Independent Democrat., 1844-07-27

will become the giant, and his democratic
successor he pigmy, in the estimation OF
my honorable colleague. II has been OBJ
jected 10 .col. Polk, by authority equally
high, and entitled to about the same
weight, that 'ihe was an industrious fol-
lower of Gen. Jackson throughput his
whole life;" and in consequence Of the
intimate personal relations between them,
as well as theiperfect concurrence in their
political opinions, and principles, and ac-
ton, he has been called the stYoung Hick-
ory,n as II itherc was something in that
name calculated 10 excite prejudice in
the minds of the American people. He
is emphatically Young Hickory--the
unwavering friend of Old Hickory n.all
his trials-his bosom companion--his sup
porter and defender on all occasions, in
public and private, from his early boyhood
until the present moment. No man living
possessed Gen. Jaekson's confidence in a
greater degree, or displayed more zeal and
ability in defending his fame from the
ISLANDERS of his enemies. and in carrying
out the great republican principles with
which his administration was identified.
II is not surprising, therefore, that those
enemies should direct their vengeance
at the head of Col. Polk, and sneeringly
call him the "Young Hickory" That he
has been the industrious follower of Gen.
Jackson in those glorious contests for the
defence Of his country's rights, will not
be deemed the objectionable sin by the
American people, SO long as their hearts
beat and swell with gratitude to their great
benefactor. He is the very man for the
iimes-"a chip of the old block,' OF the
true hickory stump. The people want a
man whose patriotism, honesty, ability,
and devotion to democratic principles,
have been tested and tried in the most
stormy times Of the republic, and never
found wanting. That man is James * I.
Polk, of Tennessee,
NV colleague [Mr. Hardin has taken
the pains to examine the debates during
The whole of Colonel Polk's Congression-
al career, with the hope Of finding some
thing that might be used TO his prejudice.
We have heard the result of these -exami-
nations to-day; and may !hereiore pre-
sumo that we know all the charges we
will have to meet in the present canvass.
The first charge he makes is, that Gen.
jackson, as President, and Col. Polk, as
the champion of the demociatic party in
Congress, supported the deposite banks as
the fiscal agents of the Government, after
the removal Of the deposites from the bank
of the United States, and subsequently
abandoned and condemned them. l am
willing to meet this charge, and contrast
he course of Colonel Polk with that Of
Mr.. Clay in regard 10 the deposite banks,
and leave the country 10 decide between
them. 1t had been the policy of the Go
yernment, for long series of years prior
IN the election of General Jackson, to de-
posite the public moneys with the banks,
both State and National. When General
Jackson deemed it his duty to take the
responsibility, and remove the deposites
from the Bank of the United States, after
the people, by an overwhelming majority
at the ballot-boxes, had decided against
that institution, the whg party, with Henry
Clay at their head, denounced the deposite
banks. and used every means in their
power to crush them. The democrats
considered this war upon those institutions
unjust and improper, so long as they acted
honestly. and discharged all their duties
10 the Goyernment with fidelity; but when,
in 1877. those banks suspended specie
navments. closed their doors against their
honest creditors, retained possession OF
he whole revenue of the nation, and re.
ssed to nav II over upon the orders Of
,he Government. ,he whole democratic
narty. with Colonel Polk at the head, de-
pounced noun them as dishones, and faiihless