The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-21
DAILY CRESCENT
NE w ORL E A N S !:
THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE al, 1s49.
Death of Ex-President Polk.

81 Death Of Ex-President Polk
All uncertainty about the rumored death OF Mr.
$PoLK was dispelled by arrivals yesterday from
Memphis. 1t is announced that ne oied al MS resi-
dence. near Nashville, at hall. past P. NJ, on Fri
Eday last the 18th inst. His disease was an obsti
nate darrtea, which defed the power of medicine
Mr.. Folks constitution was naturally strong, and
he had preserved it carefully by extreme regularity
Eand temperance of life. When he went TO w ash
ington as President, less than five years since, he
F,was hale man of middle age, with erect form, al
piercing eye, his hair yet brown, and his whole
constiiuiion trained to habits of severe application
q Few men could have been selected with better
omens of long life.
But the tolls of high station told fearfully upon
Thin Four years in that exalted office, which isl
the object of craving desire with so many, seem to
Ehave worn down the strong body, though they
snever weakened the stout heart or the determined
spirit A more faithful, Jealous, laborous and
conscientious public servant never exhausted life
in the discharge Of duty. When the term OF offiee
was over and he was at liberty to seek repose
the overtasked frame had been exhausted of its
vital energies The blanched locks, furrowed
cheek and dropping figure were the painful records
!of four years. intense labor of mind and body. III
was hoped that quiet of mind and rest of body
would restore linn to health On his way home
we him in Mobile, when he was evidently
zstruggling against increasing feebleness. He was
Eanxious to hasten home, in order to recruit hisI
strength. But, with his characteristic energy, he
received large Populations and made many publicl
speeches, with clearness of enuneiaiion, and ami
NATION of manner, scarcely compatible with his!
Ordinary dropping air. The spirit was unsubdued !;
but The frame was weak and his friends hurried
him away, not certainly anticipating any fatal
event, but believing that. in the charming retreat
lat Na-hve, which he had prepared for the retire
ment of his age, he would rally, and attain renyg-
GRATED health.
But it ordained to be otherwise few
months have elapsed since he laid down the burdenl
of office, certainly with as much pleasure as ever
3gratfed ambition took them up, and his mora
career is finished. The long repose of venera.edi
Eage, honor, love, obedience, troops of friends,
these, which seem TO to be the fitting termina-
iion Of career toilsoms eventful, disiin.
guished, it was not his to have Were it not thaiI
the patriot finds in the consciousness of well-dong
for his country, and the manifestations of national
gratitude, an ample reward for all sacrifices andl
oils-and the Christian looks to another existsnce
for The completion of what appears unequal or de
Elective in this-we might say that Mr.. Folks fael
was hard and his death untimely. But he had ex-
ecuied the work assigned to him-he had executed;
liz with fidelity, honesty and unquailing resolution
fand we are forbidden 10 believe that he will have:
lived or died ia vain.
In all personal and social relations, the ex. Presi
dent was irreproattab The most envenornedl
political adversary always conceded to him exem
plary virtues citizen, friend, and neighbour al
son, brother, and husband. He was without chill :
{dren, but his house was graced by an amiabe and
accomplished consoFt, who made it the seat of TT I
&6nement and discriminating hospitality. Her do Z
nestle administration of the White House during I
his Presidency will long be remembered as an era
Sof purify, elegance and grace By nice economy
his affairs were always so we'll administered thai I
he could afford to maintain liberal household, andE
sentertain his friends literally. 4
The qualities of his mind were more solid than T
striking Or brilliant. He was good speaker, either
before the people or in deliberaive assembly
He was clear thinker logical reasoner, and a Z
Eperspicuous writer. But his strong point was in !
the proportion of his faculties to each other :
which made him, without being an extraordinar,
kman in any one particular, equal TO The greatest
Occasions, and to every duty In a long pubicS
career he invariably on the expectations of his
Friends, as he ascended from place to place
Elected President Unexpectedly, as the representa-.
tive of party, not by the force of any established
popularity with the whole naton it was feared tina,
be might he found inadequate to the high station
Most nobly he disappointed and defeated such
doubts. He executed the office with force, al
dignity, and success which has been surpassed b,
more Of his predecessors. In times of une xampedE
excitement and difficulties, he SO maintained the
rights OF the nation In its controversies with foregnE
powers, bringing them to just and honorable set
Element; so guided its and councils in a p
foreign war, which illustrated its name by series
of wonderful victories, and enlarged its territory
10y immense acquisitions; and prosperously, all
least, directed its affairs in time of peace as to-
have made his Administration memorable in all 4
times as an era ofgreat events and glorious achieve
ments, and earlied for himself great history. :
We have not the materials at hand for an ex &
tended biography of the deceased. The leading s
events of his life and public career are fresh in the
memory of citizens, and some OF them still the
themes of strong political controversy. The closing +
of the grave his mortal remains will softenk
away these asperities, and reeniing partisanshpfz
Itself will learn to describe him as good man. al
faithful and digent public servant, an able states
man, and a true patriot. s.
All honors and respect will doubtless be paid toE
MS memory by the State and Federal authorities Isl
and spontaneous movement of the people, They &
have been well earned, and honor as well II osesS
that bestow es the illustrous dead who receives
n z'Ezz II
Gns- We are indebted to the James L. Day for l.
Mobile papers; to the Belle Key for Louisville
'apers, and to the Amaranth for st. Louis papers