The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-07-10


: a proposition was brought forward, and much dis
: cussed at the time, to amend the constitution in
: such manner as to give the choice of President
l and Vice President Immediately and irreversibly
to the people. In favor Of this proposition, Mr.
, Polk made his first speech in Congress, which al
t once attracted the attention IF the country BY
the force of its reasoning, the coplousness of lis
research, and the spirit of honest indignation by
: which 1t was animated. 1t was at once seen
that his ambition was TO distinguish himself by
substantial merit, rather than rhetorical display
the rock upon which most young orators split
AT the same session. that egregrious measure OF
political Quixotsm, the Panama mission, which
} was proposed in contempt of the sound maxim
to cultivate friendship with all nations, yet en-
5 gage in entangng alliances with none, gave rise
r to very protracted debate in both Houses OF
} Congress. The exploded federal doctrine was,
upon the occasion revived that as under the con.
stitution, the President and Senate exclusively
are endowed with the treaty-makng faculty, and
that OF originating and appointing TO missions
their acts under that power become the supreme
law of the land nor can the House of Represen-
tatVes deliberate upon, much less, in the exer-
else OF sound discretion, refuse the approprla-
tons necessary to carry them into effect.
Against doctrine so utterly subversive of the
rights and powers of the popular branch of Con-
gress, as we'll as ofthe fundamental principles of
the Democracy, Mr.. Polk strenuousy protested,
embodylng his views in a series of resolutions,
which produced, i'll tangible shape, the doc
trines on this question of the republican party Of
9S. The first of these resolutions, which pre-
sents the general principle with brevity and
force, runs thus: "That it is the constitutional
right and duty of the House of Representatives,
when called upon for appropriations to defray
the expenses Of foreign missions, to deliberate
upon the expediency or nexpedicncy of such
MISSIONS, and to determine and act thereon, as
) IN their judgment may seem most conducive to
the public good"
From this time Mr.. Folks history is nsepara
bly interviewer with that of the House He is
prominently connected with every important
Question; and upon every one, as by an unerrng
instinct of republicanism, took the soundest and
boldest ground. From his entrance into public
life, his adherence to the cardinal principle OF
the democratic creed has been singularly stead
fast. During the whole period of General Jack.
sons administration, as long as he retained q
seat on the floor, he was one of its leading sup
+ porters, and at times, and Oh certain questions
lot paramount importance, its chief reliance
In the hour of trial he was never found wanting,
or from his post. In December, 1927, two years
after the entrance in the House, Mr.. Polk was
placed OH the important Committee Of Foreign
Affairs, and some time after was appointed, in
E addition, chairman of select committee to which
was referred that portion of the Presidents mes
sage calling the attention of Congress to the
probable accumulation of a surplus in the trea-
sury, after the anticipated extinguishment of the
national debt. As the head of this committee
ne mad lucid report, replete with the soundes
doctrines, ably enforced, denying the constitution
al power of Congress to collect from the people
for distribution, surplus beyond the wants OF
the Government, and maintaining that the reve-
nue. should be reduced to the exigencies of the
public service.
The session of 1880 will always be distn
guished by the death blow which was then giver
TO the unconstitutional system of internal i'm.
provements by the General Government. We
have ever regarded the Maysville road veto as
second in importance to none of the actions o
General Jackson's energetic administration. Ii
{ Topped off one Of the worst branches of the mis-.
, called American system. Mr. Polk had assaed
the bill before its passage with almost solitary
energy; and one of his speeches. in which he
discusses the general policy of the "American
, System in its triple aspect of high prices fol
, the public lands--to check agricultural emigra-
ton to the West, and foster the creation of q
manufacturing populaton--of high duties OIL
! taxes for protection, and excessive rcvanue-and
of internal Improvements, TO spend this revenue
in corruptng the country with its own money!
Should be perused by every one who wishes tc
arrive at sound views upon a question which has
so much agitated the public mind. When the
bill was returned by the President unsigned, &
storm arose in the House, in the midst of which
the veto was attacked by a torrent of passionate
, decamation, mixed with no small share of per-
I sonal abuse. To member of Ohio, whose OBJ
servation partook of the latter character, Mr.
Polk, replied in an energetic improvisation, vim
) dlcating the patriotic resolution of the Chic
Magistrate. The friends of State rights in the
House rallied manfully upon the veto. The re-
suit was that the bill was rejected, and countless
t "log-rong" projects for the expenditure ofma
my millions of the public treasure, which awaited
the decision, porishod in embryo"
) In December, 1882, he was transferred to the
Committee Of Ways and Means, which his con-
| nection has been so distinguished. AT that ses
sion the directors of the Bank of the United
States were summoned to Washington, and ex
} amned upon oath, before the committee just
named A division of opinion resulted in the
presentation of two reports. That of the major
ity, which admitted that the bank had exceeded
its lawful powers by interfering with the plan o
: Government to pay off the 3 per cent. stock was
tame, and unaccompauied by pertinent facts o
calculating details Mr., Polk, in behalf of thu
minority, made detailed report, communicating
! all the material circumstances, and presenting
] conclusions utterly adverse TO the institution
! which had been the subject ofinquiry. This ar
fIrayed him against the whole bank power, whcl
he was made 10 feel in quarter where he ha,
. eyorything at stake; for, upon his return 10 hi