The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-17

securing the rich lands In his nelFhborh0od and in
with him in the tolls and exposures incident to survey
ors life in wild border country. Il in the wild
woods attending TO the drudgery OF camp life that James
H. Polk rst became Injured 10 the endurance of severe
toll and hardships Until his feeble physical constitution
was likely to give way under the labor, he was the
panGn Of MS father = securing the handsome estate
Tor one OF the liberal professions not entertained by
his father, until the eanestness with which was pressed
The University Of North Carolina then and ever since
favorte seat Of learning throughout the South
eced for his collegiate educaon He entered that inst.
end Of three years al 1915 His @ saIssr in co
ege was bd the foreshad0wiDg OF the success which
crowned his efforts N after lfe The reputation which
be left at Chapel Hill not that of brilliant college
geniusthe expectations created by such reputation
seldom realized but he owed the honors which were
conferred on him at each successive examination, to the
unhrlng diligence and industry with which he applied
himself 10 the duties assigned TO him During the three
years he was known to be absent from recitation
9 az ssnss an ,uo n the
ca branches Of education and never tired in the details
Of the abstruse and complicated Investigations. His
mind was trained and meh0dsed, and systematsed by
his close attention to mathematical Investigations whilst
beaufed and softened by the less severe and usu
ally more attractive influences Of classic literature. Al
ter the highest honors OF the institution, and along with
them the ardent attachments Of his precpors and assoc
ates a
Having finished his collegiate education, be immediate
" chose the law for his profession and prepared himself
enter upon its duties Under the patronage ana supern
il s 81 Mr. Polk when he i stand
ing upon the Threshold prepared TO enter upon the busy
scenes OF the world, we may pause prohtaby for mo-
peculiar excellences in his character which formed the
subsratum which he afterwards reared his splendid
suPerstrucure have said that at college, he did not
enjoy the reputation OF brilliant genius-brillancy was
Of the distinguishing characteristics OF bis mind
of imagination he had but little. In writing he used
ornaments derived from ancyin speaking his flights OF
fame md HuVr Of foun nd fhAsa The
productions Of Others He lively and sociable in his
disposition, and interpreted his conversation with much
wit humor and anecdote segregation was quick and
his apprehension ready His memory, particularly to
dates Names and faces, extraordinaryhe for
got the face Of he had and conversed
with. He retained dates with equal tenacity. He com.
pretended the force of facts glance and could WELD
parry them with adrotness OF which those only
capable whose reasoning faculties are highly cultivated
nature. He observed closely the impelng motives Of
human action. and thoroughly versed in the science
Of human nature. He possessed the talent Of in
fusing his ardor into his friends His mind had been
fully trained to Investigation that his judgment
clear and rested on sound reasoning No subject was
he or Go IA ao % TIE h anay
great mind, but nature did better by him-she endowed
him wiha good mind, in which the several faculties
were well balanced BY his habits OF application he
cured for himself all the advantages Of great mind If
did enable him by intuition 10 arrive al correct
conclusions, he cultivated the faculties which nature did
give him, SO assiduously that he enabled himself TO ar
rive at correct conclusions by reasoning. Without
liberal education he would have become man Of great
wealth but man OF mind, could never have attained
eminence Nature planted in his bosom desire for dis
tincion The precepts and example of his father i'm
pressed him with the exceency of economy and indus
try Had he not been well educated, these impressions
would have directed his devoons to money as the road
to distinction Fortunately tor him and for his country,
he succeeded in inducing his father extend him the
ennobling benefits OF liberal education. With the hab
its Of promptness punctualiiy and industry, which he
formed under his parental education, sustained by his
high regard for virtue and morality and impeed by that
ha In nxr
hood, it would have been strange If he had not Dustin
gushed himself during his collegