The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-09
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH o, is4a.
The Late Administration.


The Late Administration.
The rabd wings did not cease to prosecute Mr. Polk
till the last moment of his administration AS the last
hour approached they only seemed TO increase in the fe
rocty of their attacks The contributions which had been
levied upon Mexico-the Proocol-the charge OF Ste
phens and Wmot-seem to have been reserved for the
very moment when he about to retire from public
cares to private life All OF decency of beray
appeared to be lost Their conduct esembled the kick of
the vndictive ass the dying lion of the fable The
man was decred, and his administration was depreci-
ated There scarcely touch of justice or OF gener-
osy in the wing orators or in the wing press 1t is not
very strange therefore, that in spite OF the sneers OF the
whg press, should defend Mr.. Polk as an able and
upright statesman and vndcae his administration for II
wise, constitutional, and successful new Chief
Magistrate is at the head OF government; yet the
Baltimore American could not refrain from dlschargng
its voey of abuse at him who has just departed
from the high places of power, leaving his coun-
try prosperous, happy, and glorious. We knew the
late President well; and knew him TO be a firm,
resolute and sagacious servant OF the people. lie was
not 'the born thra of party the American nsinu-
yates He carried out the principles which he protested
He has been true and uniform disciple OF the Re
publican Jefersonian school. He has been devoted to
those principles for many years He has been perfectly
consistent in their support; and we refer to the docu-
mens which have often quoted as the proof OF his
consistency. We refer to the able report which he
submitted many years ago the House of Representa-
tives on the question of internal improvements In it
he threw himself upon the Jeesonian doctrines for the
support OF his opinions We might refer, also, TO the
very luminous address which he made to the legislature
of Tennessee upon taking the oath OF governor OF the
State No could, therefore, have more consistently
declared in the legislative hall of Virginia, on Tuesday
last, his support of those principles
Is it strange, then, that have commended his
course The Baltimore American is right in saying
that we had 'the hardihood to name Oregon" We have
the hardhood it again. and TO approve his course
on that occasion The question could not have been
settled without giving the notice to Great Britain 1t
was risking much adopt it-much to recommend
it. But MIR Polk never hesitated about it. it the
suggestion OF his own best judgment, and he determined
to carry out opposition to the earnest advice of
of his best friends They doubted its policy They
afraid it might involve us in with Great Britain
But he was resoute and nothing could shake his deter
mination The result the best proof of his
sense and his frnness His doubling friends had after
wards the candor TO admit the superiority of his
ton, which had bailed our ablest statesmen for
nearly thirty years, was speedily adjusted on terms
which were honorable 10 the United States. Mr..
Polk obtained more than Great Britain had ever
before Yielded and what she had peremporly reject
ed-as much, if not more, than any former Presi-
dent had ever demanded He might have obtained even
more, if former negotiations had not thrown difficulties in
the way and if the wings had not by the violence of
their opposition affected the praccability of our claims
No one can deny these facts and yet blind and vruent
parsans still assail his although they have not
the audacity to say that the honor of the country
not fully sustained, and difficult and vexatious question
happily and adyaniageousy adjusted This, however, is
but keeping with the of the wing party for the
last four years They have vied and abused, in
terms of the coarsest ribaldry administration which
none can deny to have been most brilliant in its results.
1t has left the country in the highest state OF prosperity.
Amidst all this detraction, Mr.. Polk had many warm
and ardent supporters who looked to the good of the
country, and not to schemes of party success.
Such men pay the tribute of praise which is due him,
although he is no longer clothed with the Executive
power and is longer the dpenser of public patronage
His official power has departed. Like Prospero his
wand is " broken, and buried certain fathoms in the
earth" His only power is that moral force which
good deeds have conferred upon him, and which good
man would be willing to weaken He is now receiving
praise for what he has done-t is not the praise which
General Taylor is receiving advance but the praise Of
the past Such praise man suspect, for there is
no motive for nsincerity The worshppers of the rising
and not of the setting sun may be accused of hollow
adulaon At all events, it gives pleasure to confirm
our own opinions by the strong testimony of others,
We lay before readers the following specimens OF
the spirit of the democratic press upon the of the
past administration:
From Buffalo Courier.
We propose speak freely OF tho retiring admnsa-
on in the spirit OF manly legitimate euoy That has
been brilliant and successful one few will deny. But,
although the extraordinary and important have
occurred during existence circumstances attending
the expiration of the OF the present incumbent
different from those that distinguished the expa
ton of the of the democratic Presidents who have
preceded him.
All OF them fulflled the duties which they were as
signed, stood hray by the principles which they
them Tor their complete vndcation They received,
the time, tho thanks and pauds of their ehearted
countrymen mingled with the of few political OPP
ponents who swayed by prejudice and partisan
feeling "a TO repress every impulse OF patriotism within,
them Thus closed the administration of JEFFERSON and
JACKSON
| at the conclusion OF Mr. Folks administrations IL was
chosen after the stricest and party contest
have ever known From its first hour to this day. there M
never been doubt among friends foes, oil us detef
by the party that placed in power and has sustained IT,
There has been attack made upon H. mat the as
saiants have not been most signaiy routed ana ePoseu
and that its last days distinguished by more le-
rociou hostility marked its commencement, or asceB-
sion, proud know that the defence OF us friends
will be proportioned 10 the vehemence oil ITS assaan's