The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-27

ton was forgotten. and all the endeamsnts Of life sact
he sse yS y ss country ed s sass s.io
currency s in respects like the atmospheric vita
ted. parayzaon and death ensue to all depending on
oss s 10 ne
capital loses its accustomed return, labor goes unempoy
ed. and commerce, not wholly destroyed. is seriously
injured Amidst the angry feelings 81 which such sub
The championship Of the proposed changes and when we
find this done by one scarcely In bis thirtyeghth
year, and discover from the history or our own recoec
lions OF the past he fulfilled its duties in way to cha
lenge the display Of the first order OF talent in defence,
and at the time, TO win the sincere respect OF his
adyersares. uncandid indeed, must be the man who
tied praise This praise will be awarded BY all, what
ever may be their opinions other topics save those
who, without the wings Of genius: seek to bind those Of
others 70 the dali earth from which they have not the
50 mposng had been the ability displayed in the re-
ports from his pen, and exhibited in his parliamentary
eloquence before the House, such his Prompitude and
which he was attached on the resignation oil Mr.. Ste
yensdn In 1884, with but few exceptions, designated him
as the proper person to FIJI the responsible Office OF Speak
OF the House OF Representatives Of the United States
Owing to causes unnecessary to be enumerated the
wishes of his friends not then grated but in the
succeeding year he was elected to the Speakers chair,
from which he continued 10 preside over the deliberations
of the House for period embracing five OF Its sessions
With the exception OF but unfortunate incident long
since noby and CALAMITY atoned for by the genteman
the excitement Of debate, oecasioned It. his Speakership
was s6ch to command the designation OF able dgn
fed and impartial On retiring IRON this exalted posi-
edge Of the manner in which he had discharged its du
ties, he felt justified mspeakng in the following terms;
"The high office Of Speaker 70 which 1t has twice been
Of has bsea
my duty to decide more questions Of parliamentary law
In The mid nf in
Of our proceedings than have been decided, il is
believed by all my predecessors from the Foundation Of
Without dicon Of the Political PARTIES which it is
composed"
In March, 1899, Mr.. Polk retired from Congress For
fourteen consecutive years he had represented the district
IN which from childhood, be had constantly resided
During all this time the confidence Of his early friends
not only nabated but if possible, increased by the
irnnessi which no difficulties, however appalling to
owing to sincere desire to spend the remainder OF his
of the day. conceiving he had contributed full and
patriotic share OF labor and time TO the public. But the
people of Tennessee thought otherwise and demanded
his servicesn the administration of the affairs OF their
State, and in the execution OF this belief elected
him, under circumstances in every way much enhan-
cling the compliment, to the gubernatoral office Per-
haps nothing could more distinctly evidence the sincere
respect the people entertained for his private and public
worth than his election to the Office OF governor The
gentleman whom be defeated was the soverndf Of the
State I'd which he had been elected over competitor
honoraby distinguished in the history Of his country,
by the Overwhelming majority OF upwards OF twenty
thousand votes and yet such was the force OF Mr.
Folks character among those who had known him long
great disparity in numbers, and was conducted into the
Office by majority OF thousands This was in great
degree the triumph Of intellectual and moral WORTH and
not solely of particular class OF political views for
beyond all doubt at the time Of his election has been
the SINCE considerable majority OF the people
Of his State were opposed TO him IN political doctrine
tired 10 the pursuits Of private Lie, evoting himself with
all his accustomed industry and fathfuness to the prac
ce Of his profession in which he was 20 well fitted to
acquire renown. While thus occupied, he was, by the
pariay Of his friends in 1874 summoned to serve as
candidate for the highest Office known 10 the consttu
tion-the Chief Magstracy Of the country To this dis
siasns, and in March isiS. sommsncsd an admnsifa
ton Of our national Affairs; which, for the importance
and magnitude of the events signalling it, is without
pot Be whos 1 wSca aho we're
there four years in the history of any nation more
repleie with events Of controlling importance on its pres
ent condition and future destiny than those which so en-
phatcay characterize the four years OF Mr. Folks ad
ministraton. II is difficult 10 say what question OF gov
ernmenta poy has not been presented in those four
years. His administration, by coneatenaon oil events
embraced every question OF domestic and foreign policy
The arts Of peace the science OF war; questions OF en-
pre, OF trade and Of currency, each engaged lis attention,
and demanded, as I received its emphatic action.
the manner in which all these questions met and
disposed Of In regard 10 this will be the
country where freedom OF opinion s properly cherished
OF the sures bulwarks OF republican and national
Liberty there is, and doubtless will continue to be- DIFF
ference OF opinion. As citizens OF country,
bound by the incentives to the preservation OF its
institutions, and urged by common patriotism TO ardent
desire its glory and prosperity, II mindful OF what is
due from 10 another, each and all irresisbly
led to acknowledge whatever differences there may be
between us 10 regard to public measures. that such differ
ences have their foundation in conscientious convictions
The friends OF the late President, in with
such feeling, without hesitation, award TO those who
differed from him in opinion the credit OF sincerity, and,
as their right claim for him and themselves similar
merit They believe. too, there is public occasion on
which IL will not be permitted, by just audience 10 the
friends OF departed worth DETAIL respectful but
the same time, distinct language, the grounds which
rest their reverence and gratitude. SO believing. and
animated by this sentiment Il will be my purpose briefly
to sketch Of the brilliant events characerzng
the administration OF PREsIDEsT Polk.
II is well known TO every student OF American history
that from period almost coeva with the adoption o the
federal constitution, the people OF these States have been
divided into two great classes although concurng
the true application OF the principles OF our institutions,
and proposing widely dissmlar, TO attain ends
avowedly and doubtless truly the ultimate objects desired
bya In the formation OF one OF these great parties Mr.
Jefferson bore prominent, il not the most effective and
conspicuous part and, in consequence, has fixed the
mind OF large much the larger portion Of our popula.
ton, the conviction that his views OF the science of gov
ernment applicable 10 country, those destined
in time to secure. il observed, the largest possible degree
OF happiness and prosperity to the hundreds OF millions
dweIlers within the limits OF our magnificent domain
Ala Polk was sincere and ardent disciple Of that great
leader; and his whole life, from boyhood 10 the tomb,
exhibited an nfaerng hopcfuIness in the fecous ru-
ion OF most OF the great measures suggested by him,
officially in his private writings Like him, he ever
he aim nj ant N