The Arkansas banner., 1845-05-21
HON. ROBERT ]. WALKER

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 'i know of no one in connection with pub
 lie affairs, who holds position at this pero ot such interest to the south. as inc Hor
 Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasur,
 This distinguished gentleman has aIread
 won a national fame In his present position
 he will be not only one ofthe granite nillar oi the new administration, but an ornamen to this proud republic The enlightene, Judgment of President Polk has been display
 ed in an eminent degree, by charging Rober J.. Walker with the direction and control n our great financial system, and with the su pervlsIon of our national commerce and trade
 While he Is finished scholar. he is also statesman of enlarged views, looking careful, to the diversified interests of the Union. a
 well as the increasing claims and rapidly ad
 vancng welfare of the southwest-his owl londly cherished and favored portion of ou
 blessed confederacy During his bri!lian
 career In the senate of the U. S, he evinced tn, highest admiration for the substantial repub
 llcan institutions of our fathers, and furnishe, the strongest evidence of devotion to the hon
 or and glory of the American name. He ha. stamped the impress of his genius upon the legislation of his country, and won especially in the new states, an enviable popularity. Ali
 the energies of his mind will now be exerted Tn maintaining the great principles of consti- tutional liberty, and securing the highest in- terests and lasting prosperity of the most powerful nation on earth. Without intending to detract in the slightest degree from the ex- a!ted merits of other members of the cabinet. l hope you will allow me to observe, Mr. Editor, that more efficient administrative olhcer could not have been placed at the head oi the Treasury Department, than the gentle man who now presides over it. He will conduct the financial interests of this vast re- public with an ability and succes that have never been surpassed. No department of the executive power, when safely and wisely administered, Is so fully calculated to ensure
 to the people the great benefits and happy re- suits of republican government It is, in
 truth, the strong arm of any administration, and IS capable of being signaly exerted for the. "weal or wo'' of the nation. anticipate
 with confidence, from the public character, enlightened economy, and sound democratic principles of MT. Walker, that he will carry on the whole system of measures embraced
 within the wide sphere of his department, with eminent success and permanent useful ness to the country at large. And, on this point, let me add, that 1t Is the first time, in many years, we have seen a soullfefn man in this most responsible position entertaining such correct views Of national commerce. and so thoroughly devoted to the various inter- ests of the whole Union, as lie present Se- cretary. feel perfectly assured that it will be his anxious and expressing desire under this administration, 10 make the rich store- houses of the civilized world freely contribute to our wealth and happiness. Irecoliect the able, satisfactory, and eloquent speech of this gentleman, when his claims to a seat in the senate of the United States were first present. ed to the people of Mississippi in opposition to that veteran politician, George Poindex- ter. It was all elaborate address but it was so well fraught with the unsophisticated doe Urine of the old Virginia sehooi, exhibited such array of learning and statesmanlke policy
 that no man could read 1t without deriving new views and solid instruction from so rich a source. A few years after he had taken his seat in that ilustrious body, his cherished political opinions, his manly independence and gallant bearing, brought him in direct collision with the towering and naughty senator from Kentucky. If 1 am not incor- rect, Mr. Clay indignantly inquired of Mir Walker, whether he dared to raise his puny arm against him in debate In reply the un- daunted senator from Mississippi, informed the arrogant senator from Kentucky that he
 (Mr. W was there to represent sovereign state of the Union, and to defend her rights and honor against any high-handed encroach, ments or rude assaults. from any quarter whatever. He assured Mr. Clay that he ..dar- ed do all that did become man." and if ht imagined that his imposing name and grea strength would overawe his younger spiri and crush his public energies, he might fnc himself quite mistaken. He (Mr. w. wa, ready to meet him even against such fearfu
 odds, whenever and wherever 1t should bt Mr. C.'s pleasure to throw down the gaunt let in defiance. He did meet the domineerin! and powerful champion of federalism, ant fearlessly '.bearded the lion in his Iairn II, sustained himself with triumphant success
 and, from that day took rank among tn, most distinguished debaters on that floor He then attracted high admiration, and ha
 ever since been growing upon public esteem sometimes happens that politicians arc pre- maturely elevated to prominent official sta tions; not so, however, with Secretary Wal ker Advancing step by step, and ''giyng al diligence'' he has '.added to his faith, virtue and to virtue, knowledge, temperance; and t temperance, patience;n and by .sabounding il these things" he has been s'neither barrel no unfruitlul,' in his patriotic labors to ac complish the glorious work of annexing Tex as to our blessed Union. He has been tn
 leading spirit in conducting this great nation al measure to its judicious and happy consum nation; and to no other statesman is tn
 country so deeply indebted for that glorou
 achievement as to the present head of tn
 Treasury Department. The dstingushe honor, therefore, which President Polk ha
 conferred upon him, is but the noble rewar
 of eminent talents, private virtue, and publi
 services. With such enlarged views C
 American policy, such patrotism-such vii
 tue as Robert J. Walker has evinced in hi
 public career, who has a better claim to tn
 confidence of the American people He ha
 entered upon his new duties with great ener gy. Your beautiful sister city of the Bluffs
 Natchez, will experience soon the benefits c
 his industry, for an appropriation made for
 maniac hospital at that place years ago, an