Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-06-11
,cs 10 strengthen its temper, and di>'insn',h Il
In. ~, unSuhs al pr,.;r,,Sinu

apt TO be despiScd by those who Pfioc 'h''i'sene
! on brillianc,. of mind is they were Incompatible
/ This is a melancholy mistake. Genus MAJ even
! been defined the faculty of application The iat-
ter is at least something better ana mort a. dii
bic. So carefully has Mr.. Polk aVoceG lhe Ie-
| dantry of classical display when i .hc l'iSc
taste of our day and country a. an,o>' ~ i'''1'
reer His preference for the u>ci'ii ana Su'Sth-
tial indicated by his youthful passion ior tle ma
thematics, has made him select style oil elocu-
ton which would, perhaps, he deemed 100 pam
by the shallow admirers Of fla>hy defamation
The wors, Of all STYLES is the ford ana eNaSSc-
rated /, is that of minds which are, as II were,
overlaid By their ACQUISITIONS They break down
beneath burden which ticy have not >iTehSth 10
| bear
Deep vcrSed in books, bit shallow IN themselves
The mind should rather I've ftrtilized by culture
| than encountered with foreign pfool'tl.ois' r.
dan,y is at once the result and proof OF se'oii>i
Reinminr to Tennessee from The Sla'e winch
is. in two senses his Gisi0 mater WIN healh con-
siicrably impaired by excessive appiica'ioh' VII
| Polk. in the beginning OF Tie year loi'' coiii-
mcnccd the study of the law Ill the oi;'ce Oh SEND
tor Grundy. and late in 1871 was adihiuea 10 NC
b,r He commenced his professional! career IN
| me county of Maury, with great advantages, de-
rived trol. the connection OF his family with IT'S
| carly settlement To this hour, his Warines
! friends are the sharers of his fathers early pri-
ya,ions and difficulties, and the GsSociaes OF his
! own youth But his success was due To MS per
sonai qualities. still more than to cXlriilsic al
| vantaaeS A Republican in habits as well as ID
principles. depending for the maintenance OF his
/ dignity upon the esteem OF others, ana MOI upon
| his own assumption, his manners concentrated inc
| General rood will The confidence OF his iriends
/ L. tbArniuu
| demica, PREPARATION, his accurate knowledge oil
The law his readiness and resources in debate
his unwearied application 10 business, secured
| him ., once. full employment, and in less than
year he was already 4 leading practitioner
Such prompt success in profession where The
| early stages are proverhally slow and dlscoulaS-
! ing falls 10 the lot OF lew.
Mr. Poll; continued to devote some years ex-
clusively To the laboriouS prosecution oil MS pro-
| i;sson. with progressive augmentation OF It.
mutation. and the more solid rewards by which II
is accompanied In 1925. he entered upon lie
| stormy career of politics. beng chosen 10 repre-
sent his county IN The s'a'e Legislature -,
| heavy ma ,ori,v over the former incumbent, hui
not without formidable opposition lie was, Tor
| two successive years, member OF that bodv,
where his ability in debate and talent for busI-
ness. at once gave him reputation. Inc carry
personal and political friend OF General Iachson,
he was one of those who, in the session OF ISIS
called that distinguished man from his retirement
by elccne him To the Senate of the United States;
and he looks back with pride 10 The part he TOOK
in an act which was followed BY such important
consequences In August, 1898 beng 'hch IN
his ,hiirtcth wear, Mr.. Polk was chosen to repre-
sent his district in Congress and IN Inc ensuing
December. took his seat in that body. where ne
has remained ever since. He brought with him
INFO the national councils those fundamental rriE-
cipleS 10 which he has adhered through all the
personal mutations OF party. From his early
youth. he was Republican oi The ">lraite>!
