Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-26
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
/ MES KNOX POL K
LATE PRESIDENT OF TIE UNITED STATES.

and was bern on Inc 2i Of November, 1875, in
Mcchlcnburs county, North Cafolna-conse-
oucnlly h. dice! a. The age oil finy-our years se-
VEN months ant thirteen days. His ancestors,
whose original name, Pollock, has, by otvocs
transition, assumed its present form, emisraed
| in The early part Of the eighteenth century, IRON
Ireland The family traces their dtscen, from
1 Robert Polk, wEo vas born and married IN Ire
land: his uilc, Msgialcn Tuslier, was h- heiress
| ol liuwuna Hill. They had SIX soEs AMI Two
d.ugn.efs; Robert Polk, me prossni;3r q James
| knGx P, TX, was The filth son; lie married Miss
| Guil.I and removed 70 America. Ezekiel Polk,
IN. grandfather OF James K. Polk, Was one oi his
| sons.
The Polk family settled in Someresi county, on
| the Eastern shore Of Maryland, where some OF
their defendants sill sojourn Being the only
| Democrats 4. n,,e in that county, tney were
| called re Democratic family The branch OF
The family from which the President IS desccnded
removed 10 The neighbouihUct II Carlisle, III Penn
sylyania, and thence 10 the Western frontier OF
| North Carolina, sometime before the commence.
meui OF the Revolutionary war. Some OF The Polk
family were honoTably distinguished 10 that
eyrn,iul struggle On tie ooh Of May IT'S, con-
| seourn.ly more than Twelve months anterlot 10
tie Declaration OF Independence u The 4th .. July,
| l776 The assembled Inhabitants OF Mcck!nGbui e
county publicly ahSoIved themselves from Their
allegiance u the British crown, and issued 4 Tor.
ma manifesto u Independence, 10 terms a manly
eIoquence, similar 10 some Oi Ihc expressions
in Inc declaration OF The American Congress,
adopted more Than year afiefWald. Colonel
| Thomas Polk, The prime mover in this act Of
noble daring. and one Of The signeFs OF this first
Declaration Il independence, was lie great uncle
o. The Pres leni; and The family Is also connected
with The A exandeIs, Chairman an Secretary q
Inc mccrirg which adopted The declaration, as
well a. with Dr. Ephraim BreyaTd, the author Of
| The declaration ils.i
The father Il James X. Polk was farmer OF
| unassumiGs pietensions, oul enterprIsing char-
acIer. Thrown upon his own resources IN early
| life he became tie archiec, OF his ownfortunes.
He was warm supporter Of Mr.. Jefferson, and
through lie firm and Undertaking Democrat
| In thc autumn al 1906 he removed with his la
miiy oil ten chidfcn, ron The homestead in NORTH
| Ca!olna 10 Tennessee, where he vas one 81. the
| picneers Of the ier,ie valley II Duck river, a
| branch Of I'M Cumberland, then wilderness, but
| now the most Iurishlng ard popuious portion
of The STATE. 10 his region the subject OF this
skelch resided until his election 10 tnr presiten.
| cg, So that he may &c said, literally, 10 have
| grown with rs growth, and strengthened With MS
reG2lh. OF course, in ne infancy OF It's settle
| meut the opportunities iur INSTRUCTION could not
| be gtear. Nywi h>tantlas his disadvantage and
| The sill! more formidable Une u paniu! atiec-
ton from which, after yea, et suffering. ne was
| fuaIy relieved hy 4 surgical cpefa!ion-he ac-
CURED The elements II good English education
| Apprehendine rha, his constitution had been loo
much impamed 10 permit he confinement, II s'u
| DIV, bis father determined much, however against
| tho will III the SON. ~ make nm commercial.
| MAJ and, with THIS vicw placed him with mer-
| chant.
| He remained few weeks ~ situation adj
| verse IL hi- wishes and incompatible with his
laslc. Finally, MS earnest appeals succeeded in
! overcoming The resistance II his ialher, and in
July, 1913, he was placed first under lie care OF
the Rev. DR.. HENDERSON, and subsequently al The
academy OF Murireesboroueh, Tennessee. then
under Inc direction Of Mr.. Samuel p. Black,
Justly celebrate IN hal region as classica!
| eacher In The autumn OF 1915, he entered The
| University nt Norm Carolina, having, IN tess
han twu years ami hall, Thoroughly prepared
| himself 10 commence lis collegiate course, being
then in he twentieth year Of his age.
