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BY GEORGE HOWARD, Jft.
Js published weekly at Two Dollars pet year
If naid in advance or. Two Dollars and 1 1FTF
Csnts at the expiration of the subscription year
Advertiscmentsnot exceeding a square will be
inserted at One Dollar the first insertion, and 25
Cents for every succeeding one. Longer ones a
that rate per square. ' Court Orders and Judicial
advertisements 25 per cent, higher.
FOR THE TARBORo' fcltfcSS.
Eulogy on Ex-Prcsidcnt Polk.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Tarboro July 2GM, 1849.
Wm. F. Dancy, Esq.
Dear Sir: Our community were high
ly gratified at the just and eloquent tribute
to the memory of Mr. Polk, delivered by
you on the 24th inst, and at the instance
of many of our fellow citizens, we respect
fully ask of you a copy for publication.
Very respectfully yours,
Henry T. Clark,
R.MMdcnair
John Nor fleet,
John , Speight,
HaTman TVard,
o
3
3
TarbotougK July 28. 1849.
Gentlemen: It would be the merest
affectation in me to deny, that your note
gave me pleasure.
Accepting, most reluctantly, the duty
assigned me, to know that it has been dis
charged in a manner satisfactory to yon,
has amply repaid me for whatever trouble
I was at.
To trace the career of such a man, was
i labor of love, and the only regret I felt
was, that my powers were not equal to the
task of conveying a more just appreciation
cf his great character.
The Eulogy is placed al your disposal.
Truly yours,
VV. F. DANCY
Messrs. U. T. Clark, R. E. Macnair and
others; Committee.
On (he life and character of James K.
Polk, pronounced by William F.
Dancy, at the Old Church in
Tarborough, July 24M, 1849.
Solemn indeed, my audience, is the ser
vice we have assembled to perform.
James K. Polk, towards whose dying
couch a million American eyes were but
yesterday turned with painful anxiety, has
gone down to he grave. The Providence
which bestowed him upon his country,
has called him-away His great soul,
freed from its prison-house of clay, has as
cended to the God who gave it his body
mingles with its kindred dust. ' lie who
but yesterday stood upon the heights of
power, clothed with all the insignia of
authority, and watching with eagle-eye
tin: vast interests of this great Republic,
has passed forever from our midst. Thai
cyo is extinguished in the darkness of;
death the ir.mninirs nf 'olTifp' hnvn rivon !
place to the habiliments of mourning the . Republic for the tepruduction on a new service unappreciated. The man of "iron
laurel is entwined With the cypress the ' theatre of thai Irish energy and talent will" reposed confidence injiisfrjetiil, and
sceptre has been exchanged for the shroud
While the nation bows its head in mourn -
ing, and like a strickcn'mother weeps in
anguish over her child, we, the humblest
of his' friends and admirers, have gathered j the boundless ..West, whither his, father,
around his grave; to-day, to pay the last1 had gone, one of the earliest pioneers of
tribute of affection to his memory, arid to : civilization"; in that, portion of theyoungand
bedew his ashes with our tears. And it is growing Stale of Tennessee. -'Here,-in the
meet that we should do so. It is meet bosom of a sequestered valley, far up one of
that we pay honors to the memory of the tributaries of d he tortuous, Tennessee,
those who have been distinguished in life and amid the privations of the wildcr
by good and great deeds," or who have ness,'the budding hoy expands unto the
won for themselves' a name among men full blossom of young manhood; and here
for while it htirts not theYlead, who are too were developed those hardy virtues
insensible to the offering, it exercises a of his. character, which distinguished him
hallowed influence on the heart " It chas-ron the stormy theatre upon which he after
tens hc:affections; purifies Hhcm . of the wards played his part. '-u . " :" .- f
dross of time and sense, and assimilates Time will not permit the delay of - a
our natures to 'that spirit which" rules be- minute detail, of -his early history.-. His
yoad th'B skv.' 'KovV,for the ninth' time, is fatjwr, we are told designed .him for a
the nation caited upon 'tbVssembVaround
the crraVe of one of ihose whom it has lion-
oredVith the highest, ofTiCC in its gift,
Washington; Tefferson, Madison and Mon-
roc, sleep beneath the sacred soil of Vir-
Etnia. Massa'chuseUb cuaVds wilh r)ious
v-are, the remains of the illustnous rcpre -
centativeVof the'Adatns family. IJarrieoo
lies quietly entombed 'upon the banks of
'lis own beautifui Ohio and Tennessee,
daughter of pur own modest mother,
claims the honored ashes of Jackson anr
Polk.
