The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-08

"''S" 'S vas cieClcu NO'eTnOT OF en-
nessee. But at the recurrence of the
election in ls4l and ls43, although still
clung TO as the champion of his party, his
competitor, Mr.. James C. Jones, on both
occasions prevailed.
1t is enough, fellow-ci,izens, to have
glanced thus briefly at the incidents of
this comparative seclusion. must has.
ten TO follow the quick flight Of time, in
order 10 bring the lamented patriot once
more from the rccesscs OF his happy home
into the blaze Of his fame.
The nomination Of Mr.. Polk for the
Chief Magistracy, in May, 1914, was, n,
the moment, unforeseen, but far from un
acceptable. There had suddenly arisen
q question or point ofPolicy which quick.
ened The pulses and divided The scnti.
ments of Democratic citizens. That
question, whose magnitude and urgency
were conceded, seemed for the time 10
domincer over all other considerations
The republican convention which assem-
bled at Baltimore, swaycd by resistIcss
and patriotic desire for the annexation of
Texas, withheld their choice from one on
whom it would otherwise have fallen, and
conferred it on one 10 whom it was Who'll
~ unexpected. The sterling merit and
substantial services ofthe candidate were
however speedily called TO mind-,he
hesitation inspired for an instant by an
abrupt proceeding was dispellcd-thc
ranks Of his party became serricd and
MIR. Folk, after an unusually animated
canvass between himself and Mr.. CLAY,
wGs elected.
The powers confidcd by the constitution
OF the United States to the incumbent Of
the Presidential Office are large and intlu.
entail. The manner in which they arc
exercised never has failed, and never can
fail, greatly TO affect, for good or for evil,
the contentment and interests Of the pco-
pie, or the reputation and resources of,hc
nation. Hence the mmensity Of the trust;
and hence the vast reward Of gratitude
and rcnown bestowed on him who, a, The
end OF his term Of service, is discovered
10 have so used his public functions as TO
leave his country tranquil, prosperous,
nonored, and strong. This is, in fact.
the only standard which the ardor Of our
political controversies suffers 10 remain
unqueslionabe. Governed by this stand.
ard, iellow-clizens, and casting rapid
thought upon the condition Of America,
tell me whether the scpulchrc cflhc late
President should mol be hallowcd by YOUR
reverence and affection
The glory Of every administration con
ccntrates upon lis chief. lie it is, and
he only, that the elective franchise has
lifted from the common level to the Ex-
eclivc-to carry with him into govern
mcnt the authority he has derived by that
process, accompanied by The instructions,
wishes, and principles Of his constituents;
to vivify, supervise, check, control; to be
dIsgraccd by failures, and 10 wear the
lnurcls of success. Aided as he ncces-
sarily mus, be by associates and agents of !
his own selection. the lustrc Of lh, ir lmi-
ted spheres combines for the ctlulgcnce OF
his bonndlcss one; and brilliant as the
subordinate executions Of duty may be
everything is so conslitulionallv and cs.
sentIally dependent upon the offspring Of
the popular suffrage, and his truth to his
mission, that he righ,fully bears the palm
achieved by united excellence. The
American people will hereafter rank
among the most effective achievements Of
the late President, the discrimination with
which he chose, and the wisdom with
which he ilnpcllcd, the variously gifted
counscllcrs Of the Cabinet. x
The admission of Texas as State of
the Union, upon her acceptance Of GER
tam terms, had been provided for bv a
JOINT resolutions of Congress, passed but
three days before he took the oath of Of
hcc; and nothing was left 10 be done but
to expedite the proceeding, so as to fore
stall the pcrplcXitics which might spring
from foreign intcrmcdding; and to make
such military arrangements as would
protect our new frontier from inroads.-
hese duties were promptly and skilfully
discharged. The people of Texas held
Il convention, rcmodclcd their consti,u-
ton, submitted ii to the inspection Of Con-
grcss, and became, by law, an integral
part of our con(cdcracy before the year
elapsed.
should deem it ill-,imcd and mispla.
ccd to trace the causes, or To vindica,e
the rig ght and The cxpcdicncy of this cxtcn.
sion our Republic. Perhaps u dcfca,
OF the Democratic party at the election in
the OF lS4i would have discouraged and
thwared that movement. Their success
on The contrary, proved how fixed a hold
It had upon the popular judgement; and
recommended il TO more Legislative favor
than It before enjoyed. Certain it is, that
the incorporation took place only after the
Will OF tho American people, and the
sense Of the American Congress, had been
tested and recorded ngreeably to the forms
of the American Constitutions; and ,ha,
every national fnnclionary, especially the
PreSidcnt, who cmphnticnllv MsLnX A,Er