The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-26
A Visit TO the Late President Polk.

| a WISH 10 the Iatc PRESIDENT FOik
Dr. Dixon, a distinguished clergyman of the Wes-
leyan denomination in England, visited this coun-
try last year as the representative in the General
Conference of the Methodist Church in this country.
| On his return he published volume called Meth
odism in America Among the personal parts of
| the narrative is the following account of call
upon Presiden, Polk. The surprise of the reverend
| gentleman that government can be carried on with
out pomp show, the trappngs that are relied upon
to make monarchy respected by the vulgar, is too
naturally expressed to be affected and exhibits the
| force of associations upon intelligent minds dis
| posed TO be candid
PRESIDENT PoLK.-We fastened to the Pres
dents to if we could gain access, TO be favored
| with all interview with the first Magistrate of the
republic. On arrival met with black
| man, the only servant of the President we saw;
| and on asking whether it would be possible TO OBJ
| tain interview, he said he saw no difficulty in
| the case, but would inquire. He went with Mr..
| Steers compliments, and soon returned with mes
sage that the President would be very happy to see
| US. We were ushered not into drawing room or
| state apartment but into business Office with
desks. papers, pens, ink bundles of stale papers,
and books on business And there stood to receive
us, to shake us by the hand, 10 bid US welcome,
the chief of the greatest republic if the greatest
state. in the world. He accosted us very kindly
and babe us be seated, at the same time resumng
his own chair.
My embarrassment left me in moment. had
felt little trepidaon at the idea of being brought
into contact with a man so high in station. His
demeanor, however soon GissIpated this feeling.
There was no state etiquette observed, ceremo-
MES but such common courtesy demanded and
might be performed by the planest person no
court dress, cooked hat, no sword and sash, no
bowling the knee. no kissing of hands, and more
over, peer of the realm or officer of the court
necessary, 10 gain an introduction black boy, to
obtain his masters a,sen; and TO show US the way,
seemed all that was expected. With our European
notions, this did not really look like introduce
ton to the head of mighty nation. Truly this
American repubicanisrn must either be considered
great retrogression into the ages of social sim
plicity, when shepherds and farmers left their ocks
and plOughs TO command armies and govern states,
and then returned TO their avocations or else it
must be considered stretch into the future,
the anticipation of something TO come, the model
of perfectly new order of things. 1t is most as
suredly not identical with what has been and con-
tinues to be in the Old World. Is this simplicity
agreeable 10 nature, to common sense, to the truth
of things! l confess these questions puzzled me
at the time, and continue still to puzzle me. There
is fascination-a charm, about royalty, greatness,
courts, presentation, and all the embroidery con-
nected with these things, which makes 1t difficult
for to think that there is no reality in them,
that they can be done without. So much of power,
of influence, of government, have stood connected
with the old names and insignia of thrones and
courts, thai many of us cannot dispOssess our minds
of the idea that there is great USE though We may
not know how, in these external Accomplishments
of states.
Here, then, we were, four Methodist preachers
and enc merchant, snugly ensconsced in govern
ment Office sort of counting house, with Presi-
dent Polk one of the greatest men, by position, in
the world Who could forget some of the docu-
ments which had issued from this centre of power,
this heart of American diplomacy! DEGREES had
been framed here which had thrilled throug the
l. al.
mighty pal pitatons of heart, and convulsve throes.
Who could forget some of President Folks own
messages" directed from this very desk, and
ried probably by the black boy to their destinations
The policy and messages of this very President
have produced strange emotions They once filled
Great Britain, if not with CONSERVATION, yet, at
any rate, with indignation; they put the Para-
ment of England into a ferment, and called forth
the impassioned eloquence of men of all parties;
they made it expedient to employ the diplomatic |
skill of Lord AstburtoD, esteemed at the time
of the most sagacious peers of the realm; they led
TO treaties but little relished and much condemned
by some of the best sons of the British empire |
and they resulted in the political exaltation, strength
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of America. Some of these |
messages, moreover, moved the military forces of
the republic by land and sea, to the invasion of |
Mexico; to the victories o. Taylor and Scott; to |
the spelling of feeble people, and led 10 the |
nexaon to the States of territory but little, if at
all, inferior to the whole of Europe These are |
some Oh the ELECTS produced ny tue uecresS sent
forth from this place, with the signature of this
plain little Things not then TO he estl- |
mated by the appearance. The room Is common, |
but it is the centre of mighty forces the President
appears destitute of the forms of majesty, but pos
sesses its reality; the missiles lying about are not
artillery, swords and helmets, but they move, they /
shake the world.
And what of President Polk himself! He is |
small of stature, and the opposite of corpulenf.
There is somewhat of a cadavarOus and American
boz, h,p h,. 4ho,,,
tative, and slow and measured in his speech. A
thin face is surmosnted by fine brow, and his
features indicate great decision and unconquerable
frmness. President Folks demeanor is perfectly
simple his conversation natural and easy, his dress
plain, after the American fashion, and his whole
contour irresstibly reminds one of the venerable
Purians In the course of a heightened converse
tiOn besides the matters relating to the Chartiss.
the lrish and other general questions, two three
points of great consideration were introduced.
Some one having mentioned the necessity Of Ameri-
can Intervention in the. affairs of Yucatap, IN
agreement with the Presidents message of the
morning, it added, '' if we do not interfere
some one of the European powers will;' referring
to England. The President promptly remarked
. but We will not let Them" and then added, Sc we
do not NEEDLE in European affairs and we will not
allow them to intermeddle in American Here is
a political axiom for Lord John Russell and his
Successors in Office to mediate upon difficulty to
sove James Monroe's principle of &c America for
dent Polk. 1t was. indeed, no mystery before; it
had been proclaimed in many of his state docu-
NESTS, and was here unequivocally asserted. Well,
but Canada and the British provinces! These are
in America, they constitute portion of its terri
tory, they are in possession of an independent
power; and this presupposes political rights ard
dnties on the part of Great Britain. Does the fact
that these possessions are colonies, and not indie
pendent states deprive the parent of the right
to interfere in general questions! This seems TO be
the notion, the dogma, assumed. Time must solve
this point. 1t was also said by some one respect
ing the Mexican war. that the American armies
might as well have finished the work of conquest
and taken the entire country, as they would eer-
tainly possess it some day. To this the President
replied, " All! but the apple is not yet ripe"
SO Not yet ripe!'' Who does not see the meaning
of this! When it is "ripe" it will fall The
black boy came to announce his masters dinner;
we made our bows, shook hands and parted.
n5- Horace Smith, lately candidate for the
in Garrard county, Ky, has Withdrawn