sect" fIe has ever regarded The Constitution oi
| the United States as an instrument ol SpeciNc
and limited powers, and that doctrine is al Inc very
| foundation fine Democratic creed. ol course, ne
has ever been wha, is termed strict construction
| list. repudiaing above llhngs, the la'itudlnaran
/ INTERPRETATIONS of Federalism. which tend 10 The
consolidation of all power in the central Govern
men He has signalized his hostility to Thee
usurpine doctrines in all their modes. He has
always refused his assent 10 the appropriation OF
! money. by the Federal Government, for what lie
! deems the Unconstitutional purpose oi construct
| ing works OF internal improvement within the
States. He took ground early against the con>ii-
tu,ionaiity. as well a cXpcdicncv. OF National
Bank and in August, 1929, consequently several
months before the appearance o General JACK
sons first message announced then his opinions
! in a published letter 10 his constituents. He has
ever been opposcd TO an oppressive Tariff toT pro-
lection. and was al all times, The strenuous aavo-
cate of a reduction OF l!t2 revenue TO the econom-
ell wants Of the Government Entertaining these
opinions. as We shall haze occasion - illustrate.
and entering Congress as he did. al The first scs-
sion after the election Of ae younger IL
promptly took his stand against The broad ana
dangerous doctrines developed IN the first message
Of that Chief Magistrate and was, during The
continuance Of his administration, iiimly ana re-
solu,clv bul not taciously opposed 10 lis leaGiiS
| measures
When Mr.. Polk entered Congress, ne was: with
one ar Two exceptions. the Junior mcnherol that
| hodv Pint capaci,y like HIS could not long re-
main unno,iced. In consequence of the palpablc
d;srcgard of the public will manifested III the cleo
lion liz the House of Mr. Adams together with
the means by which it was effected. proposition
was brought forward and much discussed al ihe
time. to amend the Constitution III such manner
rs to give the choice OF President and Vice Presi-
dent Immediately and irreversibly 10 the people.
In favor of this proposition, Mr.. Polk made his
first speech in Congress, which al once attracted
the attention of the country by The force oil lis :ea-
soninq. the copiousncss of lis research, and the
spirf of honest Indignation By which ii was ami
mated twas at once seen that his ambition was
10 distinguish himself by substantial merit rather
than rhetorical display. the rock upon which most
youngora,orS split. y, the same session. thate"Te-
gious measure OF political OuiXoli>n the PaEa-
ma mission which was proposed IN contempt ol
the sound maxim, tocudvaie friendship WIN an
nations. vet engage in changing alliances with
none rave rise TO 4 vclv protracieddebaic in both
Houses of Congress. The exploded Federal doc
rim was upon this occasion revived that rs I'M
der the Constitution the President and Senate eX-
clusiyely are endowed with the treaty making
faculty. and that ofoIginatng and appointing IL
missions their acts under that power become the
supreme law ofthc land, nor can the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES deliberate upon, much less, IN the
exercise of a sound discretion refuse, the appro-
priarions necessary 10 carry them into effect
Apainst doctrine utterly subyersire OF the
rights and powers ofihc popular branch of Con
prcss as well as OF the fundamental principles oi
ihc Democracy. Mr. Polk strenuously protested
emh,-lving his views in 4 series Of resolutions
which produced, in atangiblc share, the doctrines
on this question, OF the Republican party OF %
The first OF these resolutions which presents the
general principle with hrevity and force rms
thus that it is the constitutional right and duty
OF the House Of Representatives, when called up
ON for appropriations 10 deiray the expenses 81
foreign missions, 10 deliberate on the expectancy ol
ineyrediencv Of such missions, and TO determine
an act thereon as in their judgment may seem
most conducive 10 the public good.
From this time Mr. Folks history is insepara
biz interviewer with that of the House. He i.
prominently connected with every important ques
lion, and upon every Ole, Is by an unerrns in
s,nct Of Republcannisln ,ool; the soundest anc
bodies, ground From his entrance into public
fife his adherence 10 the cardinal principle Of
the Democratic creed has been sirsularly stead
last. During the whole period Of General Jack
sons administration as long Is he retained seat
on the floor. he was one OF lis leading supporters
and att times andon certain questions olparamouni
importance, its chief reliance. In the hour OF
trial he was never found wanting, or from his
posi-. In December, 1877 two years ater MS en-
trance into The House, Mr.. Polk was placed on
the important Committee Of Foreign Affairs. and
some time after was appointed, in addition
chairman Of he Select Committee TO which was
referred that portion Of the Presidents message
calling the attention OF Congress to the probable