Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-06-29

distribution, surplus beyond the wants of
the government, and maintaining that the re-
venue should be reduced 10 the exigencies of
the dublic service In 1890, he defended the
act of Gen Jackson in placing his veto on the
Maysville road bill, and thus checking the
system Of internal Improvement by the gener-
al government which had been entered upon
by Congress.
In December, 1882, Mr. Polk was trans
ferred TO the Committee of Ways and Means,
and at that session presented the report of the
minority of that committee with regard to GER
tain charges against the United States BANG
this minority report presenting conclusions
utterly adverse to the institution which had
been the subject of inquiry.
The course of Mr.. Polk arryed agains. him
the friends of the bank, and they held a meet.
ing at Nashville to denounce his report. His
re election to Congress was opposed; but, af-
ter violent contest, Mr.. Polk was reelected
| by majority of more than three thousand -
| In September. 1888, President Jackson deter
mined upon the removal of the public depos-
ties from the Bank of the United States. This
measure, which caused great excitement
throughout the country, was carried into eff
feet in October following; and at the SUISSE
Quent session of Congress, ii was the leading
subject of discussion In the Senate, the Pre-
sident was censured 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,
lpromptitude, and skill. carried through the re-
solutions of the committee relating to the bank
and the deposites, and sustaining the admins
tration after which the cause of The bank
was abandoned in Congress.
Towards the close of the memorable session
of 1894, Mr.. Speaker Stevenson resigned the
chair as we'll as his seat in the House The
majority of the democratic party preferred
Mr.. Polk as his successor; but in consequence
of division in its ranks, the opposition uni
ted with the democratic friends OF John Bell
of Tennessee, and thereby succeeded in elect.
ing that gentleman, then professed friend
, but since decided opponent. of Ike President
and his measures. Mr.. Folks defeat produ
ced no change in his course. He remained
faithful to his party, and assiduous in the per
Torrance of his arduous duties.
In December, 1895, Mr.. Polk was elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives, ant
again chosen to that station in 1887, at tht
extra session, held in the first year of MIR
: Van Buren's administration. The duties o
? Speaker were discharged by him during five
r sessions with ability, at time when party
, feelings ran high in the House, and in the be
ginning unusual difficulties were thrown II
J his way by the luminosity of his political op
, ponents. During the first session in which b.
5 presided, more appeal. were taken from hi
decision than had occurred in the whole pc
e Rod since the origin of the government; blu
he was uniformly sustained by the House, in
e GLIDING many of his political adversares.-
n Notwithstanding the violence with which b.
: had been assai!ed, Congress passed. at til,
e close of the session, in March, 1887, a unani
: nous vote OF thanks 10 its presiding officer
] from whom it separated with the kindest feel
ings. In the twenty -ffth Congress, owe
: which he presided as Speaker. at three ses
+ sions, commencing in September, 1887, ant
: ending in March, 1889, parties were NOR
), nearly balanced, (Mr Folks majority a
: ting questions were agitated during the Who'll
period. AT the close OF the term, Mr.. Elmore
OF South Carolina, moved g that the thanks o
: the House be presented to the Hon. James K
: Polk, for the able, impartial, and dignife
h manner in which he has presided over its de
n llherations. and performed the arduous an
o Important duties of the chair On this reso
:, luton long and excited debate arose, which
= was terminated by the previous question
/. when the resolution was adopted by "a in III
# affirmative, TO 81 in the negative but few O
: the members of the opposition concurred il
the vote OF approval.
Few public men have pursued frmer O
e more consistent course than Mr.. Polk, in ad
d herring TO the democratic party, in every vicis
o stude. In 1885, when all of his colleague
of the Tennessee de egation, in the House o
b Representatives. determined to support Judg
is White of that State, as the successor TO Gen
e Jackson, for the presidency. he incurred th
e hazard of losing his popularity Throughout
l. the State, by avowing his unalterable purpos
e not to separate from the great body of til
e democratic party, in the presidential election
n friends of Mr. Van Buren,, in Tennessee, il
= 1886, when Judge White received the vote 0
n that State by a popular majority OF over min
o thousand.
e After service of fourteen years in Con
e gress, Mr.. Polk. in 1899, declined re-elec
o ton from the district which had SO long sus
e tanned him. He was then taken up by tn
II friends of the administration in Tennessee, a
o candidate for governor, to oppose Newto
y Cannon, who was then governor of the State
/ and supported by the whig party for re-eIec
: ton. After an animated canvass, durin
k which Mr.. Polk visited the different countie
IS of that extensive State, and addressed the pee
d pie on the political topics of the day, the cleo
S ton took place in August, 1889, and resulte
S in a majority for Mr.. Polk of more than $50
n over Governor Cannon. At the ensuing ses
IS sion Of the Legislature, Gov. Polk was nomi
!, mated by that body for Vice President of th
e United States, to be placed on the ticket wit
i MIR. Van Buren,. He was afterwards nomina
g led for the same office in several other States
e but a: the election of 1910 be received on
# electoral vote only for Vice President. whic
e was gwen by one of the electors in Virginia
S Having served as Governor of Tennessee
; for the constitutional term of two years, MI
IS Polk was candidate for reelection in Au
l. gust, 1871. His prospect was unpromsinp
as the State in 1910 showed whig majorit
5, of $4,000 at the Presidential election. TIL
l. result was the defeat of Mr.. Polk. and tn
l. election of James c. Jones, the wing candi
n date, as governor, by a majority of 1924 =
If MIR Polk, therefore, retired from public lif
e at the expiration of his executive term. Tw
II years after. in 1s43, he was again candidat
II for the executive chair, in opposition to Gov
/. Jones but he was the second lime defeated
o and the whig candidate reelected by malo
h rity of $3.50.
e From October, 1871, until his elevation t
II the highest oi.ice of the Union, Mr. Polk re
d manned in private life-not, however, an iner
/ spectator of the wild and troubled drama O