The Arkansas banner., 1844-06-26

doctrine was, upon this occasion revived, l that, as under the Constitution, the President and Senate exclusively are endowed with the treaty-nasing 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 Representatives deliberate upon, much less, in the exercise of a sound discretion, refuse, the appropria- lions necessary to carry them into effect Against doctrine so utterly subyersive of the rights and powers of the popular branch of Congress, as well as of the fundamental principles of the Democracy, Mir. Polk stren- uously protested, embodying his views in a series of resolutions, which produced, in a tangibleshape, the doctrines, on this question, of the Republican party of 798. The first ot these resolutions which presents the gene ral principle with breviy and force, runs thus: '.that it is the constitutional right and duty of the House of Representatives, when called upon for appropriations to deiray the expenses of foreign missions, to deliberate oil the expediency or inexpedieney of such missions, and to determine and act thereon, as in their judgment may seem most condu- ciye to the public good.n
 From this time 8Ir. Folks history is in- separably interWoyen with thai of the House. He is prominently connected with every im- porlant question, and upon every one, as by an uaefring instino4 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 singuIarly steadiast. During the whole period of General Jackson's admini- stration, as long a he retained a seat on the floor, he was one of its leading supporters, and at times, and on certain questions of para mount importance, its chief reliance. In the hour of trial he was never found wanting, or from his post. In December, 1927, two years after his entrance in the House, Mr. Polk was placed on the important committee of Foreign Affairs, and some time after was appointed. in addition, chairman of the Se- lect Committee to which was referred that portion of the Presidents message calling the attention of Congress 10 the probable aecu- mutation of surplus in the Treasury, after the anticipated extinguishmento the National Debt. As the head of this committee he made a lucid report, replete with the sound- est doctrines, ably enforced, denying the con- stitutional power of Congress to collect from the people, for distribution, a saPIus beyond the wants of the Government, and maintaining that the revenne should be reduced 10 the exigeneies of the public service.
 The session of 1890 will always be dis tinguished by the death blow which was then given to the unconstitutional system of internal improvements by the General Gov ernmeat We have ever regarded the Mays vile Road Veto as second in importance to none of the acts of Gen. Jackson's energetic administration. t topped off one of the worst branches of the miscaIled American System. Mir, Polk had assailed the bill be- fore Us passage with almost solitary energy |; and one of his speeches. in which he dis easses the general policy of the 'sAmeriean Systemo in its triple aspect of high prices for the public lands, to check agricultural emigration to the west, and foster the crea- ton of manufacturing population, of high duties or taxes for protection, and excessive revenue in corrupting the country with it's own money, should be perused by everyone who wishes to arrive al 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 dec- lamation, mixed with no small share of per- sanal abuse To- member from Ohio, whose observations partook of the latter character, Mr, Polk replied in an energetic improvisa- tien. vindieating the patriotic resolution of the Chief Magistrate. The friends of States Rights in the House rallied manfully upon the veto. The result was that the bill was rejected, and countless log rolling projects for the expenditures of many millions of the public treasure, which awaited the decision, perished in embryo.
 In December, 1892, he was transferred to thecommlttee of ways and means, with which his connection has been so distingushed- At that session the Directors of the United States Bank were summoned to Washington, and examined upon oath, before the commit tee just named. A division of opinion re- suited in the presentation of two reports. That of the majority, which admitted that the Bank had exceeded its lawful powers. by interfering with the plan of the Goveak ment, to pay off the three per cent. stotM was tame, and unaccompanied by pertinent facts, or elucidating details. Mr. Polk, in behalf of the minority, made detailed re- port, communicating all the material circum- stances, anu presenting conclusions utterly adverse to the institution which had been the subject of inquiry. This arrayed against him the whole bark power, which he was made 10 feel in quarter where he had every thing at stake, for upon his return to his dis trict, he found the most formidable opposition mustered against him for his course upon this question. The friends of the United States Band held meeting at Nashville 10 denounce his report The most interruptions misrep- resentations were resorted to, in order to prove that he had destroyed the credit of the West, by proclaiming that his countrymen were unworthy of mercantile confdence- The result, however, was, that after violent contest, Mir. Polk was elected by a major itv of more than tbree tbousand Fortunately