The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-04-07
The late President His public
uH and priyate, Life. rH

IA ~ ~ iOnCtbOh oRSA NsS ~sS~ASS ~
revelry, says an exchange, which com
memorated the advent Of the whig par
.Ity to power, it is refreshing TO turn 20
the private history of the members OF
the administration that has just closed.
Whilst Mr.. Folk held the reins of Gov
ernment little but abuse could find place
in the columns of Wing newspaper.
Since his retirement returning sense
of Justice seems TO have demanded that
"a more just coloring should be given to
the public acts and private life OF the
late President.
A writer in the New York Journal
of Commerce, who witnessed the clos.
log scenes of the late administration.
and the advent Of General Taylor TO
power, gives sketch OF them, and
among his reflections are the following,
which we find quoted in the Baltimore
Sun: ~
81 do not wonder that Mr.. Polk ap-
peared so happy. /. must oe grea.
relief to get clear of the huge burden
which he has had to bear as President,
and be alio we'd 10 retire to the walks OF
private life. His term of administra-
ton has been most eventiul one, and
his name will stand more prominently
on the pages ofhistory than that Of any
other President we have thus far had,
with the single exception OF General
Washington. He has been a singular.
ly fortunate man-if | may use the
language which men are SO much in the
habit Of employing with reference to
such matters. During his term Of four
wears the annexation Of Texas was
consummated. the vexed question OF
the Northern boundary of Oregon was
settled, and the large provinces OF
New Mexico and California were
added to the United States as the re-
suit of war that might possibly have
been postponed few months or prob,
ably few years, but which was in my
humble opinion inevitable, however
deplorable the alternative war that
was carried on with astonishing vlgor
and unparalleled success, and tor the
most part with as much humanity as Il!
is possible to carry on war. The wr.
ter OF this letter, as you well know
Messrs. Editors, was far enough from
voting for Polk & Dallas, and has ever
deplored the occurrence Of the Mexican
war, las he would every other wary and
has always said that If the war must be
waged, he would have wished that 1t
night have been precipitated by the
Mexicans invading what was lndIspu.
tably Texas, instead Of marching to
the Rio G.unde- although he thought
that to be far from sufficient pretext
for doing what they did-yet he has no
SOFT of sympathy with those men who
would deny to Mr.. Polk all claims to a
high minded patriotism. and desire to
do his duty TO his country as far as he
could ascertain it. He has no sort OF
sympathy with those men who have Tor
four years been ascribing to him every
corrupt motive which they could
think Of.
Mr.. Polk certainly has his weakness
and did often permit his par,iallties for
some individuals and his antlpathies Tor
Others, to do some things which were in.
furious to the public interests and dis
honorable to himself-especially in the
conduc, of the Mexican war. But take
his administration all in all, it was as
honest, as pure. as Just, as eficlent-!o
say The least of it-as any that preced.
ed it, with the exception perhaps Of
General Washington's. He had his
counsel and all Of an able cabinet; but
there was no man in his cabinet ADLER
than himself, whatever his enemies
NAV say 10 the contrary. He is a plain
unassuming man, Of cold and ungainly
manner; but is not withstanding man
Of grea. decision and frmness OF char.
ucter, and Of far more than ordinary
talents. He may have made some Sc
rious mistakes, and many small ones,
but his administration has been in the
main remarkable for its efficiency and
its wisdom.
As to personal character, Mr.. Polk
is far superior TO most of the twelve
Presidents we have had. He is man
of unimpeachable private life.
He is no gambler, nor profane swear.
er. He has never been known to
travel on the Sabbath, and while Pres.
dent he has maintained the honor and
sacredness Of that day in the Presiden.
tial Mansion. to degree that had never
been witnessed before. He was con.
stant attendant on public worship, and
Sc, an example in this respect which
all our great. men would do we'll 10
initiate. He was a friend TO the TEN.
perance movement, and himself most
A -.