Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-07-14


Of South Carolina, moved 'qhas the thanks 9th
house be presented to the Hon. James X. Pos
for the able, impartial and digniied manner il
which be has presided over It's deliberations. AM
performed the ardaous aud important duties Oftht
chair" On this resolution, long and excite,
debate arose, which was terminsted ly the pre-
yioas question, when tie resolution was adepies
BY "a in the affirmative, 10 81 fh the negative
but Few Ofthe members Of the opposition concur
red in the voc OF approval The speaker Ia. ad
JoaFning the house, made reply Of more thar
ordinary length aud showing. on his part, deeI
feeling. Among other remarks, be said
"When look back to the perioli when fts
took my seat In this house, aud then look aronnt
me iofthose who were al thattime my associates
here, ! find but lew, very few, remaining. Blu
five members who were here with me fourteen
years ago, continue to be members Of this body
My service here has been constant and laharious
can perhaps say what but few others, if any
can, that have not failed TO attend the daily ST..
llngs ofthis house single day since have beer
member 6tit, save on a single occasion, when
prevented for a short time BY indisposiiion. In
my intercourse with the members of this body
when occupied place upon thu floor, though
occasionally engaged in debates upon interesting
public questions, and Of an exciting character, il
Is a source oluamingled qualification TO me to re-.
eur 10 the fact, that on no occasion was theirs the
slightest personal or unpleasant collision with
any oF its members. Maintaining, and al all
times expressing, my own opinions firmly, the
same right was fully concealed 10 others. For
four years past, the station have occupied, and
q sense Of propriely III the divided and unusually
excited state Of public opinion aud iceng, which
has existed both in this house aud the country,
have prcelgded mo from participating ID yGur de-.
bates. Other duties were assigned me-
! "The high office Of Speaker, TO which il has
been twice the pleasure Of this house 10 elevate
ine, has been al all times ono Of labor and hiah
responsibility. II has been made M duty to de-.
eide more questions Of parliamentary law and
order, many Of them Of complex and difficult
character arising often IN the midst Of high ex>
citemenl, IN the course Of our proceedings, than
had been decided, il is believed by all my prede.
eossors, from the foundation Off the government.
Hhishousc has uniformly sustained me, without
distinction Of The political parties Of which ii has
been composed. return them my thanks Tor
their constant support in the discharge ofIhc du.
lies have had to perform.
Shut, gentlemen, my acknowledge are es.
pcciay due to the majority Of this house, for the
high and latterng evidence they have given me
Of their appreciation ofmy conduct as the presi.
ding officer OF the house, by The resolution you
have been pleased 10 pass. regard II as Of in,
fniiely more value than if il had been the com~
mon matter Of course, aud customary resolution
which, lathe courtesy usually prevailing between
The presiding officer and the members of any de-
liberaie assembly, il always passed, at the close
Of their deliberations. regard thisas the high.
est aud most valued testimony have ever re-.
ceived from this house, because know that the
circumstances under which il has passed. have
made il matter ol substance aud not Of mere
form. | shall bear il il graceful remembrance
10 the latest honr Of my life.
Il trust this high Office may In future times be
filed, as doubtless It viii be, by ADLER men. 1t
know, be filed By any one who will de.
vote himself with more zeal and untiring indus
try 10 do his whole duty, than have done"
Few public men have pursued firnar or more
consistent course than Mr.. Polk, in adhcring to
the democratic party. in every vicissitetle. Ii
1876, when all Of his colleagues Of the Tennes-
see delegation in the House Of Representatives
determined 10 support Judge White Of that State
as the successor to General Jackson for the Pre-
sidency, he incurred the hazard Of losing his pop
ularty throughout he State, by avowing bis un.
altcrabIe purpose ini to separate from the great
boty Of The democratic party, in the Presidential
election. lie, therefore, became identified with
lhe fiehds Of Mr.. Van Buren, IN Tennessee, IL
1886, when Judge White received the vote Of
that State by popular majority Of over nine
thousand.
After service Of fourteen years In Congress,
Mr.. Polk, In 1899, declined he selection from The
district which had 30 long sustained him. lie
was then taken up by the friends thn admins.
lration in Tennessee, as a candidate for Cover
nor t, oppose Newton Cannon, who was then
Governor Of The State, and supported by The
Wing party for reelection. Alter IN animated
canvass, during which Nj. Polk visited The Dill.
ferent counties Of that extensive State and nd.
dressed the people On the political topics ofthe
day, the election took place in August, 1880, and
resulted IN majority for Mr.. Polk, Of mere Than
2 900 over Gov. Cannon. Al The ensuing SEES
sion Of the Legislature, Gov. Polk was nominated
by thai body, for Vice President Of the United
States, TO be placed on tho ticket with Dir. Van
Buren,. He was afterwards nominated for the
same Office 10 several othe. States but 1t the ..
lection Of 1910 he received one electoral vote on
ly for Vice President, which was given by one Of
the electors III Virginia.
Having served as Governor Of Tennessee for
The constitutional term Of two years, Mr. Polk
was candidate for a reelection in August,
ls4I. His prospect was unpromising, as the
State in 1910 showed Wing majority ofl2,O00
At the Presidential election. The result Yves the
defeat Of Mr.. Polk, and the election Of James G..
Jones the Wing candidate, as Governor, by a
majority Of 3,224. Mr.. Polk, therefore, retired
from public lfa.at the expiration Of his executive
term. Two years after, in ls43, be was again
a candidate for the executive chair, in opposition
to Governor Jones, but he was the second tiipo
defeated, and the Wing candidate reelected by
a majority Of 3,033.
From October, 1871, until bis elevation to the
highest office in The Union, Mr.. Polk rc.Gained
IN private life, not, however, an inert spectator Of