The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-26

never was mere succession OF more important events
than were crowded into the short period that he charged
with the destnes OF America, gave TO the performance
Of The mighty task all the energies OF master mind,
which MOLLY fulfilled It's mission in the uDexamped pro-
notion OF his countrys power and prosperity and, in no
slight degree the hopes and the happiness OF the whole
human family.
When Mr. Polk entered upon the duties OF the presi.
dency our foreign relations were angry and embarrassed
and our domestic economy ldehned and unsettled in
many OF its most important departments long stand
ing and embttered controversy with Great Britain about
the conflicting claims Of the TWO governments the
portant Territory OF Oregon, which had become CON-
petely enveoped in all the wiles of diplomatic entange
men, just then assumed the ominous import of open
and inevitable rupture This most serious difficulty,
which had baed the efforts OF several previous admins
lrao9s, was happily adjusted, by Mi. Folks frmness
able TO this country and which, il unsatisfactory any
Of our own counirymen, were still more distastefu to
The greater portion OF the British nation
Government, the most profound and difficult study
which can engage the powers OF the human mind is
sciences or, rather il is the adaptation of all scisncs all
oisdom and experience, to the Infinitely varied and
varying elements OF national, international and social
relations In the practical administration Of any govern.
ment but especially OF our own, the delicate and
complex difficulty is the management of its financial de-
parmsni The most intricate and important problem in
the whole range oil political economy, the uie equita
be- and uniform adjustment of the and revenue laws
This part OF our policy involving the agricultural and
commercial interests, as well as every other industrial
tuatng and uncertanan evil in ITSELF bad in
desgn-and has given rise to the important and exciting
aesions OF protective tariff and United States Bank
The free.ade principles of Mr. Polk have brought the
tar 10 the Just and permanent basis OF approximation
10 the revenue standard and il his wisdom did de-
vlse his Judgment revived and put for the first time into
successful operation that udcious and beautiful exped
emit The constitutional treasury which happily destroys
the dangerous connection between the moneyed power Of
'Af ss and The parry oSs Of the day
the imposition OF public taxation is more light, equal and
just than it has been heretofore, the OF the
government are largely nceased and the manufacturing
interest is rapidly growing and emnenty prosperous
Under the operation OF the constitutional treasury, the
public credit higher, and the currency of the country
IN more healthy and sound condition. and settled upon
basis more solid and stable than any former period Of
our history.
Among the many administrative monuments to the ge
MUS OF Mr., Polk, which absolutely to have crowd
ed into the brief period Of his single term the expedent
designated as the warehousing system" and IN
successful operation is destined 10 produce an almost in
caculable amount of benefit to our commerce and nav
gaiion
Within the last four years our commerce has been
vastly augmented. well in variety in amounts and
the navigating enterprise OF the country extended beyond
all precedent In these results the legitimate e
tects OF wise domestic policy, and OF the amcable and
Judlcious foreign relations which Mr. Polk cultivated
and adjusted Under the conduct Of Mr. Polk the postal
arrangements OF the country have been brought to
examped degree OF certainty cheapness and
al home while they have been wisely extended abroad
and IN every recurring annual message to Congress he
earnestly recommended graduation and reduction of the
prices OF the public landsa OF important bear.
ing upon the growth and prosperity of some Of the ex
listing States OF the Union, well upon those which
may hereafter be carved out OF the public domain BY the
wise and beautiful adjustment OF the different parts of
our system, the Executive is made separate and indie
pendent but coordinate department OF the government
The President not simply Gas too generally sup
posed) to stake care that the laws be faithfully
ted after they have been enacted and assume the force
and authority OF laws but his qualified discretion is made,
necessarily, one Of three great constituent elements OF
law and, while it is absolute paramount dis
erection 10 be exercised wisely unwisely cautiously
soberly is yet the very highest function of his office,
and one which he cannot, II he would, divest himself
of; for BY the very constitution which he swears 10
preserve protect and Defend" has qualified approval
is made one OF the grand essentials OF law, and the
exercise Of ms judgment is expressly enoined alb
soue and Indispensable duty OF the presidential office,
which his very first act is TO bind himself by the solemn
obligation Of an oath in the sight of God and his fellow
men :. faithfully to execute"
In the discharge OF this great duty, Mr. Polk was called
upon three times in the OF his administration, TO
place his constitutional veto upon the action OF Congress
whether for good Ill, wisely or unwisely, il would be
out OF place TO say here One thing however, may be
sad-and IL would be unjust TO leave il unsad-that his
rmness and consistency Of character equal to the
great emergencies in which he acted and that his action
was the stern dictate Of solemn conviction Of duty
By the exation of Texas to the Union itself great
and important accession OF territory, bright and lost
has been recovered and added the American consela
ton but by the treaty which concluded the war with
Mexico, the public domain has been extended from
to ocean, by the vast acquisition OF country equal in
extent TO more than half OF former possessions
land unrvaled in all the advantages OF SOIL scenery
and climate, and exhausiless in stores OF treasure, far
exceeding the widest extravaganza Of romance and too
much even Tor the utmost grasp OF nsaate In
stead OF one, we have now two ocean fronts and
commerce. instead OF long, exposed and dangerous
voyage of twenty thousand miles around Cape Horn TO
compete for share OF that oriental trade which has
rched every nation that has enjoyed it, has now by
our uxtaposton TO the east the inevitable and exclusive
control OF the principal navigating and commercial inter.
ests Of the world.
These some of the advantages in chief secured TO
us, as nation, by the policy OF President Polk but
may view its effects upon the whole human In the
march OF mind the diffusion of bible light; the spread
OF republican institutions and the extension OF civil and
religious liberty These some OF the reasons why
the name Of James Knox Polk is OF the immortal
lew that not born to die" These are consdera.
These are achievements which rank him as a patriot
statesman, and which will forever embam his memory
deep in the hearts Of grateful posterity
IL is but so recently that Mr.. Polk the chosen and
ed and closely contested political strife that has
taken place IN our country that IL almost impossible
10 tread upon the deceu ashes OF the late excitement
without starting into flame the vpg Goals OF sumber.
ing passion From the very organization OF govern
ent, based as i is upon the practical idea OF freedom Of
opinion and voluntary suffrage the Chief Magistrate OF
the Union must OF necessity be the choice OF party
and feel himself bound by all the highest sanctions OF
human obligation and consistency, faithfully to admins
ter the government upon the principles and policy Of
ever fortunately for his fame, we may safely conscen
hously proudly, assert that Mr. Polk was poll
fiedn, but an American statesman. His not the self
ish and proigae ambition OF time serving and gam
bling partisan but the lofty aspirations Of ardent and
devoted patriot. And as his views were dsinerested
LIBERAL and enlarged and his motives elevated pure and
patriotic so his clustering honors neither the vena
rewards o. political traffic, the meretricious dstnc-