The North-Carolina standard., 1849-09-05
EITLOGY

On the Life and Character of JAMES K. Polk, de-
lvered in Tarborough, the 9th July, 1919:
BY WILLIAM H. DANCY, Esq.
Solemn indeed, my audience, is the service we have
assembled to perform James k. Polk, towards whose
diving couch million American eyes were but yes
terday turned with painful anxiety has gone down
The crave. The Providence which bestowed him
mon his country has called him away. His great
SOUL freed from its prisonhouse of clay, has ascen-
ded to the God who gave it-his body mingles with
lis kindred dust. He who but Yesterday stood upon
the heights of power clothed with all the insignia of
authority, and watching with eagleeYe the vast in
ests of this great Republic has passed forever from
our midst. That eye is extlngulshed in the darkness
of deat-tke trappings of office have given place to
the habiments of mourning-the laurel is entwined
with the cypress-the sceptre has been exchanged
for the shroud. While the nation bows its head in
mourning, and like stricken mother-weeps in an
cush over her child, we, the humblest of his friends
and admirers, have gathered around his grave to-day
10 pay the last tribute of affection to his memory, and
to bedew his ashes with tears. And it is meet
that we should do so. 1t Is meet that we pay hon.
ors TO the memory of those w no have been distinguish
ed in life by good and great deeds, or who have won
for themselves a among men; for while it
burs not the dead, who insensible the offering,
exercseS hallowed influence the heart. 1t chas-
tens the affections pures them of the dross of time
and sense and assInates natures to that spirit
which rules beyond the sky. Now, for the ninth
lme is the nation called upon assemble around Ee
grave of OF those whom it has honored with the
q
Madison and Monroe, sleep beneath the sacred soil of
Virginia. Massachusetts guards 18th pious care, the
remains of the ustrous representatives of the Ad-
ans family. Harrison lies quietly entombed upon
the banks of his beautiful Ohio and Tennessee,
daughter of own modest mother, claims the hon.
ored ashes of Jackson and Polk.
Were the subject of my remarks who had
simply ruled the Republic and then descended to the
grave decent observance of his death would be be-
coming and proper. But James X. Polk had far high
eE claims upon gratitude and admiration. He
was in every sense of the term, a great R1n-great
in word, thought and deed-and greater still in the
goodness of an unsuled heart*-great in the vast
ness and comprchensiveness of his plans-great in
the glory and success of their accomplishment Call
ed suddenly by the people from that retirement he
had voluntarily sought, and clothed with the highest
powers in their gift, we find him equal to every
gency in which he was placed. He at took his
position in the front rank of American statesmen.
The Youngest in years of those who had preceded
him in the pathway to power, he guided the ship of
State with the skill and ability OF veteran Falling
his administration did, upon the most eventu era
which has vet marked the career of the Republic
with delicate questions of foreign and domestic poll
CT distracting councils, he never, for moment
hl;ered or hesitated In his course His great mind
rose with the crisis and adapted itself to the circum
stances by which it was surrounded. He was indeed
/" the very age and body of his time; its form and
pressnre-the living image and representative of the
great American heart. Such men may die, but their
deeds are immortal! His greatmeasures stamp
ed in nefaceable characters upon,his countrys his
tory, and though his noble heart has ceased to beat
and his manly form has faded from the sight of men,
his name is linked with the most distant future and
poserity looking back through the dim miss of the
past, will wonder-then learn and love
To North Carolina belongs the proud honor of Civ
ing birth to James Il. Polk. On her remote frontier
in the county of Meckenburg, amid the scenes OF the
ever-menorable 20th May. and the very birth-spe
Of American independence, his infant eye first saw
heIight Her hills Witnessed his childish sports and
pastimes-her vallies Fung out with the merry peal
Of his boysh laugh-and here too at the very toun-
tain of freedo he imBibed his first lessons of patr
oic duty and devotion, as he hung with boyisb rap
ture upon the eloquent lips of the living actors in
those scenes.
The family was Irish, and came to America in the
early part of the 18th century. America owes i'm
perishabIe debt of gratitude to Ireland. Her reVVi
fed spirit pervades the whole Republic. Irish genius
and eloguence fash up from every hamlet and hill
side in the land Many of the most distinguished
names of our country proud to trace their orign
to the Is Emerald Isle'' Calhoun, Jackson, Polk,
and CASTOR of our own State familiar illustrations
Of the fact. 1t would seem that Providence had cho-
sen this free Republic for the reproduction on new
theatre of that Irish energy and talent Kept down by
organized oppression at home. ..E-
The year 1906 finds the STRIPPING boy of eleven
threading the forest wilds of the boundless West,
Rhither his father had gone, of the earliest po-
nees of civilization, in that portion OF the young and
growing State of Tennesnee. Here, In the bosom OF
sequestered yalleV far up of the tributaries OF
the tortuous Tennessee, and amid the privatons of
the wilderness, the budding boy expands into the full
blossom of young manhood and here too were deVel-
oped those hardy virtues of his character which dis
hnguished him on the stormy theatre upon which ne
afterwards played his.part.
Time will not permit the delay OF minute detail
Of his early history. His father are told, design
ed him for merchant; and with that view, placed him
mercantile establishment. What strange destI-
nles control our lives And how often are our best
appointed aims thwarted by the DEGREES OF tickle for
tune! 'There Is divinity which shapes our ends
oughhew them as we may" The genius Of young
Folk chafed like Gagged tiger, beneath an employ
men uneongenial to his feelings, and ineompatl-
ole with his taste. His great spirit painted for more
ample enlarged theatre for teexereise of its pow
ers. The predections of the parent finally gave way
before the ardent wishes of the son. and he enters
classical school preparatory to a college course.
The fall of 1915 finds him a student of our
University. His career here was brilliant. Each
semi-aDnnal examination witnesses the trinmph. OF
his genius and The close Of his college course crowns
/ aI@ with the highest honors of. his class In the
held of intellectual conflict he tfod the undisPut
sletOrI Twas here too he laid the foundation OF
hose habits Of industry and indomltable
energy which distinguished him throughout his sub
s9uent career habits which in the absence Of more
brilliant qualities, often enable to attain
Zee Appendix-note -. ~.