The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-10


well as north Of the parallel OF 80 degrees 80 minutes
viii cease be acomPromse, and must be regarded as an
He suggested as proper modes OF adjusting the ques
hon, the adoption OF the Missouri line OF compromise
or nonnteherenee with the subject leaving 70 inc peo
pie who may inhabt the territories the formation Of neli
domestic institutions, the reference TO the judicial
tribunals OF the legal and constitutional questions as 10
the rights OF those migrating TO me territories w'nou'
any act of Congress declaratory OF those rights or
!" Some other equitable compromise, which would re-
spect the rights of AL and prove satisfactory 10 the ainei
And in his message which accompanied the oregon
bill, he declared that
Holding sacred trust the Executive authority ioT
should bs oons%aned by q duty 20 Withhold my
official sanction from any measure which would CONNECT
with these important objects
With these views he ardently hoped that his country
might again pass through the fearful ordeal which threat
ened it, and which alone threatened to disturb her peace
and harmony and to interrupt her course OF unexamped
No act OF his lie more strikingly illustrated his char
acer No read his carefully prepared papers on
the subject and doubt what his own opinions were on
the original question But the agitation OF the public
mind had been aayed by measure OF compromise the
country had acquesced and in the spirit OF practical
wisdom. and with feeling OF confidence in the justice
and patriotism of his countrymen, abiding confidence
that portion would persist IN injustice TO another
he preferred to waive any assertion OF extreme right and
ment in this spirit he believed that our constilu-
ton was adopted and by its observance alone It can be
preserved
Adopting as his rule of conduct in our intercourse with
foreign nations .to ask nothing thai was not right and
to submit TO nothing that was wrong was his happi-
ness when he laid down his high trust having honoraby
country at peace with all the world.
In the contests for liberty which conyulsed large por-
U . Of Ss
mighty struggle. He could not consent 10 embrol his
country in those trans Atlantic wars, in the internal
affairs OF other nations but his heart filled with delight
the w the
Of those who were struggling for freedom And he
thought he that the seeds were broadly sown which
must ultimately produce harvest OF universal civil and
religious liberty He has not lived to witness the
summation but the constant absorbing wish Of his heart
that this great blessing should be accorded to the
was not alone in our foreign relations and their Incl
dents that Mr. Folks administration was marked by great
events. series Of measures were adopted whose infu
ence, for good or for evil the operations OF The gov
ernment the prosperity OF the States and the business
and labor OF the country, must be sensiby felt can
but refer TO few OF them as opponents OF his character
He successfully and humanely carried 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 jecs of the pow
o lay and collect taxes, duties, and imposts" and
under It's operation, revenue has been increased while
taxation reduced; system was established for the
collection, saekeepng and disburslny OF the public
by which the specie circulation of the country has
been enlarged without iBlurousy affecting the opera
tons Of trade and greater security and availability given
to the public money The sales and settlement OF the
public lands encouraged Mail facilities and the
benefits of the postal arrangements at home and abroad
were greatly enlarged at ruduced cost to the people,
and warehouses established 10 receive imported
goods without payment of duty until they brought
into market and entered into the consumption OF the
country.
Under the operation of these measures commerce and
navigation have astonlshingly ncrased--the national
wealth and resources been enlarged by the more rapid
settlement and cultivation OF and rich landslide
products OF agriculture admitted to favorable mar
kets abroad-our increasing manufactures still receive
considerable INCIDENTAL advantagefaeity has been given
TO communications between distant parts OF the country
and the press enabled TO exert extensively its
tightening influences on the popular mind
In all these measures, the character of the
exhibited. With no agraran disposition TO invade CAPT
tai, himself son OF labor ne was the opponent OF mo.
nopoy and the friend Of labor in all il forms-identfed
with the people, he earnestly desired 60 see them
ghiensd and the happy occupants q iheir own homes
own industry, he sought TO establish the pefntnen pros
perty Of his counyhen in all the pursuits Of business
and labor, the principles OF political economy,
without beneftng at the expense OF another.
The distinguishing characteristic Of his mind sound
practical Judgment and he possessed in no ordinary de-
gree the high quality of moral courage. In ais commu-
ncations with Congress he boldly announced his opn.
IONS and maintained the measures 10 Cart them out
His steady resistance OF the power TO appropriate money
for internal improvements in the States By he federal
government, strong exemphcation OF hn character
in this respect and yet he ever listened PATIENTLY 10 the
counses OF others, and abandoned his own Prconceved
purposes, il his judgment were satisfied. he was, IN
large degree free from the pride OF opinion, and rarely
acted Under excited feeling which sometimes sways the
judgment OF the wlsest though he may not always have
avoided its influence and escaped error.
His rmness rarely amounted TO obstinacy and he not
unfrequenty acted in certain classes OF questions
notifications Of his opinions in deieenc TO others
and in view OF superior public good Take his course
on the Oregon question an example. His own opin.
ion that the American title 10 the whee territory
was better than that OF Great Britain But lie found
negotiation pending, proceeding the basis the tight
OF each country to portion OF the tertory-he remem.
bered that his own government had virtually conceded
that right by repeatedly offering TO divide the territory
and he found that the Senate OF the United States in
vested by the constitution OF his county wth control
ling influence in the treaty making power was favorable
TO partition. Under such circumstances, he would have
fused the peaceful adjustment OF the long pending ques-
ton and persisted in the assertion Of extreme right
according TO his opinion, when his country
decidedly committed before the world on the subject He
had no fear OF contest with any power on earth, in
which the American people deemed Sheir rights their
honor involved; but he had the courage-and high
courage il was--to act a modification OF his own
opinion although il brought upon him the censure OF
some whom he highly esteemed.
His conduct in public and private affairs was always
governed by integrity OF purpose. No sordid corrupt
motive ever influenced him However his countrymen
may differ in opinion about the wisdom policy OF his
measures, il must be universally acknowledged that he
was, emphaticaly, man
"Intsger rita, scsleris que purr,s.'
In his personal habits he remarkable for simpci
ty, temperance, and frugaly Notwithstanding his la
borious life, he enjoyed in high degree ae charms OF
social intercourse. He not addicted 10 pleasures
which wasted his tme and he had vices which insr
fered with the full development and exerci Of his
ul faculties. Without any effort 70 appeAsa man Of
fashion, In his intercourse with high functionaries and
he