Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09

cease 10 be 4 compromSe, aud mTs be regarueu NJ W.
original question: 4:.,;rn
tIe suggested as proper modes of adjusting
the question, the adoption Of the Missouri me
of COMPROMISE, or ucn.inlerfeIence WIN ,ne
subject, leaving 10 The people Who maY inhao"
the territories the formation ot their own comes.
tic Institutions or the reference 10 ihe juoieial
tribunals Of The legal and Constitutional ques'
tons as 10 the rights Of those migrating 10 'he
territories, without any act OF Congress d'claia'
tory OF those rights, or
'some other equitable compromise, which would re-, re-
spect the rights ii all, ana prove satislacoy 10 'ne
dIfIrrr nj portions of the Union "
And in MS message which accompanied the
Oregon bill, he declared that
"EIoldinp Us n sacred trust the Executive authority
fer the whole Union, and bound to regard tnr fs.s
ALL should be cons rainsd By sense OF duty 10 WIN
hold nv official sanction fIon any measure when
would conflict with these important Objects"
With rhsse views ne ardendY hoped hat ''is
county might again pass through he fearful or
deal which threatened il, and which alone threat
sLed 10 disturb her peace and harmony anti 10 in
lerrup. her course ot uheSampled growth and
prosperity.
No ACT ol his lie moIe sldkInely illustrated
his charac ef. No one can read his carefully
prepared papers on The sntJeci, anu doubt what
his own opinions were On The original qutsllor.
But The agitation OF the public mind had beer al
layed by measure OF compromise, The country
had acquicsced, ana in The spirit III practical
wisdom, and with feeling OF confidence in The
Justice and patriotism OF his coui tfymtn, an abb.
ding confidence that no oEe portion would persist
in injustice TO archer, he preferred 10 waive auy
asserlicn.oi extreme right, and again To resort 10
tried and approved principle 81 settlement. II
was in this SPIRIT he believed hat our consli-
tuition was adopted, aud BY lis Observance alone
il can be preserved.
Adopting as bis rule Of conduct in our inter-
course wi foreign nations 30 ask nothing that
was not right, AMI 10 submit 10 nothing 'hal was
wrong il was his happiness when he lai.l down
his high lrns, having hUnorably settled difficulties
OF momenlous impnIt, ~ leave his County al
peace with all lhe world
In the con ess Tor liberty, which convusrd
large portions Of Europe, he sudiously sought to
preserve our neutrality. YET he was not an in
different spectator OF The mighty struggle. lie
could moi consent To embroil his country III those
lransalla,ic war; nT in the internal affairs al oher
nations, but his beast filled with delight al The
sHccCss, or was depressed with sadness al The
reverses OF those no were struggling i"r T'edcm.
And he thought he saw, that the seeds were broad
~ sown which must ultimately prot.ucra harvest
Of universal civil aid religious liberty. lie has
not lived 10 witness the Contamination, hut Tie
great blessi7s should b.. accorded 10 the whole
human family.
1t was not alone in our foreign relations and
their incidents, that Mr. Folks administration
was marked by great events. 4 series ii meas
ures were adopted, whose influence, Tor good
or for EVIL, OH the operations OF the Govern"
incnt, the prosperity OF The States ard On The
business and labor Of The country, must be sen
Silly felt. ! can bu. refer 10 few of hem Is
cxpoucnls of lis character.
lie successfully AMI hunanely carird out
the policy of removing the Indian tribes TO
homes provided for them beyond the limits Of
the States. The Tariff was adjusted with
view to the legitimate objects oil the power " 10
lay aud collec, taxes. duties and imposls,' and,
under its opel aion, revenue has been increased,
while taxation was reduced; system wa, es>
,ablishcd for the collection, safe keeping aud
di, bursting ol the public revenues, by whoa tie
specie circulation of the country has been en-
lars.d without injuriously affecting the opera
tions II trade, and greater security and ayaa.
bility given TO The pubic money. The sales and
settlement OF The public lands were encouraged
Mail facilities and The benefits If the postal ct.
ransements al home aud abroad were greatly
enlarged at reduced cost to the peopie-and
ed goods without payment d duty until they
were brought into market ond entered Into The
consump lion of the C, unry.
