Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-23


ofkinedoms and The envy OF kings Houl 'nt ,hev
G;a;Ssd : reams of this commerce OF when 'hey
h.c,se The lhorouehlare. Lsbt had hef , ua,,
ard Portugal her pIe-eminence curing 'Ie GO l'.
while that The discovery Of The Cape oi e.,
, Eopc pu. her 10 communication WIN ". 'e.oned
Amsterdam. The city OF liIlie lelrLo'y ieScu.u
t1n,o The SEA and the seven Uailec PROVINCES Nv
eoual in extent TO one OF our lesser ota.Si "a
| came e.eat in aims, in letters, IN "e"i'n a a
| power-and all upon he East lho'a 'id"e: -;
Inntnn- What makes her the commeici"i ,'i'
| ,,ess a tire woria-wLat uIaScs Al lsidhu nv
,ron, than our FIST class SIales The mistress VI
| n,sscss,ons IN The four quarters oil Inc eioOr-a
match for halt OF Europe and dominant III hsla
What makes all this, or contributes mos: W uidhe
!, hnt mis- same Asaic trade. In no instance
has i, failed 10 carry the nation OF me Psep'e,
| which possessed il, 10 The hiehes' p'inne "
| wealth and power and with u Inc nishes' a.
ainmcns of letters ats and sciences
| With rroper appreciation o! the 'nesi"ao'0
value of this lrade, you will understand lhe mo
lives which actuaied British Statesmen ID ''e'
| efforts to hold on to Oregon and 10 presen' 'he
success of our policy in The acquisi'ion Oh ieAas
! and of California. You will UNDERSTAND aiso'
uhy they are now sraining every nerve 70 oo.
tain foo,hold on the Western Continent. 1res'
Rri,a;n was struggling TO maintain the mastery
over the commercial world, which she bad en-
loved with undispuied sway, Tor ages. ono 50"
a gigantic rival rising up in The west, ana shc
saw with CONSERVATION tha' thai rival was gu'ueo
win counsels of craftsmanship, which "oud
win from her the sceptrc Of commerce. ui'iess
,bwar,ed BY her active interference. Inc same
snperior s,atesmanship which h1ed lis ego uPo"
The trade Of the East, as The grand ooIec' OF us
nolicy. saw HAT to make tina, Po'icy completely
sur cessful no further European colonization
! ..Ia ,.aJ he WesterD Continent
Time will attest the sagacily of President Polk
in proclsiming thi. noble doctrine TO The powers
of Europe.--If il shall be maintained win I'M
shrinking frmness in the future policy u our
country. our government. will stand Inc &C.
tnowIedged colossus of nations, dispensing com
mercial law TO The world, radiatlhg inc benign
influence of its free institutions 10 every quarter
of The globe and acquiring its own citizens the
eaioymen, of unesampled prosperity and happl>
ness. Each succeeding Gun will rise and sci
upon the frses,, The happiest and the mos pow
erful people upon The face Of The earlh-a peo.
ME in whose hearts will be forever emohlmed
The name and memory of James Z Po.k, as one
of the purest patriots wisesl statesmen ana
creates. tcncfactis OF our country.
The Administration, of which have attempt
ed 10 give a mere outline, came TO Close On Inc
din o. March, 1919 The entire w,rE chal ed out
| for eIrcutign IN MT. Iulhs iHdusuidi
and even rnoIe, had zen accumpli: hed-nulhins
ma, h. had undertaken, was lei; unfinished. or
incomplete Oui difficulties with foreign nations
had all been an.icab.y or honorably adjusted,
and we are al peace with The world, whilst PTos-
pelily and happiness prevailed throughout our
own couotry. Witn The witness OF good Cot
science a,,esling hal he had faithfully dischars>
cd his whole duly Mr. Polk with unaffected
cheeyiulness resigned The insignia OF office, sur
rendered the helm 10 his iIlnsrIous successor,
and descended inlu The ranks as private cli!Z.n.
His tourney homewaId was marked by sues
cession Of enthusiastic demonstrations OF popu-
lar apprcbalion ana attachment which gave 10
il more The appearance Of a victorious military
chieilajn reforming home covered with eurels
tnan of p:ivae citizen seeking The retirement q
quiet hume.
