The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-10
JUDGE mAsos.s ADDRESS.

Il communicate
you the enclosed resolutions They but eeby the
deep impression made the large audience by your nd
LEGATION. Uniting cordially do in hoping you will
yield 10 this request Of the high respect and
'''''m win which ~'s''' yours EEK BENS SHEPPARD
wv Wm Il b s HIPTlElR
| Hon. ]. Y. MASON. Committee
| Al meeting OF the marshals and committee Of ar
rangements appointed for preparing and conducting the
late President of the United States held the first day
OF November ls49, at the Office OF Robert G. Scott the
following resolutions were unanimously adopted
Resofrd That be half the citizens OF Richmond
themselves, the cnmitee tender the Holm John ~
Mason their sincere thanks for his admirable and eloquent
address delivered on the Both nt in commemoraton OF the
public services and private virtues of Mr.. Polk.
Iha Of three he Ss spsoasd @
resolution and TO request OF hima copy Of his address for
publication.
RicmoND, Nov. 8, lS49.
GsaTrsasss have honor the ,ssspt
utions You are aware that yielded with great hesa-
erns MANNER that should bear he part assigned me,
70 the ceremonial Of respect 70 the memory Of the late Presi-
did no, in any want Of asconass regard for he
or OF an exalted estimate of his private character and
receive with sincere satisfaction the assurance contain
ed in communication and the accompanying reso
cate duty, without disappointing the expectations of the
citizens Of Richmond and, in compliance with your
quest take pleasure in transmitting herewith copy OF my
address delivered the 30h u Tor such disposition you
may think make of Va
am, with the highest respect your obedient servant
Messrs. Ben. Sheppard, Ro G. Scott, WIN. F. Butler,
Hon. John r. Mason's Address
On tie Life and Character Of TIE late President JAMES
X Polk, deltUered in the 4frican Church, Richmond.
pa., October 80. 1919.
Fellow CITIZENS A private citizen has been sudden
y taken from amongst and descended prematurely 10
the grave He clothed with of the habliments
afptftrt sta bad ~.
to the humbles in the land Yet, throughout the broad
limits OF this great republic one feeling OF grief for his
death. and Of sympathy with those who were near and
dom and patriotism, chivalry and beauty, have all united
in demonstrations of mournfu respect Ii had been his
fortune to serve his country in important public stations
through long series OF years; and his counrymen de-
light to do honor to his memory forgetting any
into which he may have fallen, and. buryng in his grave
all party anmosities which, however bitter in
country happily but temporary they gratefully acknowl-
edge his public services and offer heartfelt tribute to
his virtues. is spectacle morally sublime, and beau
huy illustrative OF the character impaired to the Amer
lean people by their free institutions; and although the
which has been closed in death hear the voice
q amentation Or OF praise yet such public dsmonstra
lions are not without their great advantage They VII
cheer many an asprant after an honorable fame, in II
struggles which must attend political service cleo.
nunciaton may be- there is time when virtue will be
acknowledged public service duly appreciated, and the
character and conduct of public men committed to
history amidst the generous tears and the tender grief of
am happy that the enlightened inhabitants of this
beautiful city have determined to bear their part in the
late President Of the United Siatesand may Be per.
miited to say that while feel unaffected ddenee Of
subject which has been treated BY many far better
qualified than am, and nsensibls to the delcacy
OF the duty which have, under the aering aad con-
trolling urgency OF your request undertaken 10 perform,
will be my anxious desire to do so. without violating
any proprey unnecessarily reviving any "reminiscences
which may have esanged one OF those present from my
m ha nf1hl rnr
detail of the incidents Of his life The materials are TOO
your utmost Kindness would extend TO me For nearly
quarter OF century his life identified with the history
of his country. But justice 10 the deceased, and my
sense OF duty sprngng from the necessities Of the
sion. will require reference TO acts Of his public life
regard 10 which know diversity OF opinion exists,
But in alludng to them. shall be governed By earn.
spirit OF fairness illustrating his character feel
suTed that you will not expect me to do less
James X. Polk, whose death we depore, was born on
the I'd day Of November. 1875 His great grandfather
was one OF the earliest OF those who emgrated 10 this
country in the beginning Of the eighteenth century. HE
adventurous emiSrant who renqnshed he re6nemenis
Of old and cultivated society, 10 encounter the hard
ships and privations Of life in newly settled and dis
OF purpose Deeply imbued with the spirit of civil
and religious liberty he was prepared TO encounter any
peril Tor SO priceless boon, and was fully ecompensed
for all the sacrifices TO which he subjected, by uni
ting himself with society where no artificial system
had been consecraied by time and no established orders
formed deep foundation for vicious government,
which, dsregardng popular rights is ever unjust and
Il was by collecting in this distant land men who were
forced by the circumstances OF their condition see and
feel their equality, that kind Providence prepared the
way for the assertion and successfu maintenance of
American liberty, and OF those noble institutions under
which il is our happiness TO live.
The branch OF the family. whose Scottish name was
Pollock, but, like many other European names when
Americanized, was changed and became Polk, from
which the late President descended established their
home in the western part OF North Carolina In the
county Of Meckenburg In that State, the spot where
the earliest public declaration OF the independence of the
colonies was made TO the world, he FIRST saw the light
Members Of bis family were conspicuous actors in that
memorable and heroic commencement, a. they were IN
in the establishment OF American freedom.
With spsA lineage, and surrounded BY such sssoc-
early impressed with sacred regard for
and an invncble determination to maintain them
In the year 1906 his father removed with his family TO
The State OF Tennessee and fixed his permanent abode
in the fertile and beautiful valley OF the Cumberland nver
n we foruet for moment the present crowded popula-
ton of that region, the high slate OF cultivation oil the
country the easy to market which has been
cured for its rich poduci the schools and colleges which
ave been established and the refinement and elegance
inv as wilderness without roads across the mountains
which obstruced their passage the East, and without
the means Of reaching market by The western route
through the mississippi river, prior to the introduction OF
steam navigation, we may estimate the difficulties winch
The hardy pioneer found in giving TO his children the adj
vanages OF education. In addition TO these discoursgng
Obstacles in the year OF 1919, the health OF the late
no hope of his Surviving, without submitting TO diff
cut surgical operation Such the condition Of the