The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-25


upon file, and Judge Mason, late Secretary Of tn
Navy is about to pronounce his tribute 10 the memory
one whom he knew well and esteemed so much il
the presence Of the citizens Of Richmond in the cours
OF the coming week Con the 30th instantly II would b
source Of great pleasure to il it in our power
as compliment both to MIR. Polk and his orators, /,
lay the whole Of these euoges before readers Blu
II is impossible for to publish all OF them amidst h
present great pressure upon our columns and we mus
content ourselves with giving extracts from them w,
commence with the eulogy Of William F. Dancy, esq
of North Carolina N
Euiogy on ne Lts and Character Of James X Polk, pro
nounced By WiHmm f. Dancy, al he Old Church N
Marlborough. North Carolina, July "a, ls49,
Solemn indeed, my audience, is the service we have
assembled 10 perform. JAMES X Polk, towards whose
dying couch million American eyes were but yesterday
turned with painful anxiety, has gone down to the grave
The Providence which bestowed him upon his country
has called him away. His great soul, freed from It's
Of clay has ascendeo to the God who gave
this body mngles with its kindred dust He who bu
yesterday stood apo the heights OF power clothed with
all the insignia OF authority and watching with eagle
eye the vast interests OF this great republic, has passed
forever from our midst That eye is extnguished in the
darkness of death-the trappings OF office have given
place TO the habiiments of mournngthe laurel is en-
twned with the cypresshe scepe has been exchanged
for the shroud. While the nation bows its head in
mourning, and, like stricken mother, weeps in an
gush over her child We the humblest OF Dis friends
and admirers, have gathered around his grave to-day,
TO pay the last tribute of affection to his memory,
and to bedew his ashes with our tears And it Is
meet that we should do So II is meet that we pay
honors TO the memory OF those who have been dis
10 life by good and great deeds, who have
wen Tor themselves name among mentor while It
hurts not the dead who nsensble to the offering, il
exercises hallowed influence the heart II chastens
The affections pures them of the dross OF time and
and asslmates natures to that spirit which rules be-
You'd the sky Now, for the ninth time, is the nation
called upon TO assemble around the grave OF of those
whom i has honored with the highest Office in its gift
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe sleep be-
meath the sacred soil OF Virginia Massachusetts guards
with pous the remains OF the iIustous representa-
lives Of the Adams family Harrison lies quietly entonbed
upon the banks OF his own beautiful Ohio and Tennes-
see, daughter Of our own modest mother claims the hon.
pred ashes of jackson and Polk.
Were the subject OF my remarks one who had simply
-ued the republic and then descended to the grave de-
cent observance of his death would be becoming and
proper But James X, Polk had far higher claims upon
,nr gratitude and admiration, He was IN every sense OF
he term great nlageai in word, thought. and deed
ind greater still in the goodness Of unsued heart
great In the vastness and comprehensveness OF his
,lansgrea in the glory and success of their accomplish
nenl. Called suddenly by the people from that retire
nent he had voluntarily sought and clothed with the
highest powers in their gift we find him equal to every
in which he placed He al took his
position in the front rank of American statesmen The
youngest years of those who had preceded him in the
athWay power, he guided the ship OF State with the
kill and ability OF veteran Falling his admins
ration did, upon the most eventful which has yet
marked the career OF the repu6licwith delicate ques
ions OF foreign and domestic policy dsracting
Ills, he never for moment fatered hesiiaed in his
curse His great mind rose with the crisis and adapted
tself 10 the circumstances by which i was surrounded
lie was indeed the very age and body OF his time, its
orm and pressurethe living image and representative
i the great American heart Such men may die, but
heir deeds immortal His great measures stamped
neaceable characters upon his countrys history, and
hough his noble heart has ceased TO beat and his manly
om has faded from the sight OF men, his is linked
With the most distant future; and posery looking back
Trough the dim nisis OF the past, will wonder--iben
earn and love.
TO North Carolina belongs the proud honor of giving
firth to James X. Polk On her remote frontier in the
honorable 2rh OF May, and on the very brthspoi OF
american independence, his infant eye first saw the
ght Her hills witnessed his childish sports and pas
mes-her valleys rung out with the merry peal OF his
oyish laugh-and here too, at the very fountain OF
eedom, he mbbed his first lessons OF patriotic duty and
eviction, as he hung with boyish rapture upon the eo
uen, lips OF the living actors in those scenes.
The family was Irish, and came 10 America in the |
arly part OF the eighteenth century. America an
npershable debt Of gratitude TO Ireland Her revvied
prit peIyades the whole republic IRISH genius and eo
hence flash up from every hamlet and hillside in the
md. Many Of the most distinguished names OF our
Dnntry proud TO trace their origin to the Emerald
'le." Calhoun, Jackson, Polk, and Gasion of our owR
tate, familiar illustrations OF the fact II would
ZEN that Providence had chosen this free republic for
re reproduction on theatre OF that Irish energy
nd talent kept down by organized oppression at home
We have now traced Mr.. Polk through a period Of
fteen Yeas Of aborous public seryice-a period preg
ant with great events and marked By greater acerby OF
1ltcal feeling than any that had previously existed
ifs The delicate and thoughtful schooboy at Chapel
l-studious, sober, and discreet; punc,ua in the dis
iarge OF every duty, surprising all IN the race for dis
notion, and winning the highest honors in his class
len the trusted representative OF his county the State
gislaue, winning the regard Of all by the suayity OF
manners and deep devotion TO his duties then the
'noed representative OF his district in Congress, and
ability IN debate, and great business capacity placing
mselt IN the front rank Of its leading chair.
an oi The most important committee Of the House, and
e chiei prop and support Of his party at most trying
mod; then Speaker OF the House itself, and finally
,vernor OF his adopted State In all these positions he
as the same sleepess sentinel upon The watch.
wer the same treless watcher OF the public inter-
s, The same faithful guardian Of the public trusts com
tilted 10 bis care Nor is this all 10 the execution Of
ese duties he brought ability rarely tqualled an en-.
~ never Tagging, and sincerity Of conviction and
,nesy oi purpose never Questioned Office he regarded
sacred trust TO be exercised for the benefit OF those
hlenng " ana MOI bestowed Tor the mere qualification
empty PRIDE OF vain and os;entatious display.
We have hitherto considered Mr.. Polk in a sphere
mParatVely narrow and contracted, yet exhibiting album
nj evidence OF capacity for the highest We come now
regard hn az the Chief Magistrate OF the only free
public on earth. Faithful over a few things" The
bllc voice decided that he should be 'rller over
any" No President has entered upon the duties
the ONCE under circumstances less suspicious ,
me with greater number OF complex questions
solemn public import meeting him at the thresb.
q; None ever ascended the platform Of power with !
deeper or more abiding sense Of The vast response.
MY OF his position; none animated BY more !
evaed patriotism or profound sagacify The youngest
years Of those who had preceded him, he felt the sol
IN nature OF the trust committed 10 him, and summoned
the vast energies Of his mind and body Tor the trial
ke The husiy warrior on the OF battle, he girded all
armor around him and awaited with calm coinposure
e coming conflict.
le ~ -.