Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-19


.Unsa.y lies the bead hat wsars . crown" 10
. sinshoaorsd aphorism. indicating in word sae
srssassdous responsibilities; The tarning cares
tAst vssss end consume the mortal upon whom
this weight of authority is devolved. Nor are the
tprnsat;ae carss of once peculiar to the occupant
q throne, whose word is law. and whose power
h eoudemnsaion; bat in . land where oil are sov-
srsisns; where the hamblest citizen is not unrep-
rsssuasd; whore the press is free, even 70 i'cen-
t;ousnsss and the people are permitted to exercise
inst or unjust criticism upon the actions OF their
MAR The incumbent of high station is kept in
seaas of fsvsrish anxiety.
WE. M. Polk-who alleged that his Admins
trss;oa had fallen upon eveutful times'-assumed
ths Presidency, he appeared to be, what he really
M q man in the prime Of life, with good do
res Of bodily vigor, and a fair prospect Of long
life before him. Four years afterwards, when he
laid aside his robes Of o1ice-which, 10 him, had
bssn - the poisoned shirt Of Nessus-hc was
fssbls man, wasted and grown old before his time,
with thinned and wLitcncd locks; vscatins the
chair Of State only to take his place in the dreary
halls Of death. His successor, hardy soldier,
Injured 70 fatigue and danger, did not long sur
vive, but soon sunk under the accumulated weight
of cares, in comparison OF which. he had found
the swamps of Florida and the burning zone OF
Mexico, where disease and the enemy had decl-
mated his ranks-as nothing
Tho vigorous old man who now occupies the
chair of State has doubtless found that it is not
bed Of roses, and that all his energies Of mind and
BODY ore taxed TO their utmost capacity.
These thoughts have been suggested by poru-
sal Of the late Message Of the Mayor OF Baltimore
"A gentleman who now occupies large space IN
the eve of the public, and fills position OF pccn-
liar and trying responsibility; to which, in con-
nection with bis own experience Of the trials that
bsset the path of him who is elevated as n marx
for the shafts of the malevolcnt, no thus alludcs
The Office of Mayor Of this city has no attrnc-
tons for me beyond the desire. rs hood
citizen, 10 make myself useful in n commu-
nifty with whose interests am largely 'i'"-
tiled. However anxious l might have felt to
have resigned this trust into others hands.my own
personal wishes were not to be consulted; and as
there was no indication that any commanding
number Of voters. or majority Of the people ot
this city, desired a surrender Of this Office ON my
mart, felt bound to assume again the functions
which it imposed. Whenever it shall be madeap-
parent to me that change is desired, your hon
orable body will believe that there will be no
persis.ent obstinacy on my part, in holding on
10 an Office which has destroyed the repose of my
domestic 6residc made my character the themc of
personal abuse; subjected me to incessant toll.
and exposed my person to contingencies Of risk,
which only an imperative sense of public duty
could induce any man to encounter.
We believe every word here uttered by Mr..
Swami, and are fully satisfied that the position he
6lls has destroyed the repose of his Preside, and
involved sacrifices that few men, Of his resources,
would be found willing to make.
Fashioned after the noblest mould Of man, both
in person and character, he was persuaded reluc-
family to accept the Office he now fls, upon which
he entered with a reputation unsullied, and apop-
ularity that no other man in Baltimore possessed.
We care not what the partizan papers Of his
own cisy-that have furnished thels,aplc to others
al over the country-may say to the contrary We
believe Mr. Swami has exercised the powers of his
oiRos for the public good. aud done all that he
could to arrest crime and punish violaters Of the
law.
There 10 no better public man now before the
country and no other city of the Union has its
municipal concerns in better hands. Under the
rigid system of police which Mr. Swami is now la
boring to pursue guided by the results of his past
experience, we shall expect soon to see thorough
reform in Baltimore.
This happy result when secured. will furnish
the fullest vindcation of the lofty aims and purpo
ses of the best abused man in the country, howcv-
little it could operate to beget in any man. SEN
sibls Of the reproaches to BE- incurred, tho desire
for ofice.
Decidedly Cool.