The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-06-14

/ rom ullS tIne Nlr FOLK history 10 isePdidpiy
interviewer with that Of the House, He is promi-
nently connected with every important question;
and upon every one, as by an unerring instinct of
Iepublicanism, took the soundest and boldest
ground. From his entrance into public life, his
adherence to tire cardinal principle of the democrat
ic creed has been singularly steadfast. During the
whole period iof General Jackson's administration,
long as he retained seat OH the floor he was one
of its leading supporters, ard at times, and on GER
tain questions of paramount Importance, its chiefre-
lance. In the hour of trial he was never found
wanting, or from his post. InDecember, ls37,two
years after his entrance in the House, Mr.. Polk was
4 placed on the important Committee of Foreign AT
fairs, and some time after was appointed, in addi-
ton chairman of the select committee to which
referred that portion of the Presidents message cali
ing the attention OF Congress to the probable accu
mutation of surplus nthe treasury after the anti
cpated extinguishment of the national debt. As
the head ofthis committee, he made lucid report,
replee with the soundest DOCTRINES ably enforced,
denying the constitutional power of Congress to
collect from the people, for distribution, surplus
beyond the wants of the government, and maintain
ing that the revenue should be reduced to the ext
gencies of the public service.
The session of 1880 will always be distinguished
by the death blow which was then given TO the un-
constitutional system of internal Improvements by
the general government. We have ever regarded
the Maysville road veto as second in importance to
none of the acts of General Jacksous energetic ad-
ministration. 1t Topped offone of the worst BRAN
ches of the miscaed American system. Mr.. Polk
had assaied the bill before lis passage with almost
solitary energy; and in one of his speeches. in
which he discusses the general policy of the Gamer
ican system" in its triple aspect of high prices for
the public lands-to check agricultural emigration
to the West and foster the creation of manufactur-
ing populatioh-of high duties or taxes tor protec-
ton, and excessive revenue-and of internal i'm
provements, to spend this revenue in corrupung the
country with its own money,-should be persued
| by every one who wishes to arrive at sound views
upon a-auestion which has so much agitaed the
public mind. When the bill was returned by the
President unsigned, a storm arose in the House, in
the midst of which the veto was attacked by a tor
rent ofpassonate defamation, mixed with no small
share of personal abuse. To member from Ohio,
whose observations partook of the latter character
| MIR Polk replied in an energetic improvisation, vim
dicating the patriotic resolution of the Chief Mags-
trate The friends ofState rights in the House raj
lied manfuly upoplihe veto. The result was that
the bill rejected, and countless 'logrolIing' pro-
jects for the expenditure of many millions of the
public treasure which awaited the decision, perish
en- in embryo r,, b.. :.
! In December, 1892 he was transferred to the
Committee OF Ways and Means, with which his
connection has been so distinguished. At that ses-
sion the directors of the Bank Oft the United States
were summoned to Washington, and examined up
ON OATH before the committee just named. d-
vision ofopinion resulted in the presentation of two
reports That of the majority, which admitted that
the bank had exceeded its lawful powers by ntcrfer
ing with the plan fgovernmen to pay off the per
cent stock was tame, and unaccompanied by peril
nent facts or elucdatilg details. Mr. Polk, in be-
half of the minority. made detailed report, COM
muncating all the material circumstances, and pre-
senting conclusions utterly adverse to the institution
which bad been the subject Of inquiry. This ar
rayed him against the whole bank power, which he
was made to feel in quarter where he had every
thing at stakes for upon his return to his district he
found the most formidable opposition mustered
against him for his course upon this question. The
friends of the United States Bank held meeting at
Nashville to denounce his report. The most un-
scrupulous Misrepresentation were resorted to, in
order to prove that he had destroyed the credit of
the West, by procaiming that his count.ymen were
unworthy of mercantile confidence. The result,
however, was that after violent contest, Mr.. Polk
was reelected by majority of more than three
thousand. Fortunately for the stability of our in
stitutons, the panics which "frighten cities from
their propriety' do not sweep with the same desc
ating force over the scattered dwellings ofthe coun
try. a $500
In September 1893, the President indignant at
the open defiance of law by the Bank of the United
States, and the unbushng corruption which it
practised, determined upon the bold and salutary
measure of the removal Of the deposites, which was
effected in the following month. The act produced
much excitement throughout the country, and it
was foreseen that great and doubtful conflict was
about to ensue At such crisis it became impor-
tant to have at the head Of the committee of Ways
and Means, a. man of courage to meet, and firmness
TO sustain, the formidable shock. Such "a man was
found in Mr.. Polk, aud he proved himselfequal to
the occasion. Congress met and the conflict proved
even fiercer than had been anticipated. The cause
ofthe bank was supported in the House by such men
as MIR. McDuffie, Adams, and Binney, not to men,
Etion host Of other names tits instructive TO look
back in calner times, to the reign of terror, known
as the panic session. The bank, with the whole
commerce ofthe country at its feet alternately tor
turing and easing its miserable pensioners they
increas, or relaxed their cries of financial agony;
public meetings held in every city with scarcely the
intermission of day, denouncing the President
tyrant and the enemy of his country; deputations