Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-07-09

blood flowing in MexicO-blood which bot for
him would never have been shed-wilh disease
destroylng,incn every where as with pesiilence
by enliHing in a wur which, but for him, could
have been honorably ayoided-wiih States and
cities and families in mourning Tor the lost and
The loyed-we sec the Chief Magistrate Of the
United Slaes-he who ought 10 BE-, and ifa good
man would be-esteemed as the father Of the
Nation-trayeling from city to ciiy in most Os.
teniaIious show and paraJe-eoling drinking
and making merry, both in cold Indifference 20
the Affections Of The People and objectionable
negleet Of his high official duiies. Better were
fasting Than such ieosling. Beuer humiliation
and prayer than such psgeantry and noise. Bet
ter to share our sympaihies with the wives who
have been made widows, with children who have
become orphans, with fathers and mothers who
have been made chidess, than with the respon.
sible author ofall this suffering.
Nor is il life alone thai this war has cost U.s.
Who shall tell the effect Of its example upon the
morals ofa Christian community. We have bul
to read the record olthe campaign 10 know what
/ it is. Where men would feel q stain like 0
wound in civil life, they indulge in gross licen.
tiousness in the camp. Free from the restraints
Of civilized life, with their passions aroused, re-
venge in their hearts, and blood upon their hands
they are often rather brutes than men. And is
this fitting school in which 10 teach the young
men of America! Or is the time Of their fall By
the sword by the heavy hand Of disease, by vi
cious lives. or from any cause, the proper occa
sion for Journey Of pleasure on the part Of him
who sent them, as il were, Pioneers 10 the field
of blood and death. Where you sec the soldier.
moving in
Funeral marches TO the grave"
YOU behold the Commander-in.C Chief feasted ant
fed by corporations and office-holders, and mer
who do obesance TO the Chief Magistrate iha
the Executive may honor them.
The people oflhe United States pay their Ex
ecutiye twenty-five thousand dollars a year, anC
furnished palace TO live in, and with attendance
for no such service as this. They are taxed
enough for carrying on this horrible war, with
out having The unwelcome presence of its anthol
thrust before them.
Nor is it kind, or even decent, in Mr.. Polk. tC
exact outward homage or respect for the Office
held by him, when there is none for the man who
! fills It. At the close of his official service, Mr.
Polk would fail to receive the homage of any but
his personal friends. He would, indeed, like
John Tyler, at Richmond, fail 10 become an in.
vited guest. even where marks of respect were
shown to a stranger. What right, then has the
officer to seek for honor and attention, when
none is felt for the man. Between the Officer
and the man the public may Distinguish, bu,
when the man seeks favor at the expense Of the
office, he shows less respect for the office he oc
cupies, than the people themselves.
1t is not Of many public men we should feel al
liberty 10 speak so slightly, but having known
James X. Polk in Congress aud oul, where he
is, and at home, we esteem him as did his con.
stluents, when both as a candidate for the Gu.
bernarorial Office and the Presidency, they pro.
nounced him unfit for public service. We re.
member him, TOO, as the only Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives who failed to receive
the unanimous vote Of thanks of the Representa-.
tiyes oflhe Two great parties Of the Union.