Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-07-16
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA. MONDAY, JULY l6, l849

ted the punc'ilious performance of any duty
Habits OF close application at college are apt to be
despised by these who pride themselves their
brilancy of mind. as if they were incompatible.
This is a melancholy mistake Genius has aver
been defined the faculty of appreciation. The
latter is, at least, something better and more avail
able. 80 carefully has Mr.. Polk avoided the pc
dantry Of classical display, (Which is the false
taste Of our day and country almost to hide the
acquisitions which distinguished his early career.
His preference for the useful and substantial. in
dictated by his useful passion for the mathematics.
has made him select style of elccuion which
would, perhaps be daemed too plain by the admir-
ers of f1ashy defamation.
From the University he returned to Tennessee.
and in the beginning of the year 1919. eo.nrnenc.
ed the study Of the law Chat profession waich
has furnished nine Of the elsven President of the
.s.lnited Ssatesl in the offee Of the ,zse 1aeiix
Grundy, for many years representative and sen
ator of Tennessee in Congress; under whose
auspices he was admitted to the bar, at the close
of 1920. He commenced his professional career
in the county Of Maury. with great advantages,
derived from the connection of his family with its
early settlement. His warmest friends were the
sharers of his fathers early priyatiens and diff
culties, and the associates of his own youth. But
his success was due to his personal qualities still
more than to extriasic advantages. A republican
in habits as well as in principles, depending for
the maintenance Of his dignity upon the esteem of
others, and not upon his own assumption, his
manners conciliated the general good will The
confidence of his friends was justified by the re-
suit. His thorough acedemical education, his ac-
curate knowledge of the law, his readiness and
resources in debate, his unweared application to
business secured him, at once, full employment,
and in less than year he was already leading
practitioner.
Mr.. Polk continued to devote some years ex-
clusively to the prosecution of his profession, with
progressive augmentation of reputation, and the
more solid rewards by which it is accompanied
In 1928, he entered upon the stormy career of
politics, being chosen TO represent his county in
the State Legislature, by heavy majority over
the former incumbent, but not without formidable
opposition He was for two successive years
member of that body where his ability for de-
BATE and talent for business at gave him rep
utation. The early personal and political friend
Of General Jackson, he was one of those who, in
the session of l823-'24, called that distinguish
ed man from his retirement, by electing him to
the United States Senate.
In August 1926, being then in his thrtieth
year, Mr.. Polk was chtsen to represent his dis
trct in Congress- and took his seat in the national
councils in December following. He brought
with him these fundamental principles to which
he has adhered through all the mutations Of party
From his early youth he was democratic repub-
lican of the sirictes sect. lie has ever regarded
the constitution of the United States as an instru-
ment Of specific and limited powers, and he was
found in opposition to every measure that aimed
to consolidate federal power, Of to detract from the
dignity and legitimate functions of the State gov
ernments. He signalized his hostility to the doc
trnes of those who held to mere liberal eonstruc-
ton of the constitution, in all their NODES lie
always refused his assent to the appropriation of
money by the federal government for what he
deemed tho unconstitutional purpose Of construct
ing works of internal improvement within the
States. He took ground early against the c1nsti-
tusionality we'll as expediency of national
bank; and in August, 1929, consequently several
months before the appearance of General Jack.
suns first message, announced then his opinions
in a published letter 10 his constituents. He has
ever been opposed toa tariff for protection, and
was, at all times, the strenuous advocate of re
duction of the revenue to the commercial wants of
the government. Entertaining these opinions and
entering Congress, as he did, at the first session
after the election Of John Quincy Adams to the
Presidency, he promptly took his stand against
the doctrines developed is tbs message of that
Chief Magistrate, and was, during the continuance
ofhis administration, sssolutely opposed to its
leading measures.
When MIR. Polk entered Congress, he was,
with one or two exceptions, the junior member of
that body. His frst speech was in favor of al
to amend the constitution in such
manner as to prevent the choice Of President Of
the United States from deyolying ON Congress in
any event. This speech at once attracted public
attention by the force of its reasoning. the copous
ness of its research, and the spirit of Indignation
WIKI reference to the then recent election by Con-
press, by which it was animated At the came
tko .faff tho Popspos
brought before Congress, and the project was OPP
posed by Mr.. Polk, who etrenuousy protested a
eanst the doctrine Of the friends of the admins |
tration that as the President and Senate are the
treaty making power the House of Representa-
tives cannot deliberate upon refuse the appro-
priation necessary to carry them into effect. The
views of MIR. Polk he embodied in series Of reso-
lutions, which reproduced, in tangible shape, the
on this question. OF the republican party
Of 1898. The first Of these resolutions declares,
''that it is the constitutional right and duty of the
House of Representatives, when called upon for
appropriations to defray the expenses of foreign
missions, to deliberate on the expedency of such
missions, and to determine and act thereon, as in
their Judgment may seem most conducive to the
public good"
From this time Mr. Folks history became in
separately interviewer with that of the House. He
is prominently connected with every important
question, and upon every one took the boldest de-
nocratic ground He continued TO oppose the ad
minstraton Of Mr.. Adams until its termination,
and during the whole period Of Gen. Jackson's
terms he was one of its leading supporters. and at
lines, and on certain questions of paramount i'm
portance, it's chief reliance. In December, 1927,
Mr. Polk was placed on tho committee of foreign
affairs, and SOME time after, as chairman Of a
ect committee he made a report on the surplus
revenue, denying the constitutional power Of Con-
yress to collect from the people, for distributions
surplus beyond the wants of government, and
that the revenue should be reduced |,
10 the exigencies of the public service In 1880,
10 defended the act of General jackson in placing
lis veto on the Maysyle road bill, and thus
checking the system of internal improvement by
he general government which had been entered
lpon by Congress.
In December, 1882, Mr.. Polk was transferred
othe committee Of ways and means, and that
esslon presented the report Of the minority of that
tkt1~ AZ l.