Were the sutjject of my remarks one
who had simply ruled the Republic am
then descended to the grave, a decent ob
ervance of his death would be becoming
and proper. But James K. Polk had fai
higher claims upon our gratitude and admi
ration. He was in every sense of the
term, t great mart great in word
thotight and deed and greater still in the
goodness of an unsullied heart--great in
the vastness and comprehensiveness of his
plans great in the glory and success of
their "acmplshment. Called suddenly
by the people from that retirement he had
voluntarily Sought, and clothed with the
highest powers in their gift, wc find him
equal to every emergency in which he was
placed. He at once took his nosition in
he front rank of American statesmen.
The youngest in years of those who had
preceded him in the pathway to power, he
guided the ship of Stale with the skill
and ability of a veteran. Falling, as his
administration did, upon the most event
ful era which has yet marked the career
of the Republic with delicate questions
of foreign and domestic policy distracting
our councils, he never, for a moment fal
tered or hesitated in his course. Ili?
great mind rose with the crisis and adapt
ed itself to the circumstances by which it
was surrounded. He was indeed "the ve
ry age and body of his time, its form and
pressure
-me intuit uin" and rnn c-
u l:..: : i
sentative ot the great American heart, j unerring promise of those great abilities
Such men may die, hut their deeds are im-1 be was destined to display on a higher
mortal! His great measures 3re stamped j theatre.
in ineffaceable characters upon his ronn-j being in the GOifi year of his
try's history, and though his noble heart: age, in the full and rieh maturity of all ins
has ceased to heal, and his manly form has; powers, both j hyir.ii and mental, lie was
faded from the sight of men, his name is 'circled to r-;;!-s..t his district in the
linked with the most distant future: and ' Cong? ess of tti: United States. He
posterity, looking hack through the dim ' brought iih r.ifn into public life those f-in-mists
of the past, will wonder -then learn d,vr t-nia! jirinriplrs t, ' ptditical action to
and love! - j which i.o adhvivd ihiough got)d and evil
To North Carolina, hidons. the proud : t. -md H.r.nigl) ociy nitat:u of par
honor of giving birth to James K. Polk. tv. From hiearlv vnn'ih he was a rennh-
On her remote frontier, in the county oi.j!:.;:i of the 4MraitiM sccU" lie regarded
Mecklenburg, mid't r- -, J - v -; r u
...vM..auc o1!if;u &.on tl;e very birth-j an insli onu nl l j-jei ihc and strictly del
spot of American independence, his infant fgnted poweis, and this fo? med tlie giound
eyc first saw the light, lltr hills witness-! woi k of his p'nliti'ca! fa'nh. In a woid.
en his childih aports and pastimes lirr .hr was opposed to the assumption and ex
vallics rung out with the merry peal of hi? cr i he of all doubtful pveVN, rr a loose
boyish langh and hete too at the very and latitudinous consliuction of llmt ii:
fountain of freedom, he imbibed his ( st , strntnent.
lessons of patriotic duty and devotion, tr. ; Mr. Poll; was ( lecletl to Congress for
he hungwith boyish raptuie upon the elo-j seven cOft?e'Oli ve terms, and seivtd in
quent lips of the living actors in those j inie i opted!)- lor h.iutven yeots.
scenes. j It was Mr. Poik's fortune to be in pub-
The family was Iriih and came to A-j j( lift at a most stoin.y eiiod of our
merica in the early part of the ISth cento-1 history. The tius were well calculated
ry. America owes an imperishable, deb! jto develop the powers and tjuirkvn the
of gratitude to Ireland. Her re-viviiie.d
spirit pervades the whole Republic. Ii isl)
- - - , -
genius and eloquence flash up from every
hamlet and hill side in the hnd. Many
of the most distinguished names of our j
country are proud to tiace their origin to j
the "Emerald Isle.5 Calhoun, Jackson, J
Polk, and Gaston of oir own State arc:
familiar illustrations of the fact. It would
seem that Proridence hat! chosen this free;
iiroud.'kcpt down by organized oppression at
'home.
