Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-11-30
Enlory ON Es-preslsens, POLK.

Eulogy ON E4-Presidens Polk,
We publish the concluding portions of the eloquent
eulogy on the late President PORK delivered in
Nashville, Tenn, on the 1stinstant, by A. O. P.
NicHoIsos, Esq: =
In glancing the eye over the eventfu1 administra-
ton of President Polk, the mind is arrested by two
features in it, which stand out in bold relief-the
Mexican war and the immense accessons OF territory
| to our national domain. I 81 IN E.A1,IfI i
Need stop to calculate or measure the amount of
national glory won by our gallant armies the bat
tle-felds of Mexico? The voice of astonished
world has already pronounced our eulogium. What
corner Of the EARTH what isle of the ocean is SO
remote that it has not heard of Monterey-of Buena
Yista-of Vera Cruz-of Cerro Gordo-of Contreras
f-of Chapu1tepec Moline del Rey! Each one Of
these names is tower of strength Respondent with
the halo of victories, which the eyes of free
dom,s votaries throughout the world are gazing with
lon admiration, whilst tyrants everywhere look
upon them and tremble. They are so many lofty
4 bulwarks of national defence whose bright beacon
fires proclaim to crowned heads that sacred honor
can never be insulted with impunity, The exhibit
tons of moral and physical power displayed by our
countrymen have dispelled delusion under which
! foreign powers had long abored. They were ready
! to concede that on our soil and in defence of
our homes and family affairs power could set in
vason at defiance but they denied to the capaci-
ty the willingness toredress wrongs to avenge
insults and to indicate national honor by seek
ing our enemies and meeting danger in foreign
land. Heneeforth they will concede that, although
we patient long suffering people, slow to anger
and devoted to peace, yet, that in indicating
national honor, power is as terrible in prosecu
j ting as in resisting an invasion.
This conviction, fastened upon the foreign mind by
the memorable events of the Mexican war; will in
future constitute shield and bucklern against
insult aggression, more eectual than strong
walls or frowning battlements. AS the mind of the
patriot runs the long catalogue of glorious
| anhI onnfS haaf 70 and
n stronger devotion to his country and his bosom
swels with loftier pride in being American cit
zen. He feels that in all the elements of national
strength, national grandeur, and national glory his
country stands upon elevation which it never be-
fore occupied Whilst he sheds tear to the memo
= ry of the gallant dead, whose bones mouldering
in distant land, his heart overfows with gratitude
to the patriotic wisdom of the statesman, and to the
heroic courage and chivary ofthe officers and soldiers
e who accomplished so much for their country.
But this is more than the beginning of our ma
Onal destinythe rosy tnts of the early dawn,
bespeaking the transcendent eulgenee of the rising
sun of day. When Mr. Polk assembled the executive
chair, the march of freedoms empire westward was
4 bounded by the Rocky mountains. There sat the
genius of Liberty on the craggy summit of this lofty
e battement OF nature, gazing down upon the broad
Pacific, and anxious to battle her feet in its smooth
and peaceful waters. To the northwest lay Oregon.
subject only to the laws of savage Indians and of
usurping Britons. To the southwest lay New Next
and California in which Mexican despotism main
taneda precarious dominion over the semi barbarOus
tribes of mixed nations To the southeast Law Texas
where freedom had erected her altar, but where
Mexican infatuation threatening to carry indis
criminate destruction and determination. Four years
i roll away and how changed the scene By the magic
operation of two treaties these four empires of terri
l, tory are born into the republican family What an
acquisition Give wings to your minds and trace
around its boundaries. See it extending along the
Gulf of Mexico from the Sabine to the Rio del Norte
n then westward spanning the continent, and look
fho ooiH ,rb
of north latitude embracing the entire western slope
of the Rocky mountains, and encircling with an EN-
s. pire of wealth and power the mouth of the grea
!, Mississippi! Throughout this vast region nature
has deposited in abundance the means of agricultu
raj mineral and commercial wealth, but there they
were vaueless for the great purposes for which Coo
e created them until they were brought within the in
huence of the enterprise and industry of free PEG
pie under the wise policy of our late illustrious
i President Already the tide of emigration quicken
,e ed by the miraculous accounts of mineral wealth
t. which reach us by every arrival has commenced th
o work of peopling and retaining this immense terri
g tory. We may we'll pause to look with astonshmen
Is upon our stupendous structure of republicanism
le when this vast empire shall be filed with indus
j. trous population when its unbounded shall
T. be developed when State after State shall hav
as knocked and received admttance into Union I'm
til our mighty republic shall present the grand spec
TO tacle of confederacy of sovereign States spannn
rs the continent from ocean to ocean What natio
at upon the face of the earth will then dispute pre-
NJ emlnence IN moral and physical power, IN natlOna
grandeur and happiness!
al But the picture of our national destiny is not We
IN fully drawn In securing the long line of Pacif
of coast, with its noble harbors President Polk ha
n snatched the sceptre of commerce from the Old Wor
and transferred it to the New. He has laid the foun
to dalton of total revolution in the trade Of the world
" Henceforth command the wealth of the Pacif
10 and Indian oceans. He has procured the key tina
f will unlock the boundless treasures of the East
or When the indomtahle perseverance and enterpris
he of countrymen shall have connected the Atanti
with the Pacific by railroad communication, Gan
he who now doubts such connexion y we become a
W. masters of the of the world Our pc
: stion will insure to virtual monopoly of the vas
d. oriental trade, and in all ages this trade has carrie
t. along with it wealth and dominion.
A distinguished statesman of our country has ira
ced its history and value with anseloquence whic
~ cannot but excite admiration Look at its
~ cient channels and the cities which it raised int
kingdoms, and the population which upon it's treas
III became Respondent in science learning and tn
W arts. Tyre, Sidon, Balbeck Palmyra, Alexandra;
:. among its ancient emporiums attest the power
i' this commerce to enrich to aggrandze and to Ell
i Tighten nations COnstantnople in the middle age
nd and in the time of the Crusades was the wonder
g Western Europe; and all because she was then
H. thoroughfar of Asiatc commerce. Genoa and VI
To- NICE cities, in latter time became the match
a. kingdoms and the envy of kings from the mere div
W ded streams of this of which they becan
the thoroughfare Lisbon had her day. and Porting;
iii her pre-emnence during the little while that tt
Of discovery of the Cape of Good Hope put her in
be munication with the East Amsterdam, the city
little territory rescued from the sea- and the SIEVE
United Provinces not equal to of lesser State
nd became great in arms in letters in wealth and poV
CIV er-and all upon the East India trade And Londc
of what makes her the commercial mistress of Il
world! What makes Island no larger than OIL
-Aala1, e IL