Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09

conceded that they were Justly dac TO bis ripe
scholarship, and his e1em pary department. =.
Alter an absence of lwenly-nine years nc v's-
tied his Alma Maa. was one ol his comPan-
ions, and recall with melancholy sa'isIacu1n
the recullecIons ci lha! scene. lie was as iuou
est, unoslenlatious, and unpTrsuming as wneh 10
youth he had left her halls Bul 10 olner fes'
poets how different! When he went form ron
The qnIe. shades oil the vcne able scat OF learn
ing, he was unused 10 The struggles ol l',e uh-
yeiscd ia The ways Of men, aid he shfahh ,io'ii
the contemplation 81 The future WIN uheehu'u
and uncertain hoprs u success. re fe'utneu,
al her invitation, hOnnred by tn confidence % nus
great country, with reputation eslaoiishcd' we
jus: reward OF long and meliIorious puonc SIS
vice and filling the highest civil ofhce Known 10
mankind. With the affection OF duillni son,
lie knelt al her aIlars and gratefully acknowledge
ed that 10 her, and TO her training, he owed III
large measure the success ot his lille.
With all The distinction which a STUDENT can
win, he returned 10 his home in me west anu
adopting the law as his profession, he prosecuted
hi, studies under The direction OF Ihal di''in>
suishcd statesman and jurist, felif ufunay,
whom he made his ard. III and constant irienu
through life. In The year 1920, he commenced
the practice and engaged in The stern rcaii'its Of
the actual business Of lie.
But he did not relax his habits OF study; III
cessant in his application 10 business, mia ana
conciasoly in MS department, idenlined WIN
the people, aid mixing with Them win feelings
OF kindness and nafIecled respect and comb
dence, he in a short time occupied nigh RANK ID
his profession, and realized as large reward
as The business of The Courts would warrant
His fellow citizens gave him higher evidence
Of their confidence, by rlecling him 10 The o'ate
Legislature in 1923 and ri; and in 1928 he bes
came their represe NATIVE in The Congress oil The
United STATES. That relation he honO'ably sus-
tanned Tor fourteen years, aud enjoyed The conf.
dencc OF those generous cots i!uents as long Is
he lived.
He brought with him into the halls OF The
National Legislature The habits OF business and
IF patient labor, and oil thorough investigation,
| which his early training had given him, and he
very soon acquired the respect oi all his assocI~
ate, and the confidence ot his political friends,
in no ordinary degree. lie often participated IN
debate, and by his full comprehension CT the sub
iect, The result OF careful and dispassonaIe eY-
animation, and by his familiar acquaintance
with the business Of the house, rapidly lose in
reputation. AS debaer, he was always
ready and effective. He did mol attempt ihelorl.
cal displaYs-his Ell we're Eot characterized
by The rich imagery OF fancy, or The dazzling CO.
ruscalioDs OF genius, bu; he was always prsct-
cal, thoroughly informed, and judicious and for
clble in his arguments. lie had, from deep and
unchanged conviction, adopted The political faith
OF that party in our country which commended Tor
a strict construction Of The federal constitution,
claiming 10 limit, as far as was consistent with
the performance OF lis legitimate duirs and lnnc-
lions, The powers OF The federal government, and
leaving all Others 10 The States and 10 the people.
He was no enthusiast hui he was impressed
with the lenets Of his political creed, almost with
| The llrmnesS Of religious faith. With eIrmpla
~ personal hauiIs. unremi!Ing in his attendance
al the Strings oil the house, aSsiiuous IN INFORM
| ing himself on the subjects Of its business, and
with ability and with powers oi debate conspicu-
ously cqrsI 10 he maintenance OF MS princ.
PIES, u not matter Of surprise thai he receiv-
I'd the highest honors which his friends could
confer. Aher performing, with unprecedented
abor ard distinguished success, The duties ci
Chairman Of The Committee u WAYS and
Means, he was elected Speaker VI he House OF
Representa- the third, il not The second oil,
fee in dignity and importance under our Gov
eminent.
