The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-08-06
MR.. POLK UNMASKED.
BY A DEMOCRAT.
Correspondence Of the baltimore Clipper


ly read. While appreciate the consciousness
of motive which induced you TO anlmadvert
upon the style and language Of my last com
municaiion, cannot help considering the oc-
cason which called forth the rebuke, as map
propriate and out Of place. There are epochs
in the political history OF nation when the
moral excresences, which, imperceptlbly graft
upon the constitutional tree, become
so hardened and intraclib!e, as to defy the APP
pcaton Of the pruning knife, unless guided
by strong and violent hand. II was by such
means that the n oral sense of the English ma,
lion was reused from a lelhargic slumber Of a
hundred years, aud made TO stand against the
Influences of Lord North's administration. Il
was by means OF such direct remedies that the
eniasculate branch of the Bourbons was driven
from throne which il had so long desecraled
and disgraced. II is by such expedlents only
that the people OF this country can be brought
IL proper understanding OF their perilous pc.
siton, and stimulated 10 shake off those inglo-
rious lelters, which, under the pretext OF en-
forcing party discipline, have so long kept their
minds and judgments in shameful bondage
The doctrine that the King can do no wrong
may do very well in certain hemspheres, but
no reasoning Of sophistical ingenuity, howcv-
er dexteriousy administered, can render il pal,
utuUlG W ,ItluUICdH lutGiit9tuISs. Saii Sou-
ceiye OF no form OF Government, where il be-
comes more imperatively the duty Of every
good citizen to critcise the actions of men 10
power than ours. This should be done mol
limidly and by mawkish affeclations of defer>
ence to the individual in Office. but with that
fearless honesty Of purpose, which looking
neither TO the right nor to the left. darts for
ward in the direction Of its object and seeks
only TO achieve, some public good. Ii an lodi
vidual has made use of base practices in order
TO reach some exalted station, which he after
wards disgraced by course OF mean and dis
honorable actions, he should be held up 10 the
scorn and execration Of mankind This is the
only safeguard we have against the recurrence
of similar evil. This is the only protection
the people can find against the ,impositons Of
political schemers, who would no doubt repea,
the fraud, if its enormities has been less
pointedly dwelt upon.
And yet doubt whether should have been
disposed 10 undertake the uncongenial task Of.
animadver,ing as have done upon the two
most mischevous characters in Washington,
President Polk and his aged victim OF the
"Union, had not Mr.. Richie, in his ankle,
ty to perpeluate the dynasty OF little minds
in his rabid desire TO retain the administration
OF public affairs in the hands Of juggers and
pe,liloggers, adopted style Of augmentation
and tone OF language which frequently
amounted 10 low ribaldry. Witness for in
stance the vulgar flashes of merrment and in
decent illusions which have lately character
lied all his remarks on Gen. Taylor, showing
most distinctly that his impious object, how.
ever impolenl and unavailipg, is to bring that
distinguished Individual into ridicule! Thorn
as Rilchc persus Zachary Taylor. A Salyr 10
Hyperion II was after witnessing the spas
modc efforts Of this political nestor TO gel up
another soi-disat national convention, for the
exclusive benefit OF himself and friends, that
determined to enter the lists and venture few
pages in behalf Of the people. II was upon a
solemn conviction that daring attempt was
about to be made in order 10 prolong this scan
dalous saturnalia OF undecided vllanies that
undertook 10 revive the memory Of the many
acts of perfidy which have marked the course
Of this administration. if the language in which
my denuncialions have been couched has not
always been redoent of the fragrance of roses,
il must be remembered, that although other
men before the advent OF MIR. Polk, have al.
tempted TO make the administration of justice
the whisper of a grovelling faction, il was
reserved for him 10 carry out that beautiful
aphorism Of LmochefocauIt- Language
was given 10 US for the purpose of Disgusting
our thoughts" So admirably has Mr. Polk
succeeded in the practice Of this ingenious art,
that no gentleman would be found fool hardy
enough TO rely upon his word, though the mat
ter at issue was a mere trifle. He disguised
his thoughts 50 admrably well in the celebral
ed KANE LETTER, that thousands of deluded
people helped 10 elect him 10 the Presidency,
in the silly hope that he would be true 10 the
promises held out in that remarkable produc-
ton. Such is his wonderful facility for dissim
ulalion, that the individual, who al the request
of large portion of the Democratic party.
visited his homestead previous 10 the elections,
and received from him a solemn assurance that
if the friends of the aie President would vote
for him, they should be received into favor, he
actually believed him to be serious. Benjamin
f. Butler OF New York, knows that few
days previous 10 this interview promise,
equally binding and solemn, had heen given
TO him, that every Tyler man, (such was the
ridiculous designation OF those Democrats. who
happened to hold Office during Mr.. Tyler's ad
ministration.) should be decapita,ed without
mercy. This is the only instance IN which
Mr.. Polk has been known to redeem his word
so fearfully true has he been to this monsrous
pledge, that on two or three occasions, when
tfforts were made by men in high stations to
produce a reconsideration of opinion in behalf
OF the victim Of ostracism. The President OF the
United States. ambitious to provoke the wrath
OF the great sachems at Tammany, actually
descended to the mean alternative Of slandering
the prosecuted individual, by pretending that
he had received representations detrimental 10
his moral character.
- 4 But
Mr.. Polk didnot confne his disguisings to that
trying period which precedes election day, and
which TO man so morbidly anxious to be Pre-
siJent as he was, must have been productive
of very narrowing thoughts. No sooner had
he arrived in Washington than he sent for Mr.
Blair--(th identical B.air 10 behalf of whose
continuance as confidential and official organ
Of the forthcoming administration he had
pledged his word OF honor to Gen. jackson,
and very freely consulted with that gentleman
as TO the points which should be made in the
inaugural address. Mr.. Blair gave his advice
freely, but respectfully, BIZ, very soon discover
ed that it could only have been solicited in
mockery, inasmuch as the inaugural, stamped