Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-09-25
EXCELLENT SPEECH.

published 10 The Gazstte. We have read WIN
unmingled satisfaction this fine specimen Of
chas,e and vigorous eloqucnce, ph'l'soph'c
though; and profound political knowledge. Our
resd.rs will, we are sure, enjoy The extract,
which we lay before Them.
Will our friend Of The Lynchburg Republican
send US cosy of Maj. Jas. Garland's Euiosy,
which was published in our absence2
Blu, 10 The ex.rac; from Mr.. Barbour's euloey
on tx President Polk:
lie was the youngest man ever chosen to that
lofty eminence; the first after his full term, and
in the same year of his descent from power, 10
whom the portals of Heaven were opened
and since the time of Washington, aud with his
exception he is the only citizen unexpectedly
summoned to This supreme trust-the only one
to whom his nomination came with the enchant-
ment Of surprze
His immediate predecessor had been chosen
TO the second office o! The cohiederacy, and
reached the first OF its trusts by constitutional
succession. Less imbued with party predictions
than the leaders Of the party which had placed
him in power, he soon fell under its distrust-
He had no treachery to his principles on which
to give mortgage for his fidelity 10 others. In
that administration, the compromise OF The Ia
riff, ten years before it, was disturbed. "lts
guaranty was marred linen holding the posi-
ton of statesmen in Congress, stood up in their
place. to disturb that treaty of peace and amiIy."
Power prevailed over pligh!ed faith. Tine
passage Of the act of 1912, overthrow the con
promise interest maddened wise meu-,he
temptations for forbidden fruit were stronger,
from the breach of faith needed 10 reach it,
The sadtest Of all spectscles was presented; the
spectacle oil justice powerless under wrong.
Tine constitution created a hard money govern
menr. The law OF 1857 restored il Though an III
dependent treasury. Tns TOO was repeated. and
paper currency again put in use; mat paper cur.
rency VI Stale Banks, in which Alexander Ham.
Ion mad early detec cd the mairix Of all The evils
that wal; upon inequality, injustice and fraud
His speech, delivered IN the Legislature oi New
York The lo!h OF February, 1851, on tie grant oil
The imposi, is, 10 itself, profound reseatch into
the mIschiels OF 4 currency OF Bank paper; tie
ablest and earliest vIndicatiun OF an independent
treasury. Ii is the spear 0. lhurle touching the
serpent then gliding into III: garden CT Eden.-
FMS speech was maze before thai lustriuus
statesman had yielded III, light oil his own mind
~ olher views; b fore she had given up 10 parry
what was meant Tor mankind" These acts OF
Congress lay on The tlr, shoid OF Mr.. Polk's en-
trance to the Presidency. They hcd within
themselves the revenue and lis disbursement, az
jusleI and arranged, not by his principles. on! in
bied;a OF fhtm-in Ger0gaion, toe, .. The rfinal-
pies on which his election had JUS, turned. AT
home, his path was srewet with lhoTns-atroad,
the horizon was overcast ana TWO foreign poweis
stood, with arms i'll hand, brs ling Inc peris Vi
war along The line oi that duty whlch his recent
election by The people had land mperatlvely upon
his office. In The Oregon quts ion Diplomacy
had already exhausted the arts mat belonged 10
the lraLquililes OF reace-anc The voice OF
people, restless by their persuasion 0. wong, Tin
inc possession OF American soil by foreign
powrr,) had, in the election Itself, called tor AL
aGj4smeGi, even o The perils OF war. AL iadi
catiuns pointed 10 The sword as the afoier O. na-
Iions-and as all then lell Us 10 cul Inc iniflca-
cie> OF this G0rdlan knot.
