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

up The measure OF his duties, and he has earned
poudest conqueror whose triumphal professions are
graced with the captive presence oil imperial rivals, or
who comes with the spoils OF nations back"
The most nfallibe test Of human capacity aud worth
is sudden elevation great success man, raised TO
height above his powers the creature OF dis
proporoned to his merits will inevitably reel and fall
from the one with the very yddiness OF hls own inca;
paciy prove by his gaceess and perverted abuse oil
the other, bis utter unworhiness. Behold Mr.. Polk
ending the brilliant OF the American statesman in
the consummaton OF the highest dignity upon earth !
and al an age when the foremost in The race begin only
TO look at the splendid goal OF their ambition, gracefully
retiring from an administration conducted with consum,
mate ability and distinguished with series Of splendid
and important events which make not in the his
tory Of his country alone but in the rapid and accelerated
march OF human progress!
Il would be invidous TO compare Mr.. Polk with other
great statesmen OF our counryeither the gifted and
distinguished living, or the hallowed and ilustous dead
but that can be no ordinary man who has been among
the foremost always, and often first upon every arena OF
generous rivalry upon which he has entered, from the
least TO the highest goal OF honorable ambition Ii may
very fairly be question between the merits Of the pa
riots who conspicuous in our earlier history and
the virtue and ability OF the statesmen who called 10
administer the government at the present day. when both
the form and the scope OF its operation have been greatly
extended and the difficulties and responsibilities proper
tionaily increased
The distinguishing feature OF Mr. Folks character was
integrity OF purpose and whatever difference Of opinion
may exist upon the question OF the wisdom and exped
ency of his policy, question which time only ade
quatey decide there but voice to the purity OF
his motives and the single minded honesty OF his inten
tons Even the opponents OF his course, that death
has both haowed the ashes OF the dead and chastened
The feelings oil the living agSee that a the ends he
aimed ar were his counirys good happiness, and honor
OF all the points OF strongly marked character the
most interesting, and by no means the least important,
intact moral purity of life for which he
markable, and which invested him with native dignity
far superior 10 all the prestige of official conseq uence
In this respect Mr. Polk had no supero and this is no
light praise. GREATNESS and guilt too often aled;"
and his exception TO what il is sad to say, is
the general rule of public characters We too often hear
asserted that this consideration should be brought
into the estimate OF public but the truth is thai in
government like ours, i should be the very first and
guaranty for the faithful and efficient discharge OF repre-
sentative duty 1t is the Indispensable requisite of pr
yae responsibility and it becomes the hroned monarch
better than his crown"
1t on the 18th day of June last at his residence in
the city OF Nashville, after brief illness and with those
around him whose presence smooth even dying pill
low, that Mr. Polk gave his honors to the world again,
bis blessed part to Heaven, and slept in peace" He "od
the ways OF glory, and sounded all the depths and shoals
OF honor' but to add greater honors his than
man could give him, he died fearing God" Although it
comparatively but little while before his death that
he received the holy communion, and made formal pro-
fession OF the religion of Saviour, yet the whole
and tenor Of his life evnced the ruling principle OF
Christian sentiment His death was in consonance
with his life. His life was honored and distinguished /;
and dwell upon il with just pride and satisfaction
glory OF all the rest and upon which the mind and heart
Of bsreaped affection delight 10 doe, the closing
scene Of all ns dying hour In the las, closing hSu
IRON the dissoying ruins OF its earthly tabernacle
when we witnessed the painful and humbiiag exhib
ton Of human weakness fulfilling the dread appoint
ment OF mortal destiny then, too, had the unuttera
BILE JOY, the unspeakable satisfaction, of beholng the
glorious triumph of that faith which "would moi live
Away and The inspired strength Of that hope which is
mourn the departure OF such as he Though cut of
while yet in lie vgor Of his manhood and the very
prime OF his intellectual power the harvest OF glory had
been gathered; the highest point OF his earthly
had been attained The crowning honor oil honorable
and chastened ambition had been worthiy won grace
fully worn; cheerfuly, proudly resigned Suppose his
days had been heightened, even beyond the ordinary
span Of mortal appointment; what more had fame for
him! What additional glory could he have achieved TO
adorn the 'cose of his day. the calm OF bis night p
Infinitely better thus to die in the calm serenity OF
conscious resignation, and the inspired strength OF re
gous hope, with all his blushing honors thick upon
hum than 10 exhibit the melancholy aud familiar
spectacle OF nsatae love OF distinction, which would
consent ngonousy to descend the ladder OF its aborous
and difficult ascent, rather than 10 bow graceful retire
from the topnos round of its highest aspirations
Better far better, thus quietly and calmly TO dismiss the
spirit 10 IFS native home, Will reason, "ihat heaven
lighted lamp"is radiant and supreme; than that ii should
darkly and unconscousy wing Its fight from the toer.
ing heplessness of age-the gloomy in6rmiy Of those
eyil days." when all is lost but the OF desolaon
Rather, II IL must be, the sudden extinction of noont1e
strength, than the fading twilight of lingering inhty
which, like the wood that grows precious in burnns,"
gives all the fragrance OF the heart TO the fire OF af
fiction, than TO live on, the relic OF broken ties, the
perannuaed monument of loneliness and grief. THAT
lie not too short which has accomplished its highest
destiny; that spirit may not nger here which is purified
for immortality!"
Such is brief review Of the life and character and
public services OF James Knox Polk. We may feel a
Just and patriotic PRIDE IN comparing him with the great
and good Of our or other Countries The pageanry
OF royal appointment, the bauble OF crown, the pup.
pet OF title, would have been but the superluous and
cumbrous trappings OF Fictitious imporance-an
substantial and tansloy glitter that could only detract
from The simple grandeur aud elevated dignity Of char.
acier which bore the impress OF Gods mobility! the
stamp and seal OF ndhue majesty
With James Knox Polk the business OF life is finished !;
lis and its joys its hopes and its fears all
now. The last OF all this troubled drama has
ended lie has gone TO his account and he has PASSED
forever away from earth but he lives still in the cher.
lshed remembrance of a generous friendship--n the
broken hearted and dsconsoale anguish OF ridoUed df
tteionj and he will live forever in the Immortality OF
vruous fame