j The year 1S06 finds the stripling boy
of eleven threading the forest wilds of
merchant; and with that view, placet) himt
in a mcrcantiie.esuui'Sinnent. w hat
strange destinies, control our lives!
i.And how often are our best appointed
oims thwarted by' the decrees ofckle
KPrtunel MTbere-tt'a tvinity which
f3lpej ends-roegrfehethernras;ve:
I rriay,?! ., J he genius, opung,roU cha,
led like acageu tigcrpeneaiq a,n rnpjoy
Sec Appcndis note cr.
ment so uncongenial to his feelings, and ;
incompatible with his tastes. His great i
spirit panted for a more ample and enlar- j Mr. Polk learned those lessons ot calm,
ged theatre for the exercise of its powers, j firm, and determined self-possession and
The predilections ofthe parent finally &ave ; reliance under the most trying circum
way before the ardent wishes of the son, stances, which made him impregnable as
and he enters a classical school preparatory j a leader, and prepared him for the stirring
to a college course.
The fell of 1815 finds him a student of
our University. His career here was
brilliant. Each semi-annujl examination
witnesses the triumph of his genius, and
the close of his college course crowns him
with the highest honors of his class. In
the field of intellectual conflict he trod the
undisputed victor! 'Twa here too he
laid the foundation of those habits of indus
try, perseverance and indomitable ener
gy, which distinguished him throughout
his subsequent career; habits which in the
absence of more brilliant qualities, often
enable their possessor to attain the high
est posts of honor . and preferment, while
the man of genius is left far behind in the
race.
Returning again to Tennessee, with his
constitution greatly impaired bjf excessive
application at the University, he commen
ced the study of law in the offietj ii f the
late Felix Uiundy, At the bar he rose
rapidly to distinct ion.
In lie vutered upon the stormy
career of politics, being elected to rcprecnt
his county in ihe St.ite l. gilato!e. lv
w;w ag:iin elected a scrum! time, and by
his t.ileot and demotion to his duties, nave. .
jvin rgies of the j.olilivian. '1 he vt iyat
; mosnhei e v;is life with great e vent
plicie was me wim greui
The yovr.p'r Adali.s had fallen back be
fore the displeasure of live popular power,
and the )ior,.hcaiUtl Jackson had risen
triiinij.baiiily upon the Fl.ouldns of the
pconlv. Mr. Polk was .the warm, ardent,
and enthusiastic admirer of Jackson, nod
; never did man manifest his faith by tiiore
able or devoted service. Nor was lhat
j leaned his great arm trustingly upon htm.
His ability in. debate, energy and great bu
sincss capacity, soon attracted the atten
tion of the House; and he was, by the com
mon consent of bis party, assigned to the
position of Chairman of the Committee of
Ways and Meansthe most important
committee of that body. Prom the nature
ofjts duties, this committee is always, the
organ of the Administration in the House.
Under its supervision have to pass all es
timates for the public service comprehen
ding every question of finance. To attack
it then, is to attack and embarrass the Ad
ministration. tbrough it. .
At no' neriod of his course t docs Mf.
Polk occupy a morecommanding attitude
The Premier of England holds not a p.o
sit ion more proud than this. At the head
of the Committee of . Ways and Means, in
the full and yigprprjs. maturity of all his
facuUis"tJhckiiqwJedfred organ, and
leaderiof the Administration, and posses-
sine its fullest, confidence the fr.iend and
admirer, Jrom pnncipre ,.oi . inc , ums
triou's Jackson, and loved .and Irustech by
him Inreturn, he Mands before us as. the
''. '.1 t mon t rtt him ri T r-
easier spj.rii aM V1UUUVJ-,W - rr
ty; and like saui amuug jn. uicmm v"
looms "a head arid shoulders above them
ali." 'Tivas at this period too, and in
the bitter school of scandal and personal !
vituperation which marked the hourthat
scenes of his own after and eventful Ad
ministration.
