The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-07-14
ORIGINAL.
EULOGIUM
EULUGIUW
UPON EX-PRESIDENT POLK;
DELIVERED AT THE COURTHOUSE, BLOOMSBURY,
July FOURTH, 1919.
By Charles TX. BuCIsUFEU,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
RESIDENT POLK

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
"A question of the highest importance tc
the people of this Union, is this How shall
civil liberty be perpetuated Other govern
ments have become corrupt have been ty-
ranical and amid the execratons of man.
kind have sunk into ignob!e sloth or rushed
into career of crime the precursor Of decay
OF sublugation. How shall We escape their
fate Undoubtedly by avoiding the errors
that misled, and the vices that corrupted
them, Butthis answer does not indicate the
path 10 be pursued with sufficient cearness
for the wants Of the multitude Instruction
must 90 further than to denounce the evil to
be avoided it must inculcate the good 10 be
pursued Hence those alone are true teach
ers who point out 10 US directly the objects to
be pursued aud the means OF attaining them,
The wisest of all teachers did not simply de-
nounce the abounding vices and follies OF
man, but taught also positive system Of the
most benignant and sublime character 10 en-
list the belief and obedience of the world
The Inquirer after truth is not to be told
merely that tyranny is odlous, and that false
hood, violence, selfshness, ambition, pride
aud lust, have filled the earth with sorrow
and wrong Alter error is exposed, he is TO
be instructed in truth He is to be informed
what thoughtful and wise men have demon
strated to be truth, and is to be invoked to act
accordingly.
How then is liberty 10 be perpetuated 3
We have the direct and instructive reply TO
this question in the Pennsylvania Constiu
ton of l776, framed by Convention over
which Benjamin Franklin presided "A
frequent recurrence TO fundamental prlncl-
pies, and firm adherence to Justice, moder-
alton, Temperance, industry and frugality, are
absolutely necessary TO preserve the bless
ings Of liberty, and keep government
free"
1t is manifest that the masses Of a State
must be Intelligent and virtu ,us, in a high
degree, to insure it against loss Of freedom,
prosperity aud power The moral world,
like the natural, is under ldlC, and dissolution
is every where the fate Of bodies that become
corrupt An intelligent, rejecting and vir-
tuous people, are alone capaciaed for free
government. The mere possession OF free
institutions, is no sufficient guaranty against
degeneracy and decay. Forms of govern
ment, and measures of legislation, are OF Sc
condary importance to the character and spi-
rit of the people. Establish ignorance, stu
pidity and vice generally in society, and con-
stitulions are not worth talking about, The
period of the English Commonwealth was
one of honor for England but a people too
mean.spirited and vicious 10 exist without
scourge, voluntarily invited kingship back to
the realm, with its train of couresans, rakes,
mobiles, prelales and buGoons
The inculcation of this truth tho abso-
m,e necessity of popular intelligence, integ-
rity and spirit lis of incalculable conse-
cuence to America and the world The ex-
iernal FORM the organization, the institutions,
and the municipal laws of society, are moth
ing to its inward life-the moral and intellec-
tua character of its members,
But, how shall we induce men to attain,
and live up TO, the standard of merit Eequir-
d A mode OF edecting this, is TO present
yamples Of true greatness and virtue to the
yople for their instruction and imitation
rom considering a particular instance we
nav ascend to the general rule From the
c1aracteristics of one good man, we may
is,n a standard Of character for all.
The recent demise of the eleventh PresI
dent of the United States, invites reyiewa
Of his life. We may now, with propriety
examine his character, and the causes ant
business Of the high distraction he attained
and, believe, we may reap instruction from
this inquiry, and hold up the subject OF 1t a
an example Of virtue worthy Of imitation
and praise
Mr.. Polk died on the 18Th Of the las
month, at the age of ffty.thrco, and Ou
lour months after the close OF his term
Chief Magistrate of the Union. The even
i|soi his HE. the period Of expected rePos
a,'eT stirring and eyeuluI years of action,
B abruptly ard u,.,...,o,1,. shortened
'l'an not attempt heightened or labored et
loglum upon he dooasaaI D.. o,bor hand
W. , D., ""oe faithfully and fully perform
~ '.ort and feeble tribute to h
,..s.' wv l'lo lory, may be venured eve
''',,' '''"ole quarter, without censur
o. '''oo resumption