Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-07-16


element throughout the country, was carried into
effect in October following and at the subsequent,
session of Congress it was The leading subject of
discussion. La the Senate, the President was GEN.
| sured for the measure, but he was sustained in
| the House of Representatives. On this occasion.
| Mr.. Polk, as Chairman of the Committee of WAYS
| and Means, vindcated the Presidents measure,
and by his GOODNESS, promptiude and skill, carried
through the resolutions OF the committee relating
to the bank and the deposites, and sustaining tho
administration, after which the cause of the bank
was abandoned in Congress.
Towards the close of the memorable session Of
1884, MIR. Speaker Stevenson resigned the Chair,
as well az his seat 10 the House The majority
of the democratic party preferred Mr.. Polk as his
successor; but In consequence offs division Ia its
rauks, the opposition united with the DEMOCRATIC
friends Of John Bell, Of Tennessee, and thereby
| succeeded in electlag that gentleman, Thea pro-
fessed friend, but since decided opponent, of the
President and his measures. Mr.. Folks defeat
produced no change in his course. lie remained
| faithful to his party, and assidueus in the per-
| formance OF his arduohs duties
lp December, 1885. Mr.. Polk was elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a
gain chosen to that station in 1887, at the extra
session held in the first year of Mr.. Van Buren's
administration. The duties Of Speaker We're dis
charged by him daring FIVE sessions, with ability.
at time when party feeling high ia the
house, and in the beginning unusual difficulties
were dro@n IL his way BY the animosity of his
political opponents. During the first session in
which he presided, more appeals We're taken from
his decisions than had occurred in the whole Pc
Rod since the origin of the government; but he
was uniformly sustained by the House, including
many of his political adversares. Notwithstand.
ing the violense with which he had been assailed,
Congress passed, at the close of the session, ia
| March, 1857, unanimous vote of thanks to it's
presiding officer, from whom it separated Wit, the
kindest feelings. In the twenty fifth Congress,
over which he presided as Speaker at three ses-
slons, commencing in September, 1887, and end
ing in March, 1889. parties We're more nearly
balanced MIR. Folks majority as Speaker being
only elght.5 and the most exciting questions were
agitated during the whole period. At the close Of
the term, MIR. Gilmore Of South Carolina, moved
1',hat the thanks of the House be presented 10 the
Hon Games x Folk, for the able, impartial and
dgnifed manner in which he has presided over its
deliberations, and performed the arduous and i'm
portant duties of the chair" On this resolutions
long and excited debate arose, which was ter
minated by the previous question, when the reso-
luton was adopted by "a in the affirmative, to ST
in the negative; hutfew members of the opposi-
ton concurred in the vote ofapproval.
Few public men have pursued firmer or moro
consistent course than Mr.. Polk, in adhering to
1885, when all his colleagues of the Tennessee del
egs*ioa, IN the House of Representatives, deter
mined to support Judge White, of that State, az
the successor to Gen. Jackson for the Presidency.
he incurred the hazard Of losing his popularity
throughout the State, by ayowing his Analterable
purpose not TO separate from the great body of the
Democratic party, in the Presidential election
He, therefore, became identified will, the friends
of Mr.. Van Bsre., ia tennessee, in 1886, when
JuA TO e. h,tG fota hVy
popular vote of over nine thousand
After service of fourteen years in Congress,
MIR. Folk, IN 1859, declined election from the
district which had SO long sustained him. He
was then taken up by the friends Of the admins
tration in 4ennsssee, rs q candidate for Governor.
to oppose Newton Cannon, who was then Cover.
nor OF tie State, and supported by the wing party
Tor reelection. After an animated canvass, during
which Mr.. Polk visited the different counties Of
that extensive State, and addressed The people on
the political topics of the day, the election took
place in August, 1880, and resulted in majority
for Mr. Polk, Of more than 1000 over Governor
Cannon AT the ensuing session of the d4egisla.
ture. Govefnor Polk, was nominated by that body,
for Vice President Of the DATED States, to ba
placed on the ticket with Mr.. Van Buren,. Hs
was afterwards nominated for the same office in
several other States. but at the election of 1916
he received ere electoral vote only for Vice Presi-
dent, which was given by eas Of the electors in
Virginia.
Having served as Governor of Tennessee for
the constitutional term of two years, Mr.. Polk was
a candidate for reelection in August al. His
prospect was unpromisng as the State in 1S4e
showed wing majority of $4,000 at the Presi-
Dental election. The result the defeat Of
Mr. Polk and the election of James G. jones, tho
wing candidate, as Governor, by majority Of g..
224. Mr. Polk, therefore, retired troga public
life, at the expiration of an executive term. Two
years after, in lS43. he was again candidate for
the executive chair, IL opposition to Gov. Jones',
but he was second time defeated, and the whig
candidate received a majority Of 1888.
From October, lS4l, until his elevation to the
highest office of the Union, Mr.. Polk remained in
private life, not, however, an inert spectator of the
wild and troubled drama of potics.-Happy in
the confidence ofhis immediate neighbors, and his'
numerous political friends throughout the State.
in the affections of charming family, and in the
ardent friendship of Andrew Jackson, he had de-
termined to withdraw from pnblic life. But the
yoice of the democracy Of Tennessee forbade the
qualification of his wishes as we have seen, he
was repeatedly summoned to stand forward ga ito
for Governor Of the State, aud he
Welded to the summons whatever might have
been the prospect of success.
Mr.. Polk did not conceal his opinions on poti-
cal subjects when called upon by his ellow-citi-
zens to express them. Those who differed from
him had no difficulty in ascertaining the fact Of
the difference.
On the Goth of May. 1874, Mr.. Polk received
the nomination of the Democratic National Con-
venton, assembled at Baltimore, for President of
the United States. To this high office he was
elected in the fall of the year, by the people
IF the United States, aud his majority over Mr..
Clay, the wing candidate, as expressed through
The electoral colleges, in December, 1874, was IS.
The votes Of the presidential electors were-tor
James K. Polk, ITO; for Henry Clay. l05.-
George NJ Dallas was elected Vice President by
the same majority, over Theodore Frelinghuysen.
The votes were counted in the House Of Repre-
sentatives, on the 10th Of February, l645. s,!
In person President Polk was of middle stature.
with full angular brow, and aquick penetrating
eve. The expression of his countenance was grave
| liz