Mr. Folks career al the University was distin-
guished. AT each semi.annual examination he
bore away he first honor and finally graduated
in 1918, with The highest distinction Of his class,
| and with The reputation Of being Inc mrs! schci-
| ar IN both The ma hcmalics and classics. or The
| former science re was pas.ona'ely fond, though
|
al the college was marked by The same asslduity
and sludiuus application which have since dis
| tineuished him His ambition 10 EXCEL was
cqualcd BY his perseverance alone; in p.oot OF
| which il is said that he never missed rcclla-
ton, nor omitted me punctilious performance oil
any du,y. Habits Of close application a. college
are M. 10 b. despt>cd hY those who pride them
selves 90 briliancy >! mind, as they were 90
compatible. This IS melancholy mistake
Geliu. has ever been defined the faculty OF ap-
probation, The later Is, al eas something bet.
,er. and more available So carefully has MIR.
Polk avoiied The pedan'ry Of classic! display,
which is the false TASTE OF our day aid country,
as almos, 10 hide the acquisitions which dstin-
euished his carly career. His preference Tor The
useful and substanlial indicated by his youthful
passion Tor he mathematics, has made him SC.
| Iecl style 81 r!o.r!ion which Warli perhaps Re
i-enled too pam by the admifefs 81 nashy dec
| amation.
From The University lie returned 10 Tennessee,
with health impaired BIZ application, an IN lie
beginning Of The year, 1919, Commenced he stu
DIV Of The law (lhat profession when mas furish-
ed nine Of The rIeyen Presidents OF the Unred
STATES in The Office OF the late Felix Grundy, fer
msng years representative and senator Of Ten
ne.see in Congress, under whose ausric's he
vas admitted 10 ne bar al thr close 81 1870
| lie commenced his professional career in he
county Of Many, sin great advantages. defiref
from The connection 4 his family win IL early
| ,euemenr. fils WarnIest friends uerc The sha-
rers OF his fathers early privaiion' AM Difficult
les. and the associates OF his OWE youth. Bot
his success was due 10 his personal qualities Sill
more than - c1'rinsic advantages. Fepubii-
can in habits as W. IA as il principles depending
| Tor The naiEtainanc" 81 his dignity upon the $
reem oi Others, AID not upon his own assnmp-
iun his manners concilialed The general good
| will. The confidence OF his tfieLcs vas justified
by The result His thorough academcai ctuca-
ion, his accurate knowledge Of the law, his -ca.
Giness and resources in debate his unwearied
application 10 business secured hin, a, once, full
cmpioymen ard in less than year &c was al
ready leading practitioner.
VT. Polk continued T. devote some years q
clu-ivey u the prosecution q. MS proiesson
with progressive Augmentation Of reputation
ana he more solid rewards By which il is accom-
panied. In 1923 he entered upon the stormy ca
reer OF politics, being chosen 10 represent his
county in the State Legislature, BY heavy ma
iority over the torme! incumbent but No, whou,
formidable opposition. He was for two succes-
siys wears member Of that body; where his abb.
inv in debate, and talent 70. business, 4; once
gave him reputation. The early personal and
political friend OF GeD.ra Jackson ne was one
oil those aho in he session OF lS23-21, called
that distinguished man from his retirement, by
elec,ing him 10 the Senate OF the Unued SAFES.
In August 1875, being then in bis Ihirtieh
year, Nj. Polk as chosen 10 represent his dis
ric in Congress, and iock his sea! 10 The nation.
al councils in December following He brought
with him these fundamental! principles 10 which
he has adhered through al! he MT atoms OF par.
~ From his early youth he was Democratic
republican 81 The sifictest sect, lie has ever re-
sarded the constitution oflhe United SAFES as an
instrument Of specific aud limited powers, and
he wa. found in opposition 10 every measure
that aimed 10 consolidate federal power, or 10 de-.
tract from he dignity ard lesi ims,e functions Of
N State governments. H. ..gnallz'd hi. hosii'.
" 10 the doctrines OF those wno ED 10 male
liberal construction 0! he ccns!i %, in all
their modes. lie always refused bis assent 10
the appropriation Of money By the federal 60
vernment Tor wha, be deemed The unconsti.u.
topal purpose OF constructing works OF internal