The North-Carolina standard., 1849-12-26
MIR. NIcHoLsoN,s oRATIoN.

!
life and services of Ex-Presdent Polk, by the Hon
A. O. P. Nicholson. The orator, after rapid sketch
of the glory won by in Mexico, thus alludes
to the present and future condition of country
! " But this is no more than the beginning of oul
national destny-the mere rosy tints of the early
dawn, bespeaking the transcendant eulgence of the
rising sun of day. When Mr.. Polk ascended the
Executive chair, the march of freedoms empire west
ward was bounded by the Rocky mountains. There
the genius of liberty the craggy summit of this
lofty battement of nature gazing down upon broad
Pacific, and anxious bathe her feet in its smooth
and peaceful waters To the northwest lay Oregon,
subject only to the laws of savage Indians, and of
usurping Britons. To the southwest lay New Mex
leo and California, in which Mexican despotism main
tained precarious dominion the semi-barbarous
tribes of mixed nations. TO the southeast lay Tex
as, where freedom had erected her altar, but where
Mexican lnfatuaton was threatening to carry lnds-
crimnate destruction and determination. Four years
roll away, and how changed the scene! By the
magic operation of two treaes these four empires of
territory are born into the Republican family. What
an acquisition? Give wings to your minds and trace
around its boundaries See it extended along the
Gulf of Mexico from the Sabine to the Rio Del
Norte-then westward spanning the continent, and
looking out upon the Pacific through seventeen de-
grees of north latitude, embracing the entire western
slope of the Rocky mountains and encircng with an
empire of wealth and power, the mouth of the great
mississippi Throughout this vast region nature
has deposited in abundance, the means of agricutu
raj, mineral and commercial wealth, but there they
created them until they were brought within the in
fuence of the enterprise and industry of free people
under the wise policy of late ilustrous EXPIRES
dent. Already the tide of emigration, quckened by
the miraculous accounts of mineral wealth, which
reach us by every arrival, has commenced the work
of peoPling and reelaiming this immense territory.
We may well pause to look with astonishment upon
supendous structure of Repubicanism, when this
vast empire shall be filled with industrious popu
lation, when its unbounded resources shall be de-
veloped, when State after State shall have knocked
and received admittance into Union, until our
mighty Republic shall present the grand spectacle of
confederacy of sovereign States, spanning the
tinent from ocean to ocean. What nation upon the
face of the earth will then dispute our pre-eminence
in moral and physical power, in national grandeur
Mr.. Polk was regular reader of the Bibleand con-
stant attendant upon divine worship AS illustrative of
his private habits and opinions in connection with
ligious subjects, may be induged in quoting entire
a memorandum made by him on his iftieth birth day,
and left amongst his papers. tits as follows: Sun
day, Nov. 2, 1945. Attended the Methodist Church
(called the Foundry Church to-day in company with
my private Secretary, J., Knox Walker. 1t was an
inclement day-there being rain from an early hour
in the morning-and Mrs. Polk and the ladies of my
household did not attend Church to-day. Mrs. Polk
being member of the Presbyterian Church, gen.
orally attend that Church with her, though my opin-
ions and predictions in favor of the Methodist
Church.
This my birth day-being fifty years old
in the Family Bible. corroborated by the account
given me by my MOTHER the I'd of November,
1875.
"The text to-day was from the Acts of the Apos-
ties chapter IL, 81 Because he hath appoint
ed day in the which he will Judge the world in
righteousness by the whom he hath ordaned.''
1t was communion day at the church, and the SER
mon was solemn and forcible. 1t awakened the re-
Election that had lived fifty years, and that, before
fifty years would expire, would be sleeping
with the generations which have gone before me.
thought of the vanity of this worlds honors-how
little they would profit me, half century hence,
and that it time for to be putting my house
In ORDER" "
In addition to the enjoyment which he anticipated
in the domestic and social circle, in his retirement
he had determined to employ his leisure hours in lit
erary pursuits, and in arranging, digestng and pre-
pairing the ample materials in his possession for a
historical review of the political events of his own
times With such hopes and anticipatons, he look
ed forward with pleasure to the termination of his
public career as the commencement of new era of
domestic and social happiness in his retirement To
the enjoyment of such retirement he strongly
invited by the precarious condition of his physical
constitution, which had been greatly enfeebled and
shattered by the excessive abors and OF public
life. When he returned amongst US we were all
struck by the marks of premature old age in his per-
sonal appearance. Four years before, we had seen
him standing erect in our MIDST. in the prime and
vigor of manhood, receiving the warm congratula-
tons of his neghbors and friends upon his elevation
the highest Office in the world. 1t was my fortune
to be the organ through whom these congratulations
were rendered him. How little did then suppose
that at the end of four years should him return
with locks vieing in whteness with the snow, and
his body bending if under the age of many years
Much less did it occur to my mind chat in short
a time should be called to stand at his tomb and
the virtues and services of his life But
such has been the will of al-wise Providence, !
and we bow to it with becoming submission. He
returned amongst literally out in the service
of his country and instead of finding the years of
happiness which he sought in his beautiful retreat,
he returned only to mingle for few days with his
friends and then find early grave. The dread
summons, however was not unexpected to him, nor
was he unprepared to meet it. The conviction fas-
tened upon his mind on his fiftieth birth day had
never been erased, nor had he abandoned the resolu
ton then formed-he had 'put his house in order"
and through faith in the blood of Redeemer he had
made his peace with his God, and was prepared to
pass through the dark valley of the shadow of death
without fear. After attaching himself to that branch
of the church for which he had long cherished and
expressed his ,prediection he awaited with calm re-
signation and composure the approach OF death. |
Watched over and consoed in his expiring moments
by the partner of his bosom, whose society for more
than twenty years had thrown around his life its
purest enioyments and by the venerable mother who
gave him birth, whose prayers then, as during long
life ascending God for his choicest blessings
on her son, together with many other and dear
relatives and friends, he sunk gently and quietly to
sleep, on the 18th of June, 1S49, to wake no more
until the morning af the Resurrection. He had liv-
ed the life of an honest man. pure patriot and viz
tuous statesman he died the death of true Chris
tan. For the former he has hsSreward in this world
for the latter far richer reward in the world to
come"
A,ono tho Prenonn,s a1uardad at the late Fair of