Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-02
WHO IS JAMES X. POLK q?

Mr.. William G. Rives, with his usual
''hone>tv and candor," spoke of him to the
CoonS Of Towards Grove, rs man al Straw
as Il mere pro;rgc and nominee Il Andrew
Jackson, although tie ought to have known. that
his nomination was originated by Maine New-
Hampshire. &c. y iew days ago at Mechanicks-
Vile. in Louisa county. this salne candid hum
bug-manu:acturer, in the spirit of the gold spoon
humbug, made a speech. $50 says 4 Correspond
cnr of the Richmond Whi-.) perfectly explicit as
to his position supporting with the most energct-
ic zeal, crery Wing doctrine and principle. and
Henry Clay as their mpersona;or-rariif, Bank
and Disirbuion-and pouring upon Mir. Polk
and his Presidential preicnaions the most consum-
ing sarcasm Until he had lately (he said) been
handed a life of Mr. Polk he had forgotten that
he had served with him in the Housc Of Repre-
scntativcs four wears" We leave it 10 the Homo
rab,c Senator TO reconcile his shameless aban-
donmcnt Of all his former professions OF pflHcMf,
on the questions Of Tariff, Bank, &c. 10 his own
conscience. Let him reconcile loo, il NJ can, his
support ot Mr.. Clay. with the solemn disclaimer
of his preten>ions which he gave IN October
1912. in the scaihng article we copy this day from
the charlottesville Jeilcrsonian. But we are tree
10 say. that il any Wing believes what he says
about Col Polk. he must be 4 greater Gull Than
we profess n be- We cannot do not believe this
ex,ravagant declaration of Mr.. RiveS. Ii shakes
our whole confidence in the impaltiaity OF his
judgment and the sincerity oi his declarations.
Mr.. p. entered Congress in December ls25. in
the stth year of his litc He tool: an active pant
in all the important questions OF the mex; iotr
years-on the amendment OF the Constitution It.
latvc To the election OF Prc>itcnt-on the Pdna-
ma question, upon which he submitted series OF
resolutions 10 the House &c, &c. In December,
1927 TWO wears ;iter his entrance into Congress- he
,ho nj
Affairs. And vet Mr. Rivcs now affects Ia forget
thathe had served with him in the House. During
the whole period of General Jackson's admins
traiion, he took a mos. active part-made many
strong speeches. presented several able Reports
As Chairman ot several committees and especially
of the Committee Of WAYS and Means. He made
several able speeches Oh the MaySvlc road and
vrjo-on The Bank OF the L. Sand wha; i more
Ia his credit. he has never been induced 10 eat his
own wcrl> or to abandon his own principles, Is
some of his reyilers have shamcles>lv iu>tracdby
Eicir acts. Towards the close otthe memorable >cs
sion OF 1884, he succeeded Mr.. Stevenson aSSpa-
keroithe II. of Representatives. Yet. 2cco!cin" 10
the candid orator OF Albemarle he is still man OF
straw. We have now before us the copy OF Re-
port made on the great questions OF Distribution
and Internal Improvement in 1881, founded npon
the great principles OF the Virginia JefieTsonan
School-and written with so much ability. that it
would puzzle Mr.. RivcSto surpass II. We shall lay
this admirable document before our readers, oPnt
Mr.. r. if possible 10 shame. Strange, strange.
indeed. that Mr. H. should profess 10 call him Il
man of straw when 50 MANY men oi Distinguish
al repuiation should come forward 10 bear tribute
Ia bis ACCOMPLISHMENTS Jackson. Van Bu-
rem. 5. Wright, J. Buchanan. Gen Carroll. ana
Pierce Of New Hampshire, Sc. &c. should ex-
press 81 different IN opinion.
He has never perpe'raied. indeed, the gross
blunders. which have marked Mr.. Clay, as
a practical statesman blunders, which pro-
ceeicd from the mpeluosity of Mr.. ClayS
,eroner the arrogance Of his assumptions, and
the fury of his ambition. Every way. he is prac-
ticalIy a superior politician TO his distinguished
connection. But c, us take the character OF Col.
Folks mind from his political opponents, who
are more liberal than Mr.. Rives. WHO tim is
.James Il. Polk? Let Horace Greeley, ofthe y.
Y Tribune. and the Printer OF the Junius Tracts.
tell who he is In his memoir of the late Judge
White prepared IN 1911 he says OF Col. Polk
In 1889. JAMES X. POLK. one Of the abe>t
men and most powerful speakers i'll the South
wes,. took the field as the administration wan
Buren, candidate for Governor; ana, after n can
vass OF Unprecedented vehemence in which he
prorcd him~lf m crer match boii IN spcating md
talsat and in personal address AMI IN popularity,
for his opponent, Governor Cannon, he was elect
ed by some twenty-five hundred majority"
But Mr. Rives says, he is a man Of >traw--and
Mr.. r. is "an honorable man" And what says
the Nashville Banner (Whig) of July %, 1913:
.Col Polk made one Of his bes, speeches, and
irc accord 10 him talents of high order
The Nashville Wing of July 81, 1913, says:
CO. Polk made speech Of much power and
ability. As a mere specimen of popular oIatory,
we award to j, the full praise and credit due 10 pc
lilical experience and information and undoubted
talents Gov Polk has teen in The field of poll
tics for about twenty years and may row IL term
cd a veteran campaisncr'
But, OF course, Col. Polk is man Of straw--ior
50 saws Mr. R"es, and We all know that Mr.
Rves is AN honorable man"