The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-07

lions, and dimensions than nose when their own
told them founded upon the fights OF man as de-
rived from the laws OF God This system called for
laws institutions, and schemes OF public policy, m mar
mony with the fundamental principles upon which me
entire fabric based How natural IN field OF labor
and thought broad and unexplored, that bold and
vigorous intellects, impeed by honest and fearless
hearts, all aiming at the public veal, should each
have taken his own conscience Tor his compass, ana
have followed wherever IL pointed his footsteps II H.
strange, therefore, that the sgneH oil the declaration OF
independence the heroes OF the revolution the sages VINO
framed glorious constitution and the earlier Presl'
dents, who put il in successful operation, should have
differed materially, widely, honestly, in respect to The
policy which duty and patriotism required them TO pursue,
in order 10 accomplish object common to the hearts OF
ALL Still less strange that their illustrious successors
who have welded the desiinies OF the naion with all its
accumulated power diversity OF interests and conflicting
The fame Of g Mr. POLK ike those who Sase gone before
him. must be subject 70 the unerrng judgment OF sober
and enlightened public opinion. This is tribunal from
which there is no earth appeal u partial Justice De
done for time, in consequence OF political and sectional
differences and partisan preudces, time 10 correct
the error before the same high tribunal by which the
judgment! was originally pronounced The preudlces OF
communities like the passions OF men, sometimes cloud
the understanding and obscure the sense OF justice.
Hence il seldom happens that great man, who has lett
the impress Of his genius upon his countrys destiny can
have u justice done TO his character until after he shall
have passed from the scenes OF his laboH
The expiration OF his term OF service on the fourth OF
March last relieved him from the labcs and cares OF
office. and on the sixth OF the same month he lett the
Capital for his residence in Tennessee, amid the bene-
dciions OF happy and grateful people He was We, in
the prime Of life and the ygor Of his ntesctlal powers,
Of long and happy life in dignfed refinement with his
family and friends around him. Alas how uncertain is
life How vain are all earthly hopes He was at
tackled with disease which was supposed to be com
paratively harmless, and gave him but little uneasiDess
IL eventually became chronic, and finally assumed many
of the symptoms Of the prevailing epdemr. he retained
the possession Of his mental faculties, ami preserved his
usual calmness and composure. up to te last moment
Conscious that his time had come-his earthly career
approaching close he sent for friend y take, from his
own lips his last farewell message of lore and gratitude
to his aged and beloved mother who wal supposed be
PROSTATE upon bed Of sickness She stl survives to
the loss and weep the grave Of her dutfu,
reaved partner OF his BOSOM will not .ltempt 10 speak
Her thoughts affections and hopes all inently fixed
upon another and better world, while she lives and is
enshrned in the hearts Of all who knew her WELL as one
of the brightest ornaments of this May her affections
and bereavements find consolation in that pure and holy
religion which has long animated he'll and exemplhed
itself, in her daily walk
The fame and character OF the iustrous dead become
the nations legacy The successful career OF an emf.
nent citizen becomes example, and not unirequenty.
model to the aspiring youth. How important, there
FORE is that his character should have been spotess
his deeds brilliant and dazzling Fame, In the
and exalted Of the term, cannot exist without
virtue. Intellect and energy, stimulated by passion
by the worst OF passons-can acquire notor,ety
But integrity fidelity, sincerity and praclca virtue, are
essential ingredients in the composition OF the character
which ought TO be commended 10 our children as worthy
its own, is proud consolation to know that in
the heat Of fiery partisan contests, passion and prejudice
far obscured the moral OF any portion OF
our citizens, to make the private character OF
Mr. Polk the subject of repoach His virtues as a man
his measurable Qualities of heart as gentleman
his exemplary conduct as citizen, in all the walks
OF private HE, have been the subject OF Just pride
and admiration by his counirymen without the disnc-
lion oil party, Sect or section And feel authorized to
add without the apprehension OF doing violence 10 the
sentiments OF any man who knew him we'll that SO far
As hes and
ert their legitimate influence. there perfect hamo-
ny between his public and his private career To say
that he sometimes erred, is but 10 admit that he
tai His errors even. may all be traced 10 the exuber
ance OF those high qualities which constitute the charm
Of his character His convictions all subjects were
ns eSu Of aSs he
conscience, and he chung to IL with tenacy which
er yielded until life itself was extinct His fidelity and
devotion 10 the political principles with which his life
Identified resulted from the and partook
of its nature In sense therefore, may be said that
he was political partisan OF the most rigid and infexibe
character But he was the partisan OF principle Of a
system OF and policy which he believed be
sena to the purity and perpeuy OF republican nst
tutions Believing this, he consecraied his life the
cause, and saked his fortunes the result Wherein did
he differ. this respect from Jefferson and Adams. Mad
and and the numerous other statesmen and
patriots, who have served and adorned their country
Like theirs in their days. his measures and system Of poll
icy encountered fierce and desperate opposition This op.
position arose from equally conscientious belief that
different system OF measures and policy would better have
accomplished the patriotic objects which all had in view
less than four months from the expiration OF his official
duties and before the passions excited by the conflict OF
mind with mind have had time 10 subsde, and give place
to just appreciation OF his public career, Mr. Polk has
been stricken down by the hand OF DEATH and called to
his final account His friends had ondly hoped that his
life would have been spared until the light OF truth should
have dspeed the msts OF prejudice and have presented
his public career, like his private life beacon light TO
all who may come after him. But the ways OF Proyi
dence are the ways OF wisdom and holiness, to which il
becomes mortals TO yield cheerful submission.
When the pen OF the historian comes 10 write the he.
roic story OF the infant republic OF Texas OF her voun
tay extnguishment OF her national independence and
her admission into glorious Union; OF the gallant
deeds Of noble daring upon the bloody fields OF Pao Alto
and Resaca at Monterey and Buena VISTA OF the BON.
bardmen OF Vera Cruz and the storming Of Sierra Cor
dos heights; OF Conreras Churubusco, and Chapulte
pee; Of the acquisition OF New Mexico and California
Of the substitution OF the Rio Grande for the Sabine, and
Of the broad Pacific for the Rocky Mountains
tiona boundaries; and raising the curtain which
ceas the future from the present. shall trace the momen
tous consequences resulting from these great events then
the principles and of President Folks admins
traton Will stand forth in their true light to the gaze Of
an admiring world