Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-02-21
The Presidents Message i'm Eng-
land.

The last arrival from Europe brings us the re-
Spouse of the English press to the message of Pres
ident Polk. While the writers of these reviews dc
not fail to show their teeth, even when forced BY
stubborn facts to acknowledge the successful man.
the President has conducted the nation through
the most eventful and important four years in the
history of the republic, the reader will at once OBJ
that they exhibit good deal more respect and
admiration, than they have heretofore been wont to
do on similar occasions. We give below all we
have room for-an article from the London Times,
journal than which none has been more bitterly
hostile or eager to seize upon any and every occa-
sion to abuse institutions and ridicue pre-
tensions. It is certainly refreshing, after being
uged for month and half with the better and un-
just criticisms of the opponents Of Democratic pol
ICY at home, to find those abroad, from whom we ex-
pected nothing, forced to be more just. 1t is a
strong and impressive commentary upon the inius
tce ofthe party about TO come into power through
the lnstrumentality Of Gen Taylor, and war they
opposed as bitterly as they have President Polk.
PRESIDENT PoLK's MEssAGE.-When scarce dav
passes without bringing the Inauguration of a con-
stituent assembly, the address of newly elected
President, or the programme of n new constitution
the message of an American President reads like a
thing OF the past. By the rule of comparison, the
United States will soon be an ancient polity. The
successor of Washington is an old friend. One
feels therefore somewhat more patience than usual
Tor the annual tax on time which a long
! series of Presidents have uniformly exacted. The
court style of the Union is so well known to the
taste Of this nation, that need only say charac
/ terSzeS the mes sage. We can. howevnr adj that
Mr.. Polk has given account of American progress
which will excite the interest and the admiration of
the Old World. In the history Of the States there
| never was anything so rapid, and never did pre-
ternatural growth appear to rest solid foun-
dation All that one has ever read of families null
tipied as the sands on the seashore, of swarming
| tribes, of rising cities, and prosperous common
wealths, seems concentrated and magnifed in this
modern progidy, whose Anglo-Saxon origin sug-
gests in us so many regrets and not little pride.
/ President Polk surveys with natural complaccncy
the troubled scene of European politics. from which
vast ocean, and not less interval of institutions
| and customs, separates lie model republic. He
halls the new burst of democracy in France and the
attempt at federal union in Germany; with wha.
| grounds for his confidence time alone can show
The vast resources OF the Union, and the sound
footing of its commerce and finances, have saved it
from any considerable participation in the CONNER
cial calamites of this and the continental States To
the continued removal of restrictions on the trade
Of the Union the President ascribes much of its
safety and prosperity. - -.
| Mr.. Polk then hastcns to the strong point of his
presidency-the enormous acquisition of territory
effected within these four years by annexation, by
treaty, or by war. Texas, Oregon, California, and
! New Mexico are exultingly measured, and almost
weighed in the balance. They contain so many
square miles and so many acres, and are equal TO
/ such and such countries; but the English imagi-
nation will not reveal with so much gusto on these
various measurements, it may be sufficient to state
that the Uuited States comprehend territory al.
most as large all Europe. The President expa-
ates with delight the climate, the soil and other
natural advantages of the newly-acquired regions.
! Their rivers, their harbors, their vicinities and
! bearings, are reviewed. But to one topic he
| turnes again and again. The mines, or rather the
/ fields of gold and quicksilver in California. are an
nhaustble fund Of agreeable discussion and alluson.
Paragraph after paragraph glitters with gold and
| groans with bullion. The four thousand gold hun
tiers wildly scrapng the sands, and filling their laps
with solid wealth, the greedy haste with which
whole crews desert their ships for this Lotus Shore
| and all the other circumstances Of real Ell Dorado
are described with gloating ecstacy. A mint is
| forthwith to be established the western coast,
which is to deluge Asia and Polynesia with the glt
tering tokens of the fortunate republic.
| There was need Of many mines to gd the Mexi-
can war, and to pay its expenses. Those acqusi-
| tons have cost the Union twenty-five millions OF
our money. If, in the course of twenty years, the
principal and the interest be repaid by the dust COL
lected from the rivers of California, the Union may
deem herself most fortunate. Mr.. Polk, however,
disdains to measure the war only by its results
He points to the energy, the military Skill the ad-
ministratve capacity, the martial spirit, the ndom-
table perseverance, and the dexterous fact by
which has been speedily brought to its desired
ccnsumation under circumstances of unparalleled
difficulty. 1t is demonstrated that the Union, at
moments warning, may undertake a several
thousand miles from home, with forces competent
to any occasion, conduct that with promptness
and unity Of purpose and endure, without burden,
all the necessary expenses. standing army, in
the European sense OF that word, is found unneces-
sary. Two million citizens, accustomed TO arms,
many of them practised in the rifle and hardened IN
the SeEefltleS OF lOr
ton, supply never-faing fund Of volunteers. The
army Of republic consists not of private, but OF
knights. Its very staple is heroic. What crowns,
however, both the glory the grace, and the ability OF
this conquest is, that all the States, all parties, all
professions, equally contributed their quota to the
field, thus proving that Texas and New Mexico be-
long not more to this that State than to all, and
exhibiting also pledge to the world of that terrible
unanimty with which the Union will on future oc-
casions prosecute its quarrels or its ends.
It's one of the virtues or the vices Of a republi-
can presidency, as Of the ancient consuship, that
! the executive chief saddles on his successor the
bauefu responsibilities of his career. With him
i the beginning is the whole. He celebrates tri-
umph, aid lays down his office. 1t remains foi
another to carry cut the design. The Union dou
bled, 50 to speak, in FOUR years; and taking old pop
ulations and semi-barLarons tribes into its bosom
has not few difficulties to solve. The question
slavery is opened again. at least in an abstract form
Mr. Polk is disposed to so softly on this ground
He is willing to believe these difficulties are no
practica that there will, in fact, be no slavery II
the greater part of the territory; and that tho
| Mt apdi aws