The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-26

EULoaY ON THE LATE Ex-PREsIDEsT.
Er,,oet, from The suiogium upon The life, character. and
pubic ssrviees Of ths late er-Pyesidenl JAMES kNoS
PoLK dsliusred before Ms at,sens Of Wmeaesis, ana
Frederick eoany Va. al The Episcopal eau'a' hasa''
BY T. T. FAunTLERoY. JR
We have assembled here day. Heterogeneous 70 &C,
our part IN lofty scene s gana anu s!;;ss =
dead and twenty millions of republican ieemen, startled
by the electric fash of the unexpected and mourniul
mngle over II the signs OF halowed remembrance and
drop upon the tears oil vain but generous and CRATE
Ansrea exhibits to-day to the admiration and nsruc-
ton OF the world sublimy OF moral grandeur
passed. il ever equaed before. in national history
whole people spread oyer vast extent o q Territory com
diversity Of interest and opinion. and extending nearly the
length and full breadth OF continent. engaged
regard 10 The memory OF loved and honored fellow.
citizen. The pomp OF power and the pride oil place
the routine Of office and the hum Of business ,he pur
suit OF pleasure and the strife OF AMBITION are all forgot
,en-even the harsh and angry voice Of party spirit is
hushedin the solemn presence the silent eloquence oi
death Il is beautiful feature Of our political sys
tenn and credabe alike 10 our national character, and
our common humanity, that the citizens OF vast and
powerful nation, but yesterday wrought up to the very
Of ay RI nd % T. ssn
afectionatey mDgle Their voices, In mournul unison,
swell the chorus OF universal sympathy in national
bereavement Il is gratifying and cheering proof, that
whatever temporary agitation and exceme may grow
out OF the diversified elements OF national character
and general interests Ue are one peoples united not in
Alone bul in bond OF the closest brotherhood and
the dearest sympaihiesin common destiny and com
mon renown!
In The death Of James Knox Polk, the nation is be-
rsaved and we have together, by suitable appoint
ent, TO unite in the general expression Of national grief
meet Tor us to be here, when who, IN the ord
tnan 70 va ~ No
Providence, whose instrument he in controlling and
shaping the destiny Of nation il is right that mark
the solemn event with the manifestation Of public con-
Honofed. while living, with the highest confidence OF
his he dies amented by nation Of freemen,
whose interests he guarded whose welfare and happiness
he promoted and whose character and dignity be mould
cd and maintained.
the government which more imperously demanded the
ability virtue, and discretion Of statesmen than that
~ which Mr. Polk called to assist in the national
cuuHcils. The first talents of the country the
tagonstc array OF the respective parties in Congress- and
the lower House became the animated Of high de-
bate and impassioned eoquence. Here Mr.. Polk young
he was, not only fully sustained the reputation for
ability which he brought into the House, but won fcr
himself national estimation powerful political de-
batter and accomplished statesman. Though, with
or two exceptions, the youngest man in the House. he
placed successfully at the head of the two most i'm
poriant and responsible committees OF Congress-the
COMMITTEE on Foreign Affairs and the "Committee OF
Ways and nlans" He was conspicuous and accom-.
pished party leader during the whole of his service upon
the floor OF the House. either in support OIL or in op2os
ton to- the great and agitang questions and adminstra
tive policy of the day.
In December, 1885, Mr. Polk was elected Speaker Of
the House of Representatives and again chosen to that
high and responsible Office in 1887. From the complex
ion OF the times and the elements of which the lower
House oil Congress was, at this time, composed this po
ston a. all times perhaps The most difficult and DELICATE
into requsiton all the highest powers OF the mind ma
tive and acquired and severely testing the strength Of
character moral and personal. Although cautiously
eepied 10 for the exercise Of the controlling sanction Of
has Judgment frequently than all the predecessors
IN his ONCE together il is matter OF public record that
ne was uniformly sustained upon appeal for the Wis
dom cid justice Of his decisions tn
After fourteen consecutive years OF distinguished and
imporant service in Congress Mr. Polk declined re-
and retired in 1889 TO the quiet walks Of private life and
the active pursuit Of his profession His choice how
ever was denied him; and in the summer oil that same
year he was elected governor OF Tennessee he was
twice, subsequently, candidate for the same Office but
twice defeaiedthe last time in 1913. In the month OF
the presidency of the United States by the Democratic
Naticaal Convention assembled al Baltimore, and IN
November following he was elected to that high office
BY the whole people with the handsome majority oil SIX
V.hve electoral votes.
Upon the 4th OF March, s45, he entered upon the dis
charge OF the arduous duties OF the Executive Office ;
and serving the constitutional term for which he
elected, he RETIRED the 4h day OF March last from
administration the most conspicuous and important in
American annals
In reviewing DIT Polkt administration, we are admOn-
shed TO conhne ourselves TO simple enumeration OF the
prominent and important achievements OF his policy.
We may introduce here controversial points oil party
opinion, indulge, at such time as this, the bitterness
oil party spirit II the silent and sacred fepose OF death
viii moi hush the evil eugge Of passion the baow
ed presence OF this consecraed temple foTbds their
trance here This s not the tme this the place, then,
for discussing the design scope OF his administrative
policy, the merits OF the questions which involved
proper time and in the proper place and as matters OF
history, they fall within another and higher province
than IL is impossible now to pass either an nie
gent or impartial judgment upon the merits OF Mr.. Folks
administration, or his ability a statesman The
temporaneous aspect OF things is always narrow, con-
fused and indisiinct; and all men, however dazzling
their talents and truly great their actions may be-
are painfully diminished in the estimate oil those
who view them from point OF close and familiar
observation Il is only in the distance that the bold and
rugged outline oil the mountain range "lends
chantment the view " and the eye il placed too
the canvass, behods too distinctly the separate touches
of the pencil, and is perplexed with tumble OF
ingy discordant nts, which. little removed melt into
all the harmony Of beautiful and living picture. When
time, the great arbiter OF handed and impartial jus
tice, shalt have blown away the miss Of prejudice and
OF partisan bitterness shall have given place to the chief
OF Christian graces, that charity which "thnkeh no
evil" the iron pen Of historic truth, will make up the
record OF his official conduct and set the seal Of cando
20 the nfallIble judgment of unbiased and intelligent
poseriy This Is, indeed, the only point OF observation
whence we may fully and fairly survey the field Of
tonal policy, and form either Just intelligent concu
measures The short sigbtedness Of human ken may moi
Lift the veil OF future destiny, and beyond the
row scope OF present reality. No human sagacity can
fully anticipate either the tendency the Iesu OF the