The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-01

xuLoaY ON rHE LATE Ex-PREsIDEsE
F,,,ae,, from Eulognm upon JAMES X: Polk. lais
Prsident c s oni'sd States. delivered at Eas'0" r''
BY JUDGE JAMES MADISON PoRTER.
nation is mourning the loss Of distinguished citizen,
s wn1 q rs frsemsa could elevate him We have
bed as portion Of those mourners TO pay The last NIB
departed worth and greatness The present seems
The lie and character OF the deceased take cursoy
review OF the governments OF the world-the mode OF
our eoaary in It's recognition OF the rights Of man and
its adaptation TO promote his happiness
military fame and glory He slowly and steadily mount
cd the ladder OF fame and political fortune BY honest and
beautiful illustration TO the rising and future generations
OF country, OF the blessings OF that form OF govern
ment which opens the way 10 its highest honors 70 the
viruous and deserving, and requires not the adventurous
aid oil family influence OF wealth 10 press them forward
In the reign OF james the First. he managed TO forfeit
T s ae
Iormliy Of It's former proprietors The lands par
ceed out to several OF his ayores on condition OF hav
ing them settled by ioiesanis IRON England and Scot
land This carried into the north OF Ireland race OF
hardy. enierprisng and energetic principally from
Scotland whose descendants are known by the appea-
tion oil Scocn-lrsh These carried with them the
shrewdness, intelligence, and education OF Scotland
ihey retained the Characteristic traits OF their native
stock, borrowed some things from their neighbors, and
fashioned in some measure by the moulding inAu
ence OF climate and country. Their religious principles
swayed their political opinions, and in maintaining their
forms OF worship and ,hsr creed they learned the rud
men,s OF Tepublcanism before they emigraed to Amer
This body Of men had passed something like century
in Ireland. when considerable portion OF them, DESTROYS
of more fully enjoying the liberty Of worshppng God
cordng to The dictates OF their own conscences, as well
sn, q yo,s in S Of
crate America They found that Ireland not the
True theatre for the realization Of their hopes and the en-
joyment Of their rights They accordingly emgaied 10
this country not, indeed. in body but at different
periods and in large numbers Their industry had made
s, = a.s aey h soas W
phere. They filled the upper country OF Pennsylvania,
Virginia and the caroIinas They had been trained to
strong. intelligent and transformations piety; had read
the scriptures faithfully and had generally received
at least the rudments Of good English education whilst
were OF high classical atianmenis. They en-
ergec and enduring in character, and given hospitality
without stint They reared their churches and school
houses wherever they went and the influence OF their
Ole, southern. and western States Of this Union.
Ii was from this race OF that James X. Polk de.
scended We profess in this country have aside all
claim 10 merit in right OF birth and have done rightly
in SO doing But we all admit that
IT'S education forms the common mind
Just as the tw'g is oeai, the tree 5 inclined;'
and the installation Of correct principles into the infant
%a y as ~ 1s. nS tor
instructed, become useful in society whilst those
]oyng these benefits become often the reverse There is
therefore, much parental intelligence and worth ha
by force Of precept and example, may be impaired 10
The foreaihefs of Mr. Polk, has been stated, were
among the emgrans from the north Of Ireland, who
came TO this country more than century since. That
portion OF The family from which he was immediately
descended were az one time residents OF Cumberland
otnfv mar vanln phpnc thay ami.
grated to the western troner OF North Carolina
siserablc time before the revolutionary In that
contest they wee the descendants OF the Scotch Irish
everywhere favor Of the independence of their
country. We find them among those who put foih the
memorable declaration Of Independence at Mecklenbug.
North Carolina. IN May l775 about fourteen months
terror the declaration of Independence adopted by Con
gress on the 4h day of July. i776 Among the sgners
toni find Thomas Polk, the paernal great uncle OF
the President who is stated to have been the pom
inen man in urging the measure. Ezekiel Polk, the
bolher OF Thomas, and the grandfather OF James X.
Pok, ii not slgner OF the instrument. OF lis
&C i've promoters and supporters Inc rather OF James
Polk was too young TO participate these movements
When he attained TO manhood he pursued the business
OF a farmer In his native county, IN North Carolina
until the Year 1905. when, with his family Of ten child
OF whom James the eldest, be emgraied the
Duck River country, in Tennessee and Of the
pioneers IN the settlement OF that new fourshng and
fertile region
The subject Of this notice was born in Mecklenbug
county, North Carolina, November I'd. 1885, and Ia
The eleventh year OF bic when his father removed
tennessee. He received The rudiments OF English
education, aud placed by his father in learn
the business Of merchant Evincing a strong repus.
10 the business, he quit The counting house,
and commenceda OF classical sudes--irs under
I've Rev. DR.. Henderson, and subsequently in the Muir.
Peterborough Academy, under Dir. s p. Black. Having
gone through The usual OF academic studies, he
entered the University Of North Ca7olina the autumn
oil 1915 IN which institution he pursued his collegiate
studies with assudy and nion, and graduated
with high honor in ISIS. His course there was distn
rusbed by incessant and labofious application study
unusual punctuaty rectaions, and In conforming 10
all the rules OF the institution. He sought to acquire
ever Thing solid which could obtain, whilst his
rect judgment rejected every thing like mefetTicous
nament in his style. Ne left the university with The
Equation OF exemplary student and ripe scholar
Returning TO Tennessee, he entered the Office OF Felix
Ginndy, eeq, aud commenced and prosecuted the study
United 10 the bar in 1870 He commenced the practice oil
HIS profession successfully and shortly afierwaod-
elected clerk OF the House Of Representatives OF Ten
nessee In 1923 he elected member Of that body
from Maury county. where he resided, and served a.
such Tor two sessions He vas active when there In
presenting the OF Andrew Jackson 10 the people o
the Union for the presidency.
In is25, when thirty years OF age. he was elected To
Congress, OF which body he continued a member for
fourteen years the last four years OF which he presided
over is deliberations Speaker with great dignity and
ability. Although, when he entered Congress, he was
with one OF two exceptions, the youngest member OF
ings his business habits. his examination
Of every subject that required his attention. soon gave
him highly respectable Standing in that body lie was
ready debaer and good popular speaker and his rep
aton increased 10 the close of his service In the ose
In 1927 he was placed On the Conuittee m Tov.;.,