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

'toth congress permanently in 1880,
when he was elected Governor of Ten.
nessee. But at The recurrence of The
election in 1s4l and ls43, although still
clung 10 as the champion of his party, his
competitor, Mr.. James c. Jones, on both
occasions prevailed.
II is enough, felow-cilizeps, to have
glanced thus briefly at the incidents of
this comparative seclusion. Unjust has.
ten to follow the quick fight of time, in
order to bring the lamented patriot once
more from the recesses Of bis happy home
into the blaze of his fame.
The nomination of Mr.. Polk for the
Chief Magistracy, in May, 1914, was, at
the moment, unforeseen, but far from un.
acceptable. There had suddenly arisen
question or point ofpolicy which quick.
ened the pulses and divided the senti.
ments of Democratic citizens. That
question, whose magnitude and urgency
were conceded, seemed for tho time 10
domineer over all other considerations.
The republican convention which Assem-.
bled at baltimore, swayed by resistless
and patriotic desire for The annexation of
Texas, withheld their choice from one on
whom it would otherwise have fallen, and
conferred il 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 ON
abrupt proceeding was dispellcd-the
ranks OF his party became serried aud
MIR. Folk, after On unusually animated
canvass between himself and MIR. CLAY,
YVES elected.
The powers confided by the constitution
OF the United States to the incumbent Of
the Presidential Office are large and inau.
ential. The manner in which they are
exercised never has failed, and never can
fail, greatly 10 affect, for good or for evil,
the contentment and interests of the peo-
pie, or the reputation and resources of tho
nation. Hence the immensi,y of the trust;
and hence the ynst reward Of gratitude
and renown bestowed on him who, AT the
end OF his term Of service, is discovered
10 have SO used his public functions as 10
leave his country tranquil, prosperous,
honored, and strong. This is, in fact,
the only standard which the ardcr Of our
political controversies suffers 10 remain
unquestionable. Governed by this stand
ard, fellow.citizens, and casting rapid
thought upon the condition of America,
tell me whether tho sepulchre ofthe late
President should not be hallowed by your
reverence and affection.
The glory Of every administration con-
centrntes upon its chief. He il is, and
he only, that the elective franchise has
lifted from the common level TO the Ex-
ectiye-,o carry with him into govern
ment 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
disgraced by failures, and to wear the
laurcls of success. Aided as he neces.
sarily must be by associates and agents Of
his own selection. the lustre of th, ir limi
tcdsphercs combines for the effulgence OF
his bonndless one; and brilliant as the
subordinate executions Of duty may be
everything is so consitulionally and es.
sentinlly dependent upon the offspring of
the popular suffrage, and his truth to his
mission, TINT he righlfully 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 impclled, the variously gifted
counselers Of the Cabinet. y = IS
The admission Of Texas Us State of
the Union, upon her acceptance of Ger.
tain terms, had been provided for by
joint resolutions Of Congress, passed but
three days before he took the oath of of.
flce; and nothing was left to be done bu,
TO expedite the proceeding, SO as to fore.
stall the perplexitics which might spring
from foreign intermeddling; anil TO make
such military arrangements as would
protect our new frontier from inroads.-
These duties were promptly and skilfully
discharged. The people Of Texas held
convention, remodeled their consti,u-
tion, submitted it to the inspection Of Con.
gress, and becnme, by law, an integral
part Of our confederaoy before the year
elapsed.
should deem it il-timed and mispla-
ced 10 trace tho causes, or to vindcate
the right and the expediency of this exten-
sion Of our Republic. Perhaps defeat
OF the Democratic party at the election in
the of 1914 would have discouraged and
thwarted that movement. Their success
on the contrary, proved how fixed hold
it had upon the popular judgement; and
recommended it to more legislative favor
than it before enjoyed. Certain it is, that
the incorporation took place only a afler the
will Of the American people, and the
sense Of the American Congress, had been
toetaJ Il 4 a..