Genl. Jackson came into power the
bold, decided, and unequivocal enemy of
the United States Bank. In his first an
nual message to Congress, he announced
it to the assembled representatives of the ';
people, and declared that under no circum- i DoI1 example the hesitating filing
stances, could a bill for its re-charter re?r oubttio the winds, The-VeiJuiU
cei ve his constitutional sanction. The ! can Part3 panic-stricken by the novel and
charter had five years yet to run. In Sep- exciting scenes around them, now gathered
tember 1833, indignant at the unblushing UP it& scattered forces, closed up its coK
corruptions practised by the Bank, he de- umn jn firm array, and the result wasjj
termined upon the salutary measure of re- triumphant vote against the Bank,
moving the public money from its custo-; From the position of Chairman of tne
dy. A measure so summary and so bold, Committee of Ways and Means, Mr. Polk
produced the most profound, sensation was at the session of 1835, elevated 'to
throughout the country; and then com- tnat of Speaker of the House, the third
rnenccd a scene of turbulence and political station in point of dignity in the Union,
violence without a parallel in our previous To a native dignity and suavity of man.
history, and which lias been fitly styled in ners ne added a profound knowledge of
he politic d parlance of the day, the Panic parliamentary law, and that readiness and
Period. The Bank boldly took the field, ' Promptitude in the decision of points of
strove to wring a charter and the revtora-j order, indispensable in a presiding officer,
lion of its deposites from the agonizing Tne duties of Speaker were discharged by
cries of a suffering people. But little did ,,'rn tor five sessions with rare ability, antl
it dream of what stern stuff he was made, at a time when party excitement roso
who stood at the helm of State. The man h'gher than at any former period of the
who had faced the conquerors of Napoleon : government.'
on the plains of New Orleans, and "show-j After a service of fourteen years in Con
ed himself in a sheet of fire" in the thick-1 Srtss Mr in 1839, declined a re-
est of the fray, was not to be turned aside' c,cctrn from a district which had so long
from his purpose by the senseless ravings ; sustained him. Retiring from the turmoil
of political gamblers and stockjobbers. and str'fe of an eventful public career, he
In anticipation of the 'dread sentence f0Ught repose in the bosom of his family
that had been pronounced against it. the ,,aPPy the society of troops of warm
Bank h;td stretched its accommodations to and le voted friends, and thrice happy in
the utmost tension. The country was the proud consciousness 'of an honest and
flooded with fictitious wealth in the shape faitfiful discharge of duty. But that re
of bank promises to pay. Now the oppo- Pose so desirable, was destined to be of
site policy was pursued. The marble mo- snorl duration, He was again called froth
ther at thr. centre gives the older, and retirement and placed in the attitude o a
forthwith its numerous branches, stretch- candidate for Governor of his adopted
U1 riKe ijfe arms of ihe fabled Briurevs State, and after ah animated canvass wag
.heopp- al. A rapid contraction of the him. He f.lled the office of Oovernor lo ,
delating medium cmn.cc:' Fiom a t years, 'k dtinguwhed credit ami ;
period of crcat apparent prosperity, dis ability.
!,ePS a,ul dismay ovorshadow the land. We have now traced Mr. Polk. through.
I'lopcrly fell cm.in.ously in value, and a l,u"uu ul Jca,B
n,au loA tonCifetire in his fellow man. Hcserviceaperiod pregnant With great:
Nvar.r o, d Mill nearer tl id the Rank ap- events and m irked by greater acerb.ty of
pioach its i .tended victim. Steadily and PM' felinS an any that had previ.
vu nneMeailiiy did it contract the coil ously existed.' First, the delicate on
of its circulation, wheh by one spasmodic thoughtful school boy at Chapel HI I
fffort it strove like a huge wrpcnl to crush " studious, sober and discreet-punctual W
.he con.n.erce of Ihe country in its sinuous "he discharge of every duty, surpassing all
fdd.s. A nnivcrnl cry of uailing went "ce for distinction, and Winmng
up from the lan.l. Man stared at his fcl- ,hc hi&hest ""'" ls class; then the
low n,an with wild .ffiight, and universal Irtiated representative of his county in.
