The national whig., 1847-06-09

before him this excellent epistle--excellent he.
cause il is true-wilh the promise that his fu-
ture letters shall be regularly given.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF POLKISM.
Correspondence of the Tribune
WAsHIEeroN, Jime 2, l847.
Was there window in the breast of each one of
the prominent politicians Of this county--a moral
siethoscope by which their secret Thoughts selfish
impulses and unchastened aspirations, could be
certained with the nicely of mathematical demon
stralion, aud spread like characters map, before
the public how diff,r MT the estimation in which
some Of them would be holden No man, says
the French proverb, is hero to his valet de-cham-
bre; possibly, Frenchman ever was, for there is
always gasco nsde--some attempt at effect, in
the conduct Of even their most distinguished. 1t is,
however, universally true that false greatness
sumed character becomes exposed in its genuine CO.
lors on familiar approach; and many of our GREAT
MEN would sink into natural insignifcance, if their
character and pretensions truly developed to the
world.
To prevent Misrepresentation, big leave to say
that do not intend to make application of these re-
marks to Mr. President Polk. 1t requires no near
access to his person. form Of his ability and cha
racter proper opinion; the nature Of his character
is so patent that it can be distinguished easily at
distance as on nearer view.
tits necessary however in this connection to speak
somewhat Of Mr.. Polk, his conduct and its motive.
s,fo IF ,ioini Sfratin
has been predicated upon the hope Of election is
the general belief--a belief warranted by proper
observation Of facts The leading politicians Of the
Democratic party certainly discovered that this was
the cherished object Of his pursuit, early the
first Congress after his election That this de.ir
has been the aIlcontroing influence Of mis- admins.
ralion, with his own party especialy--and that it
has been the knowledge Of this fact, which has rem
dered the Presiden. SO deplorably odious TO vast
majority Of the leading Democrats Of the country.
there can he no doubt. That it has dictated nine
tenfhs IF the appointments to office. will
question, who will take the trouble to examine the
subject. Van Buren, men, Cass men, Calhoun men,
.Palthians, Medes, Edomites,' were treated alike
with kindness neglect as they favored or frowned
upon the Presidential aspirations Il has been the
policy Of Mr.. Polk from the early start . foment
divisions in the party to weaken seraim the diilers
ent sections of it, TO prevent union. harmony and
Cancellation between the different leaders, and thus
compel his own denomination in ls4s, as the sole
in relation to Mr.. Wright, Judge Woodbury. (nei-
Mer Of aohom ras consulted or referred to in the
formation Of his Cabinet Gen. Cass Mr.. Hanne-
gan and others has been equally, treacherous; and
unaccountable save on one superstition. His con-
duct towards Mesrs. Hannegan and Hayward upon
the Oregon questons typical of the hateful mystery
Of his proceedings throughout. He spoke to those
distinguished gentlemen with biforked tongue
violated them; and SO exasperaed these honorable men
than one eared in his seat in the Senate, that if
Mr.. Polk did pursue the course foreshadowed by Mr..
Hayward, he would sink deep that the trumpet of
the Angel of Resurrection could not reach him and
the other resigned his position Senator as the sole
escape from the difficulties into which reliance upon
Presidential assurances had involved him.
The selection of his Cabnet-the sole change
that has been made in 1.-THE reason therefor
these among the many indications of the inten-
ton with which he arrived at Washington. Mr..
Bancroft was admitted into the Cabinet chiefly on
account Of his supposed personal attachment 10 Mr..
Polk; [and at the persuasion Of J. G. Harris, now
Purser in the Navy] an attachment of SO impusiye
a nature as to induce him to visit Mr. Polk in Ten
nessee before the nomination at the Baltimore Con-
pention! He was also Van Buren, Anti-Slavery
Democrat; and Mr.. Polk thought his appointment
would be sop to the Northern Ce,berus Of d emoc-
racy, just then beginning to affect nice delicate sort
Of anupathy to Slavery in he abstracy
But when it was found that his profuse profes-
sons of attachment to the person Of the President,
however sincere brought no accession of political
strength to his cause--iha his farther retention in
the Cabinet would ALLEVIATE the Southern Democr acy
unable to digest his Yankee notions on Slavery
and that strong clamor had arisen, and was likely
to increase, against his off ia conduct, his charla
tanism in character and manners and his notorious
want Of varaci.y Polk persuaded him 10 60 in
to honorable retirement as Minister 10 Great Bri-
tain!
On the lst instant the Parliament of Canada was
opened by speech from Governor Elgin. The
Post Office is to be given up to the Colonial Gov
ernment and Railroad is to be built between ali
fax and Quebec.
0U-Advices from Rio de Janero 10 the 24,h