Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
Hon. ]. Y. Mason. o

Judge MasOn'> Address.
Hon. J. Y. Mason. ,,,,
RICHMOND, NOVEMBER lsT, lo49.
Dear Sir: Win much qualification We cuni-
municae TO you The enclosed resoluliohs. ihey
but ieetly express the deep impression maze OIL
The large audience by your address. cory oi
which We ask, by their authority, Tor puliicd-
ton. Uniling as we cordially do IN hoping you
will yield 10 this request, we assure you u inc
high respect and esteem with which we are,
| Yours truly,
e. E, & 5 5 s S;;42 so Committee.
| Alta meeting vi The Marshdls and Committee
nf Arrangements appointed for preparing aua
conducting the ceremonies in honor OF The me
mory OF James K Polk, late President oil me
United States, held on the first day oil NoVein-
Der, iSa9, al the office Of Robert u. Sco'', inc
following resolutions were unanimously adopled:
Resolved That on behalf OF The CITIZENS oil
Richmond and OF themselves, the com.niIlee
tender TO The Hon. John Y. Mason their sincere
thanks for his admirable and eloquent address
delivered on The 3hh ull., in commentator OF
the public services and private virtues oi ME-
Polk.
Resolved That a commilIee Of three be ap-
pointed to communicate 10 Judge Mason copy
Of the foregoing ami This resolution, and 10 re-
quest Of him a copy Of his address Tor puoiica
lion. .o.o
RICHMOND, Nov. 3, l649.
Gentlemen IL have the honor 10 acknowledge
The recent OF your letter OF the LIST inst with The
ACCOMMODATING resolutions. You are aware
that yielded with great hesitation 10 the request
OF my fellow citizens, urged in 50 falerins
manner, that should bear lhe part assigned me,
in The ceremonial Of respect 10 The memory oil
The late President OF the United States. assure
| you, that my reluctance did mol originate IN any
want OF aficCtionae regard for the man, or oil an
exalted estimate OF his private character and his
public services.
| | receive with sincere satisfaction The assu-
rance contained in your communication ana ne
ACCOMPANYING resolutions, that ! have been 80
fortunate as 10 perform he delicate duty without
disappointing the expectations OF The Citizens Of
Richmond, and in compliance with your request,
lake pleasure in transmitting herewith copy
OF my address delivered on The 30h nlI., Tor
such disposition as you may think proper 10 make
| OF il. am, with The hishes, respect,
I Your cbedient servant,
| J. Y. MASON.
Messrs Ben. Sheppard, Ro. g. Sco'I, VIM,
| F. Butler Committee.
Hon. John Y. Mason's Address,
On the Lys and Character Of The tate EI Pfssas 1a"ha
r. POLK deferred in the .3(riean Chnr,h. Rehmond,
| Ia October ssh, 1919
| Fellow. CITIZENS: A private citizen has
been suddenly taken from amongst ns, and
| descended premalurey to The grave lie
was clothed with meme Of The habiimenls
OF official station, and had no more power
Than belongs To The humb!esl in Ikc land.
| Yel, throughout the broad limits ii this great
Republic, one feeling Of gie! Tor his death and OF
| sympathy with these who were hear and dear 10
| him has filled all hears. Youth aud age, wisdom
ana patriotism, chivaIry and beauty, have all
united in demonstrations Of mourntu respect -
II had been his fortune To serve his country in i'm
| portant public sIalions, through long series OF
years, aud his ccun,rymen delight 10 ID honor 10
| his memory, forgetting any errors into which he
may have fallen, and, huryng in his grave all
| party anmosiiies, which, however bitter, are in
uur country happily bnt temporary, thcy grateful
| " acknowledge his public services and ,ffer a
| Heartfelt tibu L. his virtues. /; Is spectacle
| morally sublime ard beautifully Illustrative o.
| the character impaired 10 The American people
| by their ifee institutions; and, although The ear
which has been Closed in death cannot hear The
| voice Of lamentaiuD OF .. praise, gel such pub
lie demonstrations ale not without their great ad.
| vantage. They will cheer many an asprah,
| alter an honorable tame, in the struggles which
must attend political service in An elective Co.
vernment and show that, however bitter party
| Remuneration may BIZ, there IS lime when virtue
! will be acknowledged, pubic service duly apprr.
