The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-28
James *. Polk.

James K Polk TO the time when he was naugurated
President of the United States His administration CON-
menced on the 4h of March, 1885, and closed the 4,h
of March 1sl9 yet events were crowded into that short
space of time which can fade from the memory oil
our people The great achievements of the last four
years cannot perish and pass away with him who ruled
our desnies He now slumbers in the grave, while
they vet lve-not only giving elevated character to
our policy but teaching the nations by our great example
the true objects OF civil government and the ends of
human legislation.
The contest in which Mr. Polk was elected was an
open and manly struggle of republican principles against
antagonist elements lie the chosen leader of the
republican party, the exponent and embodiment OF those
great truths which lie at the foundation OF constitutional
liberty He the advocate of the laborng interests OF
the country in contest against those who wished to ex-
tend the perogatves of the government and TO strength
en- the federal power in confedeacy in order to estab
lish system of affiliated interests which might control
the people and feed upon their substance To strike down
such adversaries to render great service to the
country Blu, MIR. Polk did more He was true to his
mission and faithful TO those principles which elevated
him to his august office He not only defeated danger
GUS pariy-strong in numbers in wealth, and in n.eli
gence-active, vigilant, and untirng-and prevented
perverson of the high powers OF the to serve
the ends OF ambition, and minister to the avariee of
wealthbut he built up nosle policy, and gave TO alb
sract truth practical energy and influence in the opera
lions Of the government
When Mr. Polk took the osh OF Office many grave ques
tons before the country, and his path full Of
difficulty and embarrassment He saw it all yet he was
not appalled,. He called around him cabine, of firm,
sagacious, and experienced men, whose minds deep
y imbued with those great principles which he had
tanned with answering fidelity from his first into
public life. They stood by him to the last, and sustained him
in the ardueus task which before him. The Oregon
question, which had baied the efforts of generation of
wisest statesmen threatened at any momen, to de-
siroy the peace Of country, and to force into
collision with the most powerful nation of the earth
Mr.. Polk took this Craze matter into serious considera-
ton. He viewed il in all lis aspects, and concluded that
the only course of safety to give notice TO Great
Britain that the Joint occupancy OF the territory
northwest frontier must cease Many of his best and
warmes friends feared the consequences OF this decisive
movement Even his cabinet advisers not without
their apprehenaons but he remained firm in his convc,
lions, and he adhered with inl9xb,e resolution to the
dictates of his Judgment The proposition successful
| and question pregnant with danger adjusted on
terms which the United States had before been
able to obtain-tems which, in the estimation OF
British statesmen, were highly honorable our coun-
try and creditable to its diplomacy.
The verdict of the people which elected Nlr Ak in
1914 decided that the desire OF the inhabitants OF Texas
to be annexed to the United States should be graied,
and that that republic should be added to our confedeacy
of sovereign States The prominent position given to this
issue in the presidential contest and the decisive juig-
81 III, oxnIa LII. 4
many obstacles to pne of the greatest achievements in
our hlstory-he peaceabe and quiet addition our
rtoy of vast domain, in accordance with the wishes
OF It's Misunderstanding in the great Mississippi valley
waered by streams which flow through our sou
States, inhabited by people who had the same common
ancestry with ourselves, speaking the language,
worshiPpng at the same affairs, and living under the
same Institutions But the decision of the people in 1914
did not every obstacle There were those among
who did not respect that decision and who endeayored
by every artfce to prevent the contamination of the
popular desire The perseverng efforts of the friends of
annexation, and the cautious craftsmanship of Mr. Polk
finally prevailed, and triumph untarnished by crime
and unstaned by wrong was won for our insiitu-
tions-a triumph which stands without an equal in
the history OF nations But the misguided councils of
Mexico forced add the aures OF war to the achieve
mens of peace. In evil hour that nation sent its
troops border to shed the blood of our cit
zens on soil This invasion was promptly re
PEELED by the gaantry of soldiers but the victories
on the Rio Grande were stripped Of their legitimate con
sequences. The Mexican government could not but per-
ceve that people divided, and that there was
strong party in mdstthe party which had en-
deavored to ,hwar the popular WILL and prevent the an
nexation of Texastha represented the resources OF our
government as inadequate TO the contest in which we
engaged-assaed the national credit-delayed APP
northumberland our cause, and demanded that
armies should be recalled, and our soldiers should
be forced TO retreat vigorously from the field the very
hour of victory Buoyed up by the hopes which were
thus excited, the Mexican nation prolonged the
but il was all in vain. The spirit of our people was
aroused Despite the denunciaons OF party, volunteers
locked to our standard Soldiers We'd with their
commanders in deeds of galantry Victory followed
victory until the gates OF the encmys capital carried
by storm, and peace that closed which
unbroken series OF trumphs Those triunphs
belong to the history of the pas but it is impossible to
estimate the effects which they will the history
of the future Before flag planted on the banks
Of the Rio Grande the belief prevalent that republi
Institutions though productive of national prosperity
in peaceful and tranquil times, not fitted for those
collisions to which all institutions liable. Large
standing armies deemed to be necessary peace
order to enforce national rights and maintain national in