No man ever sought The happiness OF private
life with beller prospects OF fudins il, than did
Mr. Polk. With ample means 10 command eve
~ comfvlt, be had The society and companion
snip Of wife whose superior intellectual en-
dowments combined with the choices, graces
and virtues OF female excellence, qualified her
10 shed luslre upon public station or 10 iniuse
conlenlmenl and happiness into the domestic
circle. How great an accession he would have
been TO our immediate society, where he had de
lerm.ued 10 spend the evening Of his lie, all who
apprecialed his eminent private virtues Will
readily understand. Plain and simple in his
manners, mild and iorb airing in his temper, kind
and sociatle in his disposition liberal and toie
rant in his opinions, accessible and easy IN his
intercourse Tree and lively IN his conversation
he was eminently fitted 10 adorn and enllven
the social circle, whilst his habilua and consci-
!, eniious regard Tor viuue and morality in all his
conduct combined with his uniform reveIentia
respec, Tor The christian religion, we're well
calculated 10 give weight 10 the influence oil his
example He was regular reader OF the Bible
aud constant attendant upon divine worship
As Illustrative OF his private habits and opinions
IN connection with religious subjects, ma7 be
INDUCED in quoting entire memorandum mad,
by him on his fitch birth day, and H.!
amongsl his papers. l! is as follows: SUNDAY
; Nov. :, lS45. Attended the Mcthodis, Cnufcr
: (calIed the Foundry church, Today in compa'
NY with my private Secretary, J. Knox Walker
: II was an Indictment tay-lhere being rair
from an early h,ur in the morning-and Mrs
!, Polk and Inc ladies OF my household did not al
tend Church today Mrs. Polk being a mem
Der OF the Presbyterian Church, generally al
). tend that Church with her, though my opinion!
, and predictions are 10 favor oil The Methods
: Church.
"rhis was my birth day-being fifty year:
= oid-haviDg been born: according 10 the Family
Register in the Family Bible, corroboraed BY
. OF November, 1895.
1.-THE text To-day was from the Acts Of the
Apostles chapter IT, verse 81; because he hath
appointed day in the which he will Judge TIT
world in righteousness by The man whom b.
> hath ordained" Ii was communion day al iht
= church, and the sermon was solemn and torci
" Bile. Il awakened The reflection that had ivet
fifty years, and that, before fifty years more
u would expire, would be sleeping with the gen
| prati1nc uhich ha hffpre 4 thong h
y OF the vanity OF this worlds honors-how liIll,
Il they would prof me. halt century hence, anC
/ that il was time Tor me 10 be putting my house
+ in ORDER"
e Ia addition to the enjoyment which he antici
paled in The domestic aud social circle, in his re
!. !, lirement h. had determined IU Employ his leisure
- hours in literary pursuits, and IN arranging, dl
= gesling and preparing the ample materials IN hi
possession for historical review OF The polilica
L events Of his own times. With such hopes ant
J. anIcipalio6s, ne looked forward with pleasure Il
e The termination OF his public career as The com
L mencement of a new era Of domestic and sccia
= happiness in his retirement. To the enjoymen
II OF such retirement he was strongly invited BY
> the pIecarous condition OF his ply sical consti
tution which had been greatly cnleebled and sha
i tered by The excessive abors and cares of public
$ lite. When ne returned amongst US we were al
/ struck by the marks Of premature old age in hi
u personal appearance. Four years before, W,
II had seen him standing erect in our midst, in lh
n prime and yieof ot manhood, receiving the VAIN
= congratulations OF his neighbors and friends upor
u his elevation 10 lie highest Office in The WORLD
D II was my fortune 10 be The organ through whom
e these congratulations were rendered him. How
n lille did then suppose that a, the end o. fcu
e years should ste him Ielurn with locks vie
u ing in Wilderness with The snow, and his bodj
u bending as If under the age u many years -
Much less did i, occur To my mind thai in so shor
J. time should be called 10 stand al his lomb AMI
c recountthe virtues and services al his life Blu
u such has been Id, will OF An al!-wise Providence
y and we bow 10 il with becoming Submission
Z; ne IrtuTnei amonss, literally worn out il
The service of his country, and instead of fndins
=, The yeats OF happiness which he sought in hi
beautiful retreat, he returned Only 10 minsle fo
;, few days with his friends and then find An ear
= y grave. The dread summons. however. wa.