bankruptcy seemed inevitable. It was
M,. s,.f,lo nf ,lp.l,ibn last effort of
expiting vitality. Deputation after depu-
tatioh waited upon Genl. Jackson, and he- reu reprcseniouve o. ... u,...., ... v..
sought him .0 restore the deposites. The ess, and by his ab.liiy m debate and
stoutest hearts gave Var-the sternest rc. great business capacity, placing himself Jn
solutions ' were shaken. ' Conslei n.lion ' the front rank of .ts leading members
.eized upon' lhc Republican ra'nfcsi and the Chairman of the most important commit-;
tithfd ol his own party friends faltered and tee of IheTlouse, and the chief prop and;
fell hack.' Bid calmly and serenely the support ofhis party at a most try. "gfPert-;
old m'an stood amid the raging elements od, thetf Speaker of the llotise itself, and
.. - finally Governor of his adopted State. In.
around him , ,. .4 . ' ... .
. , . tail these positions he was the same sleep
1 ilip ?orne tall cliff that lifts its awful form, ; , ... . . , . , t . - v
i.iivesorneidn ti m j sentinel Upon the watch-tower, the
Swells uW the vale & midway cleaves the stofmi c i ,r :i
The' round its base ihb lowering clouds are spread, same tireless watcher of the pttbltc inter-
Eternal sunshine settles on its head.' ests, the same faithful guardian of the
tvt- . - tWniv rnnld shake : PIic trusts committed to his qare Nor
his purpose or change his determination.
Hi, word was the fiat of destiny His
band of faithful f. iends, like the Old
Guard of Napoleon, closed in firm and
stern array around him, and shielded him
from the Riog storm without. " '
Amidst this scene of universal panic
nnd alarm, there was one who quivered
not in the blast-who stood unmoved
nmid the storms of- politidal adversity.
That man was James K. Polk." Nobly
and faithfully did he redeem the confi-
derice reposed in" him-abiy and eloquently
did he" stand up and battlc for the rigiit.
While friends were falling round htm and
treason lurked' in every bush; his manly
fbrm-ljke the tall plume of Murat at the
battleV Eylau was every where seen in
the thickest of tfte fight, encouraging Vis'
folloyvers to stand firm and stemming with
his crbnV arm the reversed' tide of battle.
r-0 ; ':' ' . ".;.'," r ' V? u
. "Among the faUhlessfajtfcful;
AWono- itie innnmerable false unmoted, unsba-
cn, ucseduccd, unterrifiedi
Nor number, nor example with him wrourrbt to
swerve from truth.
Or change his constant mindtho' single.
As Chairman of the Com mittee of Way
and Means, and the acknowledged oran
and leader of his party, upon hinv devolv
ed the duty of meeting the powerful array
of talent and ability united in fho ftfinnl:.
f talent and ability united in the opposi
tion. Solitary and almost singie-handed,
and with an eloquence and power rarely
equalled, did the young statesman of the
West roll back the tide of panic and alarm
which threatened to overwhelm the ad
ministration. The timid took courage oy
.d.u.c, ,,m,6 u.. ,.6..u
"fa" by the suavity of his manners and
deep devotion to his duties; then the hon-
in.. ,w u .
brought an ability rare y equalled, an
nSrgy never flagging, ahd a s.ncer.ty of
' convictior ian I honesty of purpose igr
questioned. Office he regarded as a. .
cred ,trust to Md benefit
o cGnfernng ,.t, and not bestowed
for" the mere gratification of err.pty pride,
or vain and ostentat.ous d.spb.y. , ; ;
We have li.therto consu WMr. Polfc
" Sphere comparatively . narrotv .an-dl.
contracted, yet' cxh.binng pbundam evlj
dence or capacity fov the highest. . We
come how to regard him as the Chief;.
ya:
earth. Faithful ovxr a. fevv things,'', the
.public voice decided that he should be.
"ruler over many ,n ; No President has en,,
red upon the duties of the, office under,
circumstances less auspicious none wiiri
11 greater number of complex question of,
solemn pubUc import meeting hirii at tU4
- - . - r u P ... :
'
$Sce Appendix note d.