! caed, and The character and conduct OF our pub
tic men comnei to history amidst the genes
rous tears and The lender grief u their country.
| am happy that the enlightened inhabitants OF
| this beautiful city have determined 10 bear their
part in the general manifestation OF respect for
iLe memory OF the lac President Of he United
| / hn in oil NJ,
| while feel an unaffected difidcnce 81 my ability
10 do luslice 10 The occasion, Or 10 give interest
TO n susjecl which has been treaed by many far
! better qualified Than am, and am not nsensib!e
| to The uelicacy vi The duty which | have, under
| The catering and controlling urgency OF your
request, undertaken 10 perform, it will be my
axious desire &c dc so, g ilhou violating any pro-
pric,y, or unnecessarily rcyiyug any remmis-
cencc which may have esisaas.d one ot those
present from my lamenied friend, in mis- public
| career.
| II is not my purpose 10 attempt 10 present 10
YOU full detail u the accidents ul his lie. The
materials are loo abundant 10 permit me to DO So
| within the lime which your nlmos, kindness
wouId'eslend 10 me. For nearly quarter of q
century his lie is Identified with The history OF
his country. Blu, justice to the deceased and my
sense oil duty, sprngng from The necessities OF
the occasion, will require reference 10 acts OF his
public life, in regard 10 which know diyer,i.
" OF opinion exists. Bur, in abiding 10 them, |
| shall be governed by an earnest desire 10 do no
more Than ii present lis condacs in spirit Of
fairness rs illustrating his character. feel as
| surrd that you Will not expect me 10 do less.
james X. Polk, whose death We drpoTe, was
born on The 2d day Of November, 1885 His
erealgIand father was one o. the earliest ul those
who cmgfaItd 10 this county IN the beginning
Ut lie Ism cenluiy. Ills family was one OF
character and intelligence and The adventurous
| emeranr, who relihquished The Iefinemenls OF an
Old aud cultivated society, 10 encounter the hard
ships and pfi4alions OF lie in SO newly sellled
ami distant County, vas characterized by tori.
indie and hImness ol purpose. Deeply imbueG
with The spirit vi civil and religions liberty, he
WAS prepared 10 encounter any peril f,r sc
priceless boom and was fully r,compenssd ol
all the sacrifices 10 which he was subjected by
uniting himself with society, where no aIih
cial system had been consecraed by liIc, and nc
established orders formed a deep foundation ioI
vicious government, winch, designating popu
lar rights, IS ever unjust and oppressive.
II WAS by collecting in this distant land men
whu we're forced by The circumstances vi ihcil
condition 10 see and feel their equality, that a
kind Providence prepared he way Tor The asser.
lion aid succ' ssiul maintenance Ci America n
liberty, and ui those noble institutions under
which II is our happiness 10 live.
The branch vi The family whose Scottish ma me
was Pollock, but, ike many other European
names when Americana d, was changed AND
became Polk, rom Which The late President de-
scendrd, established their home in The western
part OF North Carolina. In the county Of Meek.
lenbuIg in that Stale, near The spot where The
eaIlits: public declaration Of The independence Of
hc colonies was made 10 The world, he first saw
The light Members OF his family We're conspi'
cuuus actors in Thai memorable and heroic com,
mcncemenl, as they were 10 its subsequent stages
o, The great struggle which resulted IN The esla
bishmenl ui American freedom.
With such iarase, and surrounded by such
associations II is NJ; matter OF surprise that
his mind was caty impressed guh sacred re-
2ard tor Tie fishs oi man, aud an invincible de-
termination TO maintain them.
In the year 1906 his father removed with his
e liz. IL. al L