New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-29
Presidential Visits.


The Presiden, Of the United States has come and
gone. If there were few to rejoice at toe earlier
event there are many most artily grateful for the
latter. The interruption Of tho steady, calm pur.
suits Of life by such disturbing cause we consider
most unfortunate; and much more to be lamented
10 the prevalence Of rowdyism which on an oppor
tupity like this is sure to prevail
The respect we entertain for the Office induces
US TO hope that Mr.. Polk will at bis earliest leisure
hasten to the scene OF his Official duties and remain
there TIL the expiration Of his term; for we are
sure that bis presence among the people VIII nave
the inevitable tendency Of bringing the ONCE itseii
into disepute. There is nothing in his previous
history. nothing in his character reputation Tor
ability or personal appearance to dignity inc ounce
he hold. He came in as an experiment, he VIII
90 out failure.
wbsn he ,igniHed his intention Of visiting New
York we were induced. by a psrdonable sense Of
hospitality, to forbear the expression OF dissent
soch might have beep considered uncourteous and
chorish The person who even forces himself IN
s.ked upon our hospitality makes By the very act
stronger appeal 10 our courtesy
Bu, be has gone gone, as we trust, not meaning
it unexpectedly unkindly, never TO return as
incumbent OF an Office 70 which the blindne. OF
portion of his countymen has elevated him He
lieved. therefore, from the discharge Of burden
some hospitality we see no improperly IN giving
ven. 70 candid expression Of our opinions
We protest, therefore, most earnestly againstthe
common dictun that all consideration Of the person
,boud be merged in the o6ee that it is the Pres
dent and not the Individual we are called upon 70
receive Such doctrine is in theory most falla
cious. and would be most disastrous in practice.
IL has regal aspect The King, by the cOnsti
,ution Of Eogland, can do no wrong Whatever
crimes sgsnt the State or against Nature, Charles
or George may commit, THE KISe is still in theory
innocent. and in reality invulnerable. The Di-
vinity that doth hedge a King saves bis mamma
ture from the danger Of punishment. The individ-
nal and the Office being thus in the idea and in the
Constitution parable it follows that all homage
all manifestations Of respect, all services are rem
dered to the King and to the King alone. What
ever may be the mortality Of individuals, THE
KiSo never dies.
Bn. our Constitution knows no such slavish iea
tnre-nor would the character Of our people tole
rate its insertion All the forms Of the greatest
liberty are scrupuousy regarded in our National
md State Contributions. and are watched over by
the strictest scroiiny Of asuspicious people.
But what the necessity Of such devotion to mere
forms. if sleatly, but necessarily their spirit is
evsoorating There is latent spirit in every form
which. unappropriated or abused, works injury.
The President Of the United States is entitled to
respect so long as he respects himself or the Office
he, 20
discharge honestly nud efficiently, the duties Of his
oaice--if he consult private or political animosties
rather than the public eood-if he be false TO bis
oath. his conscience or his word-so far from being
entitled to respectful consideration, he should en-
counter everywhere the contempt or indignation
Of the community
We couioaud the distinction between right and
wrong when we yield to an unworthy President,h the
appreciation and distinction that should be accord
ed only to the good and they who lend themselves
to such hypocrisy are equally culpable as he who
is its object
The Constitution has itself provided for the ext
eency Of faihess Executive, by prescribing i'm
pescbment f,r his rrr'-h met ""d our safety Aud
though toe time may never arrive when such an
extreme measure must be resorted to- the bare
fact OF its Incorporation into that sol. instrument
forewarns us Of the danger 10 be spprehended and
bids u, beware that on our part no act be commit
ted which shall directly or indirectly seem to favor
Executive responsibility.
We do So when we lavish iavors upon an I'M
worthy President; we encourage him to believe
that the sanctity OF his office his derecton
Of the duties thereof that however fsithess TO the
high trust reposed in him. he will be received. du-
ring the term OF his election. with all honor and
courtesy and distinction as President of the United
States.
The lip. service too we render ON such occasions
is still more injurious to than its unconscious
subject Never was hypocrisy yet practised but
that the resilient force struck most fatally upon the
actor 1t degrades him in his own esteem and
makes him lei. sensible to others regard
The faint applause that Mr. Polk received while
here mast have convinced him-unless be was proof
against consiction-that his image had no abiding
place in the hearts Of the people We do not intend
to assign on the present occasion the full and sui
icient reasons Of his great unpopulsrity 1t is
enough here to say that general doubt of the hon
esty Of his Intentions, want of confidence in his
promises, and d,ss abstraction with his official CON
duct have availed.to make him, with all parties
the most unpopular person that ever filled the Ex-
ecutive Chair. Ii is personal and not mere Po-
htical dislike 1t attaches to his character as well
as to his sections, and il prevails everywhere.
We do hope. therefore, for his sake, as well as
our own, that on his return he will pass through
the City as private citizen. We believe that he
himself will be by that time convinced Of the heart
lessness Of she attentions he has received and viii
consequently become Disguised herewith,
TEsSEssSE-Genersl Alvsn Cullen. Loco Foco
member Of Congress from the Nth, or Nashville Dis
trict has retired from the canvass there His vote
last January, eensurns the gallant General Taylor
for the humane terms he granted to the unfortunate
Mexicsns whom be had shut up in Monterey, had
rendered him unpopular even in district which
gave Polk soc. ms ority in lsa4.
WIG VICTORY IN VIRGIsIA-We learn from