
The Settlement of the Oregon
Objectionable. Folks Admins.
f4.HliNn.

Why any man should desire to be President
of the United States, we are disposed at some
times to wonder. True it must be gratifying
to the feelings of a nan to be elevated 10 the
highest position within the gift of great and
a free people-especially when that elevation
is tribute to his worth -unsoughs and I'M
bought. True it must place man where he
can exercise those endOwments with which he
has been blessed by the Supreme Being, for
the advancement Of the happiness and the
prosperity Of his fellow-men. in a much more
eminent degree than whilst filling the situa-
ton Of private citizen. But when we recol-
lect he mental toll, the constant anxiety which
must ever haunt a conscientious man whilst
filling so responsible situation-when we
recollect that the eyes Of the whole world are
steadily and scrutinizingly bent upon him
his every action watched and weighed-his
motives at all times canvassed, and but too Of
ten maligned-we ask if the President Of the
United States is a man to be envied. No; we
ought rather to reflect how difficult and ardu-
ought always to extend to him our sympathy
and support. Particularly ought these to be
our feelings towards Mr.. Polk When we re-
collect that we, the people Of the United States,
have called him to the Presidential Chair.
without any implied or express seeking on his
part-that We have imposed the burden upon
his shoulders, we ought. as good citizens and
as honest men, to commend whatever, in his
official acts, we may deem to be right, and
treat with kindly forbearance whatever we
may, in our untrammelled judgment, think TO
be wrong. Mr.. Folks administration will be
noted by the future historian as one of the most
eventfui which has ever welded the destinies
Of this republic. His office, so far, has been
no synacure. Since Mr.. Polk has assumed
the Presidential Chair we have acquired on
our Southern confines, large, rich, and fruit
full territory. And this, too, in manner fol
which there is no parallel in the annals of the
world. Two sovereign, free and Independent
republics, without particle Of compnlson or
" either side, for their mutual benefit, blending
their individual sovereign,ies into one nnl:e'
empire. This one act alone, would make Mr.
" Folks administration an important one. Blu
when we also consider the magnitude Of tn
y. questions of internal policy which have been
and are vet. to settle, We cannot but feel ,ha
, his position is one which calls for the cOnstan
and unwearied exercise Of all the high intel
lectual and moral virtues with which he is er
dowed.
The great question which has just been Sc
tied, (for that it is adjusted, we doubt moi,
will, in future generations, attract the after
lion Of the American people 10 the present a.
h, ministra,ion. We need scarcely say that "
~ allude to the Oregon question. When o.
~ readers remember that the controversy abo
&c the Oregon Territory has been pending b
+, tween England and the United States ev
M, since 1918, and that it has at intervals durir
10. the long period which has interviewed sim
N. that date, caused great deal of anxiety, lie
m out OF it would spring the seeds of war b
es tween tho two countries, they cannot but fe
:. that its settlement is an achievement whi
-, will shed lusire on the administration of N
Polk, for all time to come. When, too, it
IN considered upon what honorable terms for t
md United States. this question has been settle
e,s we cannot but feel grateful to those who ha
,,v been instrumental, under Providence, in briu
ide ing i. to SO happy termination. Three tim
,r;. before had We offered the same terms to Gre
on, Britain. and three times before did she rejt
ino them. We all know what deep and anxio
tod feelings have pervaded the minds of the Am
lean people during the last twelve months,