The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-08

Maryland preceded the year 100, and a
branch Of whom came first in Pennsylvav
MIA in I772, and thence went into the
Western Districts Of North Carolina !;
that he was bonn on the I'd Of November,
1903, the son of an upright, intelligent,
and enterprising farmer; and that he was
the grandson of Ezekiel, and the grand
nephew Of Thomas Polk, two brothers,
who were among the first signers Of that
Declaration of American Independence,
whose bold and impressive ayowal on the
20th May, IT'S, hos recently received
such interesting and irresistible authenti.
cation by the researches Of Mr.. Bancroft.
There would, indeed, seem to have
clustered in Mecklenburg county, imme.
diately prior TO the revolutionary war, a
family group Of these liberty.loving Folks
and their near connexions. Under the
inspiring auspices and orders of one Of
them, the Convention assembled ai the
town Of Charloite-it was presided over
by another, (named Acknowledgment an.
other as recording Secretary, (also Of that
nnmc)-a fourth penned tho celebrated
manifesto +! have mentioned, (called Bre.
varo) land .OM recruited company of
rebels, of whom he retained the active
command DUNG the whole struggle.
When but eleven years of age, in
1906, his homestead was transferred to
the banks of the Cumberland river, in
Tennessee, newly opened and thinly
settled field for agricultural industry, his
youthful education was, in consequence,
necessarily simple and contracted. Un.
der parental fear that his constitution
had been too seriously impaired by dis.
ease for the sedentary studies towards
which his inclination led him, he was at
first dedicated TO mercantile pursuits; but,
yearning for mental exercise and acquire.
ment, the counting. room, in less than
month, became distasteful, and he ul,i.
mntely succeeded in persuading his par.
ents TO place him, after preparatory
schooling in Murfreesburg, end at the
oge oftwenty, in the University Of North
Carolina. He left that seat of science
and learning in 1918, with physical
strength much diminished by The assidui-
ty and intensity Of his collegiate course
but with intellectual strength and repu,e
augmented TO degree, implied by his
having at every periodical trial Of his
class, received its highest distinctions.
In his twenty fourth year he entered
the Office Of Felix Grundy, for many
years United States Senator from Ten
nessee, but then lawyer Of extensive
practice, and, after the customary proba-
ton, procured his admission to the bar.
MIR. P's legal career was one Of unsulicd
honor, Of admitted ability, and of decided
succcss-bearing him rapidly TO repu,a
ton and independence and also gave
him that extensive acquaintance Which
demanded his services subsequently in a
political sphere. Persuaded by his neigh
borhood, he entered the General Assem-.
bly,, in which he remained for two sessions,
when his transfer to the Hall Of Repre.
sentatives al Washington was accomplish.
ed by general desire, on the 9Th of Dc
cembcr, 1925.
Although, perhaps, the youngest of 2ls
Representatives, there was not upon the
floor Of that great chamber one whose
politics were more determinatc and avow
cd. lie Ind inhaled at every hour Of his
life opinions and sentiments respecting
the rights Of humanity, and the only le-
siimate foundations Of civil power which
his judgment had approved, and which
now constituted as essential u portion Of
his moral as his arteries did Of his physi-.
cal structure. He was impulsively,
instinctively, and irreversnbly Demo
crat--a Democrat in fundamental theory,
in uncompromising practice, in look,
word, thought, and motion. il was
impossible for him 10 be anything else.
1t was his nature.
When he reached the Capitol, both
houses were illustrated by the presence Of
citizens who had achieved distinguished
regulations. He was in the midst of such
associates as Edward Livingston, Jno.
Forsyth, Daniel Webster, Louis McLane,
James Buchanan, George Mcduffie, Sam
uel D. Ingham, VIM. c. Rives, Edward
Everett and Jas. Hamilton-whle he
had but 10 pass through the Rotundo, into
the Senate Chamber, in order to mingle
with those equally conspicuous, us Van
Buren, Woodbury., Tazewell, Macon,
White, Benton, Harrison, Randolph,
Berrien, and Huync. Young as he was,
however, and unobtrusive as debnter,
Mr.. Polk promptly participated in the
leading discussion. His very first speech
related to the REIMBURSEMENT of the titles
Of public lands in Tennessee-a topic
wholly devoid of attraction, and yet it
manifested so happy a faculty in lucidly
arranging and expaing dry and compli-
Gated facts, that his character as on exact
and lnborious man Of business, was at
once recognised and established
For fnnIfnen yenrc hn maintained q,