Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-11-30

Gems in the enjoyment of unexampled prosner;tv -
happiness Each succeeding sun will rise and ~ aO.
upon the freest the happiest and the most
people on the face of the earth-a people n bau
hearts will be forever enbalmed the name and 0
Dry OF JAMES K Polk, as one of the purest nat;aI
wisest and greatest benefactors cow
| try.
/ The administration Of which have attoro,t,,
give mere outline, came to close on the eth IS
March, 1849. The entire work chaIked ont for avo
custom in Mr.. PoLK's inaugural address. and ever,
more had been accomplished-nothin0 that bahoJ
undertaken was left unfinished or incomplete 0 ~u
difficulties with foreign nations had all been AMIGA
bly, or honorably adjusted and we were at peace with
the world whilst prosperity and happiness prevailed
throughout our Own country. With the witness ola
good conscience attestng that he had faithfully dis
charged his whole duty, Mr. Polk, with unaffected
cheerfulness resigned the insignia of Office surren
dered the helm to his illustrous successor and de-
scended into the ranks as private citizen His
Journey homeward was marked by succession of
enthusiastic demonstrations of popular appreciation
and attachment, which gave to it more the appear
ance OF victorious military chieftain returning
home covered with lanrels than of private citizen
seeking the retirement of quiet home O."
No man ever sought the happiness of private life
with better prospects of finding it than did Mr. POLK
/ With ample means to command every comfort, he
had the society and eompanionship of a wife whose
superior intellectual endowments, combined with the
choicest graces and virtues of female excellence quail
flied her to shed lustre upon public station or to i
fuse contentment and happiness into the domestic cir
| cle-How great an accession he would have been to-
our Immediate society, where he had determined to-
spend the evening of his life all who have apprecia
ted his eminent private vertues will readily under
stand. Plain and simple in his manners, mild and
forbearng in his temper, kind and sociabe Ibis dis
position liberal and tolerant in his opinions aces
sibe and easy in his intercourse free and lively in
his converse ton, he was eminently fitted to adorn
and eniven the social circle, whilst his habiual and
conscientious regard for virtue and morality in all his
conduct, combined with his uniform reverental res
pect for the Christian religion was well calculated
to give weight to the influence of his example He
was regular reader of the Bible and constant at
tendant upon divine worship. AS illustrative of his
private habits and opinions in connexon with reli
gious subjects, may be INDUCED in quoting entire
memorandum made by him On his fftieth birth day,
and left amongst his papers. 1t is as follows
SUNDAY, Nov q 1s45-Attended the Methodist Church
secretary, ]. KNOX WALkER It was an Indictment day
there being rain from carly hour in the mornng-and Mrs
day Mrs. POLK being member of the Presbyterian church.
generally attend that church with her though opinions
This was my brth-day-being fifty years having
been born, according to the Family Register in the Family
on the I'd of November, 1895.
The text to-day the Acts the Apostles chap
he win Judge the world Righteousness by the whom
hath ordained It communion day in the church and
ton that had lived fifty years and before fifty years more
me Of h
they would profit half century hence
and that 1t was time for me to be putting my house In
: In addition to the enjoyment which he anticipated
in the domestic and social circle in his retirement
he had determined TO employ his leisure hours in lit
erary pursuits, and in arranging digesting and pre-
- pairing the ample materials in his possession for
historical review of the political events of his
times. With such hopes and anticipations he had
looked forward with pleasure, to the termination of
: his public career as the commencement Of new
" of domestic and social happiness in his retirement
10 the enjoyment of such retirement he was strong
ly invited by the precarous condition of his physical
- constitution, which had been greatly enfeebed and
shattered by the labOrs and of public
: life. When he returned amongst us we were all
struck by the marks of premature old age in his per-
" sonal appearance. Four years before we had seen
him standing erect in midst in the prime and
vigor of manhood receiving the warm congratula-
ons of his neghbors and friends upon his elevation
! to the highest Office in the world 1t my fortune
- to be the organ throug whom those congratulations
were rendered to him. How little did then suppose
= that at the end of four years, should see him
turn with locks vieing in whieness with the snow,
- and his body bending as if under the age of many
II years. Much less did it occur to my mind that in
short time should be called to stand at his tomb
and the virtues and services of his life But
such has been the will of an all wise Providence, and
- we bow to 1t with becoming submission. He return
ed among us literally out in the service of his
~ country and instead of finding the years of happi-
al ness which he sough in his beautiful retreat he
81 and then find an early grave. The dread summons,
ic however, was not unexpected to him, he I'M
~ prepared to meet IT. The conviction fastened upon
"a his mind his ftieth birthday had never been
" sed had he abandoned the resolution then form
! ed-he had ''put his house in order" and through
- faith in the blood of Redeemer he had made hi:
1T peace with God, and prepared to pass through
the dark valley OF the shadow of death without fear
After attaching himself to that branch of the church
Sc for which he had long cherished and expressed hi.
- prediction, he waited with calm resignation and
at composure the approach of death. Watched over
and consoed in his expiring moments by the partner
=. OF his BOSOM whose society," for more than twenty
81 years. had thrown around his life its purest enjoy
~ ment and by the venerable mother who gave hin
birth, whose prayers then, during long life,
= ascending to God for his choicest blessings on hel
- son. together with many of her near and dear rela
ves and friends he sunk gently and quietly to SLEEP
the 18th of June, 1849 to wake no until the
b morning of the resurrection. He had lived the life
10 OF an honest man, pure patriot and yiruous states
Of mamie died the death of true Christian. For the
former he had his reward in this world-for the lat
rs ter far richer reward in the world to come.
of He's gone to his home, like welripend sheaf,
The ear in its fulness and in its leaf;
The angels have borne him with JOY to the skies,
e. The portals of Heaven have closed on their prize
=; He's gone like the sun at the dying of day,
~ When shades veil the earth its light fades away!
ne In greatness he ruled, and in glory he rose,
al When called by the Saviour from this world OF woes
~ He's gone like the waters in brightness that flow,
While yerure and flowers cothe their banks as they gor
OF Till forth to the deep, in their grandeur they rel
en- He's gone to the ocean, the home of the soul
90 He's gone and the nation in sackcoth is dressed;
>" We mingle our tears round the place of his rest
on Like widow who deeply doth mourn in her weeds.
he We linger in love round the scene of his deeds
u He watch'd Ger the nation he her bright form