Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-06-30
A GEM OF PARTISAN POLITICS.

a weekly Journal Of Chambersburg, the fol-
lowing specimen of Christian and gentleman
like feeling:
SwIfr RErnrnuTIoN.-On Tuesday last the
~tirccn Spot" was made dolcfnl by the tolling OF
the wells for the death Of James n. foik' ia'c
President of the I,ocofeco Party. The news OF
his deccasc was received by Telegraph. The dl-
sense under which he laborcd was chronic diarrhna
as stated in our last. Thus has this ambitious
and wicked man been called carly to the final set
tlcp,ent of his dreadful account We would, in
charity, have wished him life time often thousand
ycars In which to "brng forth fruits meet for re-
Irusaucc."
We arr taurh. in the Book of Books that for
National sins there shall he National Affections.
Does it not, however, seem little singular just
ccnsonaporaneous with the death Of the author Of
the most shameful iniquitics in which our country
ever engaged, that the consequences Of those ini-
quities would be so full upon us that the Scott
ragc of disease should he sweeping the length and
breadth of our land! Verify, the ways of Prov-
dence are inscrutable.
This is the first notice of the late Presi-
dents dccease, which has yet reached us, in
which he was mentioned disrespectfully
and for the honor of American journalism,
we hope that it will be the last. Even in
journals which, during Mr.. Polk's Presidency
never permitted day 10 pass without strc-
iure upon his official character and conduct,
we have seen respectful, becoming notices of
his decease, and candid acknowledgements of
virtues which they had never before Disco
vercd in him. As general rule, American
politics are free from rosthumous rancors,
To all well constituted minds, the grave is
invested with sanciitcs which cannot be dis
turbed without infamy TO the dis,urbcrs. Par
tisans, in the midst of their exctements, and
while the object of their assault is capable
OF sell-dciencc, may misapprchend, misre-
present, libel and tradure. But upon Il call
10 the last account, when all worldly ties are
are severed, all worldly interests terminate,
justice resumes lis ascendancy, and cnjoins
silence, if i, cannot admit commendation.
But here is one 10 whom ordinary rules
arc nothing who is entirely beyond com
mon restraints, and whose appetite like that
of the hyena, RACES even TO eNhumaiion. The
Ledger was no partisan of Mr.. Polk's ad-
ministration and we never failed 10 con-
demn it whenever it was inconsistent with
our own views of public duty. Especially
did we condemn its course upon the Oregon
question: n course which cost TO the country
region which we ever have regarded, and
ever shall regard as the New England Of the
Pacific region which might have been Sc
cured without drop Of blood, and which
with all its elements of real strength, is more
valuable than California, with all its golt
mines, those impediments to the substantial
improvement of any country. Nor were We
quite content with its treaty with Mexico, {
virtual surrender of all the region which we
shall be obliged TO take at last, North anG
West of the Sierra Madre. But while CON
dcmuing this administration in these cases
we always bore testimony to its patriotism
and general sound Judgment, and asserted
what we now repeat, that, posterity will pro-
nounce it one of the most fortunate in ou
annals. We can therefore defend the late
President against groundless or otherwise i'm
proper assaults, without being obnoxious to
the charge of partisan partiai,ies. And We
defend it against this assault of partisan
journal, under all imperative sense of thai
decent respect which all American citizen:
owe TO their public servants while living, and
TO their memories when dead.
We proceed not too far in pronouncing thi!
assault an insult 10 American public opinion
That public opinion is TOO chas,ened, too re
fined, too exalted, to tolerate violations Of the
grave, even when truth is spoken. And i
is too sternly Just TO endure such outrage:
when exhibited in falsehood and slander. Ir
pronouncing Mr.. Polk an "ambitous and
wicked man." this Journal uttersa shameless,
libel and in insisting that he has been ''cal
led early TO the final settlement of his dread
full account" it audaciously enters the fielt
of profanity. We admit that Mr.. Polk wa
ambitious, as every American citizen shoult
be-to serve his country faithfully. But wheI
partisan rancor pronounces him wiekcd, W,
challenge proof of his having ever violated /;
single engagement, public or private, or o
ever having acted from corrupt motive
And he has been ;:called early" CIT Off pre-
matufcly, TO settle "lrcadiul account =
How dales this blasPhemer step between tht
deceased and the Judge of All, TO set up hi,
own blind Judgment upon the character o
the account, or the prematuriiy OF the call
lie Il Judge of men in the Almighty Presence
And his charity would have asked a onse
life, 10 bring forth repentance! How bcau,i
full is that charity which, 10 crafty parti
san rancor, violates the grave and blaspheme
the Almighty
And still more audaciously, the libeller refer
TO the Bible upon national SINS, and says ,ha
the people are now suffering under the scourg,
Of pcstllence, in retribuiion for the crimes O
Mr. Polk's administration! In charity W,
must think this libeller mad. If he be ra
tional, we find language inadequate 10 char
acterize such wicked audacity. Has the chol
era come in punishment of national sins
Then what national sins induced its fOrme