The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-07-13
From the Saturday Evening Post.
Biography Of MIR. Polk.


dent Of tho United States, was the Oldest
of ten children, and was born on the 2nd |
of November. 1895, in Mscklenburg
County, North Carolina. Hi. ancestors,
whose original name, Pollock. has, by oh.
vious transition, assumed its present form
smigratsd 10 the early par, of the eigh.
/ teenth century, from ireland.
The father of James X. Polk was lar.
mer, of fuuassumisg pretensions, but en-
terprising character. Thrown upon his
own resources in early life, he became
the architect of his own fortunes. In tbs
Autumn Of 1906 he removed, with his fam.
lily of ten children, from the homestead
in North Carolina, to Tennessee, where
he wa. one Of the pioneers of tho fertile
valley of Duck River, a branch of the
Cumberland, then wilderness, but now
the most fourshing and populous portion
of the State. In this region the subject
/ of this SIX resided until his election to
the Presidency, so that he may be said,
literally, to have grown with its growth,
and streng thened with its strength.
In the Autumn of 1915 he entered the
University Of North Carolina, having in
less than two years and half, thoroughly
prepared himself to commence bis cole>
giate course, being then In the twen,ieth
year Of his age.
MrPolk's career at,the University was
distinguished. At each semisannual ex.
animation he bore away the first honor,
and finally graduated in 1918, with the
highest distinction of his class, aud with
the reputation Of being tho first scholar
in both tho mathematics and classics.
From the University he returned to
Tennessee, with health impaired by ap.
plica'ion, aud in the beginning of the
year 1917 commenced the study of the
law (that profession which has furnished
nina Of the eleven Presidents of the Uni
ted S,ates) 10 the office OF the late Felix
Grnndy. for many years Represent atv e
and Senator of Tennessee in Congress;
under whose auspices he was admitted to
the bar, at the close OF 1890. He COM
County of Maury with great advantages,
derived from the connection Of his family
with Its early settlement
In 1898 he entered upon theIs'ormy ca
reer of politics, being chosen to repre-.
sent his County in the State Legislature,
by heavy maj rity, over the former in.
cnmbent, but not without forrnid a BILE op~
position. He was for two successive
years member Of that bodyi where his
ability in debate and talent for business,
at once gave him reputation. The early
personal and political friend Of General
Jackson, he was one of those who, in the
session of1823-4 called that distinguished
man from his retirement by electiug him
to the Senate of the United States.
In August, 1925, being then in his thir.
tieth year, Mr.. Polk was chosen to rcpre-
sent his district in Congress, and took his
seat 10 the National Councils in Decem
ber following.
When Mr. Polk satered Congress, he
was, with one or two exceptions, the ju
nior member OF that body. His first
amend the Constitution in such manner
as to prevent the choice Of President of
tho United States from, devolving ON Con.
gress in any event.
ln 1880, be defended tho act of Gene
raj Jack son In placing his veto on the
Maysville Road Bill, and thus checking
the system of internal improvement BY
the general government, which had been
entered Upon by Congress.
| In December, MIR. Polk was transferred
the Co m ittse nf Ways and Means, and
at that session presented the Report of
the minority of that Committee, with re-
gard to certain charges against the U1i.
ted States Bank this minority Report
presenting conclusions utterly adverse to
the institution which had been the su 5jsct
of inquiry.
In December, 1885, Mr.. Polk was cleo
lected Speaker of the House of Repre-
| sentatiyes, and again chosen to that sta
tion in 1887, at the extra session held in
the first year of Mr.. Van Buren's admin.
| istration. The duties of Speaker were
discharged by him during five sessions
with ability, at a time when party feeling
ran high in the House.
After a service of fourteen years in
Congress, MIR. Polk. in 1889, declin ed
reelection from the dis trict which had SO
long sustained him. He was then ta-
ken [up by The friends of the administra-
iion in Tennessee, as a candidate for
Governor, TO oppose Newton Cannon,
Who was then Governor Of the State. aud
supported by the Wing party for re-lec-
tioD. After an animated canvass. during
which Mr. Polk visited the ifFerent Coun-