Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-06-13

~ one or two exceptions, he was the
youngest member Of the House of Rep
resentatives, and an opportunity was
not long wanted to give evidence of his
capacity as well as of his principles
| The foul corruption which gave issue
to the election of John @. Adams tc
the Presidency by the House, through
the fraudulent bargain with Clay, led
to proposition to amend the Consti-
tuition in such manner as to give the
choice of President and Vice Presi-
dent directly to the people. This
is what ought to be the case-the
whole system Of voting through cleo
tors is wrong, and needs repeal. In
favor of this, proposition, Mr.. Polk
made his first speech in Congress,
which we are told cat once attracted
the attention of the country BY the force
of its reasoning, the copiousness of its
research and the spirit Of honest indig-
nation by which it was animated" 1t
was at once SEEM that his ambition was
to distinguish himself by substantial
merit, rather than rhetorical display,
''the rock upon which most young ora
tors split.
At the same session, the notorious
scheme of old federalism, known as
the "Panama Mission," was preached.
Against this attempted subversion of
the rights and powers of the House,
Mr.. Polk took a bold stand, embody-
ing his views in a series of resolutions,
based upon the doctrines of the Re-
publican party of'90:
In December, 1927, Mr.. Polk was
placed on the important Committee of
Foreign Affairs. He was also Chair
man Of the Select Committee to which
was referred that portion of Jackson's
Message in reference to the probable
accumulation of a surplus in The Treas
ury after the anticipated extinguishment
Of the public debt. The report made
by him from this Committee is filled
with the soundest doctrines, ably and
lucidly enforced.
The session of 1880, is noted for the
death blow given by Jackson to the
unconstitutional system of Internal I'M
provements by the General Govern
ment. Mr.. Polk stood out foremost
in this contest in sustaining the Presi-
dent; indicating the man against the
personal abuse heaped upon him, and
his veto by which the monster was
strangled. !
In 1882, Mr.. Polk was member of
the Committee of Ways and Means
1t was at this session he so distinguish
ed himself in this committee, in the
contest with the United States Bank
His minority report brought against
him the whole power of the Bank
How nobly he sustained himself against
the prohigate Misrepresentation and
unrscrupulous efforts of that power,
can never be forgotten by the country.
His enemies still bear in mind his I'M
yielding efforts and tireless energy
his friends are now to reward him for
his mistaken patriotism and iron decis-
ion, which, in the whole of that fearful
contest, never gave way a hairs
breadth, nor shrunk from the deadliest
blows, aimed as they We're, by arms
mighty in power, and nerved with the
merciless energy of hellish desperation.
In 1888, the corruption and open de-
fance of the United States Bank, de-
termined the President to the removal
of the public deposites from its vaults.
A man Of boldness to suggest and cour
age to act, was needed as Chairman
of the Ways and Means COMMITTEE
JAS. X. POLK was such man. The
shock was to be formidable one. The
contest was to be fercer than ever. But
he proved himself equal to all that the
crisis demanded. This short sketch
cannot do justice TO the man who stood
| foremost in this fearful conflict: Who
does not remember the session of 1888?
Who has forgotten the hopes and fears
the denunciations of opponents-the
detection Of friends-the wavering of
the timid-and the stern defiance Of
the sound hearted, stood by the sold
asaq, Of iron aoilI;"-who can forget
that contest Who was the man that
then led on our ranks in the House of
Representatives, until in the trlum-
plant victory, the Bank yielded in des-
pair, and the righteous cause of the
people was again in the ASCENDANT
That man was JAMES K. POLK!
And now, when the whole country
turns with sickening disgust from the
carcass of the monsters, seethlng with
corruption and cursed with the tears
and sufferings of the widow and the
orphan, who will hesitate to do honor,