Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-07-07
The Presidents NOrthen Tour.
The Tribune contains the following remarks
OF the visit of the President at New York, in
which we are sure every considerate man must

L
which we are sure every considerate man must
concur:
PRESIDENTIAL VISITS.
The President of the United States has come
and gone. If there were few to rejoice at the
earlier event, there are many most heartily
grateful for the latter. The interruption of the
steady. calm pursuits of life by such disturb
ing causes we consider most unfortunate; and
much more to be lamented in the prevalence of
rowdyism which on an opportunity like this is
sure to prevail.
The respect we entertain for the office indu-
ces US to hope that Mr.. Polk will at his earliest
leisure hasten to the scene of his official duties
and remain there till theexpiration of his term;
for we are sure that his presence among the
people will have the inevitable tendency of
bringing the Office into disrepute. There is
nothing in his previous history, nothing in his
character, reputation for ability, or personal
appearance, to dignity the office he holds. He
came in as an experiment, he will gs out as
failure.
When he signifed his intention of visiting
New York, we were induced, by pardonable
sense of hospitality, to forbear the expression
of dissent. Such might have been considered
uncourteous and churish. The person who
even forces himself unasked upon our hospital
ity makes by the very act stronger appeal to
our courtesy.
But he has gone; gone, as we trust, not mea-
ming it dlsresp9ctfully or unkindly, never to re-
turn as incumbent of an office to which the
blindness of portion of his countrymen has
elevated him. Relieved, therefore, from the
discharge of burdensoIne hospitality, we see
no improperly in giving vent to a candid ex-
preston of our opinions
We protest, therefore, most earnestly against
the common dictum that all consideration of the
person should be merged into office; that it is
the President and not the individual we are cal
led upon to receive. Such a doctrine is in the
DRY most fallacIous, and would be most danger
GUS in practice.
1t has regal aspect. The King, by the
constitution of England, can do no wrong
Whatever crimes against the State or against
Nature, Charles or George may commit, THE
KING is still in theory innocent, and in reality
invulnerable. ''The Divinity that doth hedge
a King" saves his man-nature from the danger
of punishment. The individual and the office
being thus in the idea and in the Constitution
it follows that all homage, all mani
festations of of respect all services are render
ed to the King and to the King alone. What.
ever may be the mortality of individuals, THE
KING never dies.
But our Constitution knowns no such slavish
would the character of our people
tolerate its insertion. All the forms of the
greatest liberty are scrupulously regarded in
our National and State constitutions, and are
watched over by the strictest scrutiny of sus-
picious people.
But what the necessity tof such devotion to
mere forms, if silently, but incessently their
spirit is evaporatingl There is latent spirit
in every form which, unappropriated or abused,
works injury.
The President of the United States is enti-
tied to respect SO long as he respects himself
or the Office which he holds, and no longer.-If
he neglect to discharge, honestly and efficiently
the duties of his office-if he consult private or
political animosities rather than the public
good-f he be false to his oath, his conscience
or his word-so far from being entitled to re-
spectful consideration, he should encounter eve
ry where the contempt or Indignation of the
We confound the distinction between wright
and wrong when we yieldto an unworthy Pres
dent the appreciation and distinction that shol'd
be accorded 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
exigency of fathless Executive, by prescri-
DIng impeachment for his punishment and our
safety. And though the time may never arrive
when such an extreme measure must be resort
ID to, the bare fact of its incorporation into that
solemn instrument forewarns us Of the danger
10 be apprehended, and bids us beware that on
)ur part no act be committed which shall direct
" or indirectly seem to favorExecutlve irrespon-
,ibility.
We do so, when we lavish favors upon an
unworthy President; we encourage him to be-
ieve that the sanetity OF his office excuses his
lerelction of the duties thereof; that however
'athlesss to the high trust reposed in him, he
will be received, during the term of his election
with all honor and courtesy and distinction as
President of the United States.
The lip-servive too we render on such occa-
sions is still more injurious to us than Its nm
subject. Never was hypocrisy yet
,racticed. but that the resilient force struck
most fatally upon the actor. 1t degrades him
N his own esteem and makes him less sensible
% others regard.
The faint applause Mr. received while here
must have convinced him--unless he was proof
against conviction--that his image had no abb
hing place in the hearts of the people. Wedo
not intend to assign to the present occasion the
-ulI and sufficient reasons of his great unpopu-
arity. 1t is enough here to say thata general
loubt of the honesty of his intentions, want
Of confidence in his promises, and dissatisfaction
With his official conduct, have avaled to make
him, with all parties, the most unpopular per-
son that ever filled the Executive Chair. 1t is
/ personal and not mere political dislike: 1t
attaches to his character as well as to his ac-
ions, and it prevailes everywhere. IL
We do hope, therefore, for his sake, as we'll
IS our own, that on his return he will pass thro
he city as private citizen. We believe that
he himself will be by that time convinced OF the
of the attentions he has received
md will consequently become Disguised there
with.
9The fortress Of Mont Valerien, the keystone
IF the system of Notifications, and of which
he contrsuction cost not less than 1O,0O0f., Isl
literally falling into ruins. The 2great walls
ming the scarp and counterscarp, whether 1t
be that the masses o, earth they haze to sup
post are too great, or whether the mason work
be badly executed, are cracked in several places.
Persons we'll versed in these kinds of work as
sure us that next winter, in consequence of the
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