During lour years he discharged lic complex
duties oil his highly responsible Office in times OF
no ordinary political excitement Il was not 10
he expected that in The House OF Representatives,
constituted as il was, and often dashed into furi-
ous s.ita ion by heated debates, The presiding Off
Ger would be so eqnabe and so yisilanl as 10
ave- d complaints OF departure ifcm quail and
exact ju,licr 10 all. But on retiring ircm n" exai.
ell aud dillicnl position, he iel justice! in ad-
dressing The tious,, which had thanked him for
The mahEcr in which lie had performed his du>
ties. III Ire Ionwlns terms:
The high onirc OF Speaker la which il has
twice been ,:.e pleasure Of III House 10 elevate
mr., has been al all times one Of labor and I,spon
sibiiy. Il has been made my duty Ia decide
| more questions of parliamentary law and order,
many Of them Of complex and difficult charac
ter arising often il the midst OF high e1 ilemcnl
in the course u our proceedings, than have been
decided, it il believed, by all my predece.s. !,
from the foundation Of the Government. This
house has uniformity sustained M without dis
linclion q The political parties OF which il is COM
posed"
In March, 1889, Mr.. Folk retired from Con-
gross, with u high national reputation, enjoying
lbe unJimiuishet confidence 0! his immediate
constituents, The esteem and friendship OF prom>
inenl citizens throughout The Union, and cspc-
caliy oil the political party with which he had
acted.
| But he was no, permitted 10 remain long 10
| retirement. lie was elected Governor OF Ten
nesscc, under circumstances in high degree
| Halerhg 10 him and gratifying To his friends.
And although he was subsequently twice defeat
| Ell ~ CoutrSiS TIE same OHcot tHDsS
NAV well be attributed 10 other causes than the
want Of confidence in his integrity or ability.
| On retiring from The office of Governor of
Tennessee, he resumed the practice of his pro
(ession, aud while engaged in the trial If case
III one Of the inferior courts Of the State, he re"
ceiyed the unexpected Intelligence, that at
National Convention of his political friends,
he had been nominated as their Candidate for
The Presidency CT tho United States, the highest
&, flee known 10 our Institutions, and not inferior
in dignity To any known TO mankind. His COM
peliior was ono oil Ia. most distinguished Of our
| country men, whose long life had been illus!ra-
led by brilliant displays of talent, and conspl
\ cous public service, and who was cnihasl-
astically supported By g powerful p ltical par
| ". The election resulted IN The choice OF Mr..
Polk, who was thus called 10 The performance
of the highest and most responsible duties al o n
ago considerably short of that Of any OF his Illus
trous predecessors. But his judgment was ma
,ure, aud he had large experience, derived
from long service in the various public trusts 10
| which he had beea called by his country.
The Presid, nia Office, though limited in lis
! authority, and though essentially executive from
: the peculiar frame OF our Government, is invest
| ed with large powers, .eGsibly affecting, il not
materially influencing, the mos, important inle-
| resls oil the country. Our foreign religions an
| Intercourse are cohilied 10 lis management, and
our domestic policy is ollen shaped by The Pre-
sidpnl's recommendations, or by the agency in
Legislation conferred on him BY The Constitution
The power OF appointment 10 official employ
| ment brings him into immediate contact with his
fellow. clllzers, and in The eager contest ior such
employment heIe is great difficulty in making
The hssl selections in so widely extended coun-
try as ours. and many mus; be disappointed. The
patronage OF the Government is source OF
weakness 10 any ADMINISTRATION. Bul, besides The
intrinsic difficulties growing obi of lie magnitude
Of It's responsibilities and The vas, horizon Of is
| duties, on his accession 10 The PRESIDENCY MIR.
| Polk encountered Others III no inconsderable i'm
ponance lie had established a reputation Tor
judgment, talent, industry, fidelity and knows
| ledge ol The laws Of his County, and he possess
I'd Ina toll conf ience OF his political friends; but
he was comparatively Young man-his lie bad
been marked by no brilliant achievement which
had given prestige 10 his name, and even with
his political friends il was known that compara>
L I.I