The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-20

spent in the service of his countryhe did not halt in
the march of his predecessors Ns-n this respect ne
trod In their Footsteps nor would he by emitting their
practice, cast reproach upon their justly honored
Names as violaors of the sacred constitution of their
country. lts well known and publicly avowed demo
cratic tendencies need no of this day to illustrate
Under General jacksonville democrat, par excel
encc, next to Jehersonthe system took unusually
wide range More and larger appropriations for rivers
roads and harbors made by Congress and approved
by him. than under all previous administrations Not
that he departed from old principles. and conormed
new one-but that the Importance Of great lakes,
and OF our immense great western rivers finland
most appropriately termed by illustrous states
man, became more generally known the heretofore
hidden Of the country were measurably dis
closed and keeping pace with the times and their ex
gences Andrew Jackson regarding the full and speedy
Development Of those Invaluable resources as an i'm
portant element of national prosperity, did not find
to stop the progress of the predestned and
evitable improvements of his country He saw that
already they were deserving Of national care.
President Van Buren's democracy, we presume, will
not be questioned and he, steadily reading in the
footsteps Of his illustrous predecessor gave like
sanction in the matter
General Harrison died too soon to give us any evil
dence President Of what his convictions of official
duty would have dictated. His immediate successor
John Tyler, an avowed democrat and strict Virginia
consructionist also approved Of extensive appropra-
tions for harbors, rivers, and roads True he sent
back one bill on these matters; but it needs only to
read his message to perceive that his objections
to particular case.
From this brief review of the practice in this particu
lar of all previous administrations it would seem that
former President had constitutional scruplcs to pre-
vent his cooperation with Congress, when that body
inclined, in furtherance of the peoples wshe.
and decided interests to appropriate money to legt
mate objects of public expenditure and such Jeffer
son. &C. &c. have proven that they thought are appro
priations that Mr. President Polk determined to
prevent.
He wCald enforce new exercise of prerogative--cn
join new ruleenforce new practice, regardless OF
that which for forty years has uninterruptsdly OBJ
tanned in fact that he alone is right and all his pre-
decessors wrong for if his peculiar reasoning the
constitution be correct then surely Jefferson Ma
olson, Monroe Adams, Jackson, Van Buren,, Ty
ler-all, ALL violators Of the constitution. Let tn,
country determine and give verdict accordingly
That he may be, and is sincere, We do not for
moment mean to question but President Polk has in
our opinion advanced and endorsed puerile and i'm
practicable notion-appcable, if ever, only to the in
FAINT condition of the country before tho great lakes
known even their borders settled before tn,
great rivers of the country in all their immense ram
fcatons, were explored before the power of steam in
its almost omnipotence, was even applied by land OF
| by water
He has however taken determined stand, contrary
to the action of the great fathers of the democratic
party. He has abandoned their school, in this respect
| and implicitly would cast reproach upon their time
honored names, volatcrs of the constitution which
| they. as he. were sworn to support.
Reckless of the great national interests of millions
| men, and millions Of money, he would anchor th
country with the dead-weght Of an mpracticable
rusty notion of forty ago forty years behinS
| the times Meanwhile, new world is in sight; ant
whoever, in this age stands still in fact retrogrades
1t is clear Mr. Polk has no wish or expectation AGAR
to navigate the ship of State but rather to he
safely in snug harbor. Else, would he now and thor
| take observation; for, in long voyage coul,
not crawl long shore. Who in suoh chance, woul'
take river pilot who saw the radiant sud
denly immersed, and lost to sight in the expande
sea, and knew why 1t sunk, and would rise again!
! He has chosen his time to decline furthe
| potage--given us abundant notice lie
| us look out for wants and to drop a
metaphor inquire if democracy is far be
| hind the age rs to be content with fresh waite
| sailor as leader! What part of the country, wha
party or section of party, would Not cur oppo
Aens the wings for they profess to require that thei
leader be up to the times. Will the democrats! The
will not allow cast of reproach upon the great
good departed apostles of their party by any such
of theirs would be implied they again to trus
the destines of their country to President who woul
throttle the great principles of the party in its system
of progressive Improvement, morally, mentally an,
| physically.
The spirit of the age and times is onward and up
ward aud will have action
INLAND SEAS