Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-07-27
AN EMBELLISHMENTS OPINION OF Mn
POI Y "AAI

POLK. iN'
| The Rev. DIR. Dixon, of the Ensl;sh M.,l
odlst Church, gives the following descript;on
OF his visit, in company with four other cls"
gymen, to the Presidents Mansion:
:" From examining the Capitol, convers;r.
with the Senator's and listening to the men,
bers OF the House of Representatives, we has.
| tened to the Presidents House, to see if We
I could gam access, and be favored with an in.
terview with The first magistrate of the Re.
public.
son our arrival we met with black man.
the only servant ofthe President we saw and.
on asking whether it would be possible TO oh.
tain an interview, he said he saw no difficulty
in the case, but would inquire. He weni
with Mr.. Steers compliment, and soon return.
ed with message that The President would
be very happy to see US. We were ushered
not into drawing room, or State apartment,
but into business office, with desks, tables,
pens and ink, bundles of state papers, and
books on business. And there stood TO receive
us, to shake us by the hand, TO bid US wei.
come, the chief of the greatest Republic, if
not the greatest State, in the world. He ac-
costed us very kindly, and babe us be seated,
at the same time resuming his own chair.
My embarrassment left me in moment
| had felt some little trepidaton at the idea of
being brought into contact with man Sc
high IN station. His demeanor, however, soon
dlsslpated this feeling. There was no state
etiquette observed, no ceremonies but such as.
common controversy demanded, and might be
performed by the pIanest person; no court
dress, no cooked hat, no sword and sash, no
lowing The knee, TO kissing the hands, and
moreover, no peer of the realm, or officer Of
the court, necessary TO gain an introduction
black boy, to obtain bis masters assent and
to show us the way, seemed all that was ex.
peced With our European nations, this did
not really look like an introduction TO the head
of mighty nation Truly this American re-
pubcanism must either be considered as a
great retrogresslon into the ages of social SIM
plicity, when shepherds and farmers left their
! fiocks and ploughs TO command armies and
govern States, and then returned to their ayo.
cations or else it must be considered as a
vast stretch into the future-the anticipation
of something to come the model OF perfect
| ~ new order of things. 1t is most assuredIy
not Identical with what has been, and con,n-
ues 10 be, in the Old World. Is this simplici
ty agreeable 10 nature, to common sense, 10
the truth of things | confess, that these
questions puzzled me at the time, and continue
still 10 puzzle me. There is fascination, a
sensations, and all the embroidery connected
with these things, which make il difficult for
one 10 think that there is no reality in them,
that they can be done without. So much of
power, of influence, of government, have stood
connected with The old names and insignia of
| thrones and courts, that many of US cannot
dlspnssess our minds of the idea that there is
great use, though we may moi know how, in
these external accompaniment of States.
'Here, then, we were, four Methodist preach
ers, and one merchant, snugly ensconced in
| Government office, sort of counting house,
with President Polk, one Of the greatest men,
| by position, in the world Who could forget
some of the documents which had issued from
this centre of power-this heart of American
plomacy: DEGREES hal been framed here
which had thrilled through the body polite in
every part of the world, producing mighty
pa!pitatlons Of heart, and convuIsive thloes.
Who could forget some of President Folks
own messages directed from this very
desl, and carried probably by the black boy
10 Their destination? The policy and MESA.
geS of this very Presiden: have produced
strange emotions. They once filed Great
Britain, if not with consternation vet, at any
rate, with indignation; they put the ParIia-
ment of England into a ierment, and called
| ''" NV ''oN&''"llSd Glpi VI Hitt vi dIh
parties; they made il expedent 10 employ the
diplomatic skill of Lord Ashhuron, esteemed,
at the time, one of the most sagacious peers
OF the realm they led to treaties but little rel
lshed, and much Condemned by some of The
hest sons of the British Empire and they re-
suited in the political exaItation, strength, and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of America Some of those
messages, moreover, moved the military for
ces OF the Republic, by land and sea, 10 The.
invasion of Mexico, TO the victories of TAYLOR
and Scott; and led to the annexation to the
States of territory hut little, if at all, nlcrir
or TO the whole of Europe. These are some
OF the effects produced by the DEGREES sent
forth from this place, with the signature of
This plain little man, Things are not then.
! TO be estimated by the appearance The room
is common. hut il is the centre of mighty tor
ces; the President appears destitute of the
forms OF majesty, but possesses its reality;
the missiles lying about are not artillery,
swords and helmets, but they move-they
shake the world"