Under The operation OF these measures, COM
merce and navigation have asonishingy iu>
creased -he national wealth and resources. b, cn
enlarged by the more rapid settlement and
cultivation oil new and rich ards The p!oiIc
OF agriculture admitted 10 more favorable mar
kcls abroad-uur increasing manufactures still
receive considerable Incidental advantage
facility has been given 10 communications be-
tween distant parts III The country. and The press
enab ed 10 e1crl more extensively lis eElishlen-
ing influences on the popular mind.
In all these measures, the character Of The man
was exhibited. With no agrarian disposition
TO invade capital himself A son 81 labor, he was
The opponent! Of monopoly and The ltiend vi labor,
in al lis loims-idcauhed wiz the people, h..
earnestly desired 10 Sc. them cpishenrd, and
The happy occupants of their own homes. Con.
tent with moderate competence. The lfnil Of
his own industry, he sought to establish The per-
maneni prosperity Of his cOunliymen 10 all The
pursuits OF business and labor, on the true pin.
cipcs OF political economy, without brneii,ine
one Al The expense OF another.
The distinguishing characteristic OF his miLd
vas sound practical judgment, and ne possessed.
in no ordinary degree, the hisn qualify rt moral
courage. la hi, communication, wEh Congress
h. boldly announced his opinions, and MAIN
I,ined The measures 10 carry them out. His sea
dy resistance vi The power IL appropriate money
Tor internal Improvements In the States hy the
federal g, velnmrn', is strong exempiihcaiivn 81
his character IN his respect; and :el h. ever lie
tened Patiently Ia The counses vi Others and
abandoned his own precoDceyed purposes. II his
judgment were satisfied lie vas, III large de-
gree tree from the pride OF opinion, and rarely
acud under excited feeling, which sometimes
sHals the judgment vi the WIsesI. Tough he may
not always have avoided It's inluence aud is.
calcd error.
HIS lrmatss rarely announced Il uhii1ary,
and he rot nnifeiaeGly acted in ceialn classes
oi questions, on notifications Of his own ui'n-
IONS in difference 10 others, AMI III view ui
superior pablic good. Take his conrs: on The
Oregon question as an example. LIS own "piD,
len was, that The American tI,lc l." l" "hu!. lei
rIofy was brilcf Than that o GIeal Britain. En
ne found negotiation penilna, pfocrrdinc IN
the basis Of The right Of each country IL a
p0rliun II the tl'!Itofy--la remembered that
his own government hi virtually cunct led
that right by repeatedly ciirt.ns TO G,sil.' he 'rf
rtory, and he found, that lhe Sen:'" II ih" Uni,
TED States, invested by lie Constitution ~ h,s
country with controlling influence IA The irtaiy
making power, WJS liv'i,dLr u Pa!lNiUH. u udcT
such circumstances h. would have shown great
want OF PRACTICAL wisdom, u he had refused ihr
peaceful adjustment Vi The long renirg question
and persisted in The assertion vi cxln me- Iishi,
even according IL his own opinion. whfn his
country va. 50 decidedly commilled trtolc lhr
world, on tc snbjeu lie had no fear I, 4 con-
test with any power on car in wiich The Ameri-
can people deemed their ighls or their honor in
volyed-bul he had The courage, and high Ccur-
age il was, TO ACT on modification OF bis own
opinion, although il bfough, upon him The ccn-
sure Of some, whom he highly esteemed
His conduct IN public and Priva'e atI,ifs was
always gogefned by integrity o purpose. No
sotdld or cotlup; motive ever iai enccd him.
However his counlymen may differ in opinion
about he vision or policy OF his measures, II
must hc universally acknowledged that liz was,
enphaicaly, man
"lntreer vns, seeIerls que purus."
In his PERSONAL habits, he vas remarkable lor
simpl city, temperance and liusaliiy. Nulwilh.
Standing his laboriops lie he enjoyed in a high
degree Inc charms vi social intercourse. lie was
not addicted % pleasures which waslei his time,
and he had no ces which neriered wiIk lie iu1I