The North-Carolina standard., 1849-08-29
EULOGY

Commemorative of the Life and Public services of Er-
President Polk, dehUered before the citizens of Neso-
barn, July Is, lS49:
By GEORGE s. STEVENSON, Esq.
We have assembled, Fellow Citizens, to contem-
+e the life and death of distinguished individual.
\ Rn Yesterday, James X. Polk filled the highest sta
/ ron TO which an American can aspire. To-day, he
i seps in the grave. And upon his memory rests the
H bsn6r of being mourned by the nation. And we,
rlov Citizens, have surrounded ourselves with the
mbems of sorrow, have chanted the funeral anthem,
/ and now share with all Americans the mela ncholy
easure of commemorating the virtues of great and
nod son of the Republic. Those emotions of admi-
gon for eminent abilities and virtues, and of grief
l Il the loss the country has sustained. in which we
y indulge, are honorable to ourselves and give the
,,ongest assurance of healthy public sentiment.
I've need dread those vices which destroy nations,
% long the memory of our patriots are green In the
Rsars of the people. For who shall falter in the
rvce of the republic, while his eye is fixed those
/ Itr spirits, who have marked for the path of
l nrbic duty, and led the way9
The men, whose examples are most powerful for
rood or evil, and who impress most deeply their
5aracers upon the age in which they live, those
who preside the destinies of nations. They are
! city set upon hill. And happy, most happy, is
that nation whose rulers examples of public virtue
and integrity. And in country like ours where the
chief gstrate is chosen by the people, he reflects
me character of the whole nation, and is the embodl
mnt of the people themselves; therefore in his great
ness and fame each citizen has right to share Who
shall check our emOtlOnS OF PROUD eXultauOn as
wp point the world to that brilliant constellation of
7snjus virtue, and patriotism-the American pres-
! dents With these great men is numbered James
K Polk, and his name will be forever written upon
hat immortal catalogue, which begins with WASH
i7rton And as these great have one bv one
Alien by death, grateful people gathered around
he graves. and with appropriate honors, canoniZed
their memories. Greece, with beautiful superstition
elevated TO the Heavens her immortal heroes; and
riJbtlv is the starry dome swelled above her, she
. IL. ,6nTn nod afar nc
superstition has passed, but not the desire to honor
the mighty dead. They still shine in the armament
of the hearts of mankind And to him, whose funeral
cbsequies we now celebrate, history will assign
ofiy place amid those stars, that illuminate the path
Eay of nations. Though dead, he still lives. He
lives in the gratitude of free people, not slow in
pprecating WORTH hasty in suffering its reniem-
4 bance to decay. His will live on in the annals
Of MS country and will be forgotten only when the
memory of the Republic itself shall perish.
James Knox Polk was born in Mecklenburg coun-
4 r in this State, Nov. 2, A. d. 1875. His family
1 we're cf Irish origin They were among the early
/ Immigrants to this country, and many OF them were
Distinguished patriots during our revolutionary strug
gle The birth and name of Mr.. Polk is intimately
connected with the proudest and most renowned In
dient in the history of North Carolina-the Meek
enburg declaration of independence-those venerated
rsoluons, which none of US can hear mentioned,
without lust and honorable emotions of State-prde.
When the colonies trembed on the verge OF the rev.
cntonary crisis and men like Adams and Jefferson
paused ere they crossed the Rubicon that divides
oyatv from rebellion, the citizens of Mecklenburg
ired with holy enthusiasm, met In the town OF
Charlotte and stating their countrys wrongs with
manly eloquence, declared her Independence of the
British crown. Among these brave and determined
sons of our native State, whose names should be
vrtten in cold, were COL Thomas Polk, DR.. Ephraim
Breyard and the Alexandes-a relatives Of the late
President. How little did these celebrated men
ream of the greatness that was to be added to their
aame that near the spot where Americans first pro-
4 Ioxl4 chn nnld hn
born one from their own family, who, half century
aierwards, should preside with distinguished ability
over the nation they had just declared tree' when
she had grown In strength, her genius and power tet
and respected by the world, and her sway extended
from the Atlantic to the golden sands of the Pacl6c
And thus upon this fortunate county OF Mecklenburg
tests the to-fold honor, of having been foremost IN
the doubtful and dangerous career OF the reVolutlon
and the first to give TO the Republic native North
Caronian who presided over It's counclls Win such
marked ability and success.
In 1906 the father of Mr.. Polk removed with his
family to the state of Tennessee. And thus, the sub
ect Of our Eulogy became identified with the pioneers
Of the West, body of men PToiIhc OF great MINDS
Born in North Carolina Mr.. Polk returned here to
. receive his education. He entered our University
| in 1915, being then In his twentieth year. His
academical career distinguished AT each ex-
animation he bore off the highest honors. He was
remarkablv punctual in the discharge of every duty,
and finally graduated in the year 1918 with the first
distncton both in the mathematics and the classics
college he laid the foundation of his future great
ness and exhibited those traits of character, that
persevering energy, that indomitable march, slow
but firm, which gave origin to the prophecy that ne
would attain high station in life. He belonged to
that class of young men, who rely not upon that un-
certain briancy of mind which some men call ge-
MUS but are content to labor and toll slowly up the
rugged pathway that leads to knowledge, adopting
as their motto that beautiful sentiment of Horace
tsNil sine magno -..
Vita lahore dedit mortaibus."
From the university he returned to Tennessee, where
be commenced the study of the Law In the othee OF
the late Felix Grundy. After the usual term OF pre-
paaton he was in 1920 admitted to this profession,
the great vestbule to the political arena, and through
which have passed nine of the eleven presidents OF the
United States. His talents for business soon COM
handed an extensive practice BUTT was notlong be-
lore he left the forum, to enter upon the more stormy
Career of politics In 1923 he was elected to seat In
the Legislature of Tennessee He for two success
sVe years member Of this body, where his ability
debate, and promising talents soon gave him repu'
htion During the session Of 1891 he gave evI.
dence of the direction his political course would
lake, by uniting himself with those, who called that
enowned chieftain Andrew Jackson from his retire
Sent, and elected him to the Senate OF the United
States 1zsa-, oEe,I SO
In August 1926, being then in his thiFtieth year
mr. Polk was elected member of Congress. io
s post he brought those fundamental principles oy