With This poenl vi evil pressing itself upon
US, the penetrating eye OF the Statesman Vas no!
closed 10 The sangu,ne cloud that suddenly arose
in The Opposite Quarter u the hemisphere,
threatening with belle erelt wrath to waste us
fury on our new acquisition II Texas. To
these difficulties, MIR Polk carried lnaI manly
spirit and unerriGg common sense, which disdaiu
The aIIifces Of refined cipomacy-.hat plain
good intention, which is 4 powerful agent in ali
successful policy; that genuine simplicity OF
heart, which is healing and cemening pflnc'.
pie; a simplicity IN government, always wise
IN those virtues which are is best ar;s, and
which poetry and painting have d.ineaIed IN
the embiem Of the chi with The hlnd.rboli IL
i. 70 these faculties, So happily tempered and
skliuIly employed, ,hal humanity owes the
blessings OF peace with England. Tine serenity
mat gladleLs this victory over the passions, Is
suled by no tear, and stained by no blood. Ii
extends the unquestioued bounis OF our coEicde-
racy Through and through from sea 10 sea-
And h. parchment charter lfcm the first OF the
Sluars, Tor Virginia, compri es IA: reality OF
territorial possession.
The war with Mexico was The act Of her gov
eminent. The yaiour 0. our troops, ana the
triumph Of our arms, imposed upon Ter cbst-
nancy what her sense CT justice denied &c our
peaceful opportunities. MagOanimiIy leuieied
10 her me olive OF peace al each Successive con-
quest. A sublime spectacle, Where yiciuIy sac
llloei 10 humanity the laurel II had w"a! |! the
inception OF h0slilllies De marked wi Ii an eX-
cepion 10 this boon, from the powerful 10 The
powerlcss, i, is in The refusal OF preferred lruec
by The victorious General, alter the first battles OF
the Rio Grandc CUnquest's cfiGscned wing,
stained by American blood, split on American
SOIL bad tanned into flame the passions oi a re-
sentlul sodery.
"Spirits # fire, will brood not long,
But fash resentment back for wrong"
Before The war closed in JUST peace, cuf vic
lorious banners hoated over Inc cities ami ciiates
Of the enemy. The spires Of her religious tenn
pics rocked and rceled 70 The shock II her earth
| quaaes. A pious people, touched with super
| slition. might have seen in these signals the
| Judgment OF Heaven. Nor should our cwn
minds be closed 10 lis lessons. They yield Tor
the constancy oil the republican patriot proud
and soothing consolation in he triumph OF his
principles. The most signal vi these battles was
won BY Inc vaour Of 'ciiizsn soldicry." Cou.
rage and intelligence, strength joined wGh bra
yery-have demonstrated heir power, and Illus
| traled The glores OF republican nsiiiuiiols.-
| MercenaTy armies are TO longer necessary 10 90
the deeds OF war for our county. II delivers 10
politicians and TO Statesmen an eternal oracle Of
policy and freedom. L. bends itself with all
| their interests Ut selfish ambition. The liiumphs
OF war overlop lie hard earned chaples Of peace
Let their int ests in civil distinctions employ all
me arts oil diplomacy 10 avoid wars. On he
boods aimed field no flower can spring Tor the
S,a,esman's interest. There is fascination il
| military glory which no felicity vi language Can
| paint, There is an enchanlmen; in The us,Ie ui
! body renoWn that casts lnio the shade all the
| riyalTies Of civil service.
aCrowns and coronets have walked in its livery,
| Realms and islands are rs plates from It's pocket"
| There is poison that turks in the leaf OF Inc
laurel. Nourished in blood, aad Iedoleni Of
odors, il is The fl. emblem ot glory and decay.
| This is the moral OF all human tales."
| Mysterious and inscrulabe ale tie ways OF
| Proviience-and il the devices OF is wisdom
shall give us lessons that will turn away the
hearts OF statesmen from the periious and igno-
Bile exremiIies Of war, lei us praise lis good
ness. And what are The honoTs that this war
and this peace lay on the tomb OF The illusrious
man whose death We assemble to commemo.
rate1 His common sense was his wisdom. II
was The pilot that weaihered the storm. He lett
US in peace with The world. "Ie has enlarged
our boundaries, and settled every contested ques-
ton OF territory" The palmy influence OF ouriree
institutions is wa.tcd on our cwn soil, from the
ALA Mic TO The Pacific. His internal policy
impaired lis nurture 10 all The interests Of com.
msrce, OF agriculture, OF labor and capital. All
have lhriven into wealth under his auspices
The constitutional currency is restored. The
expansion oil commerce, under The prcpi,ous
and wanton wing OF free trade, breaking The let
Ter. Of arbitrary restriction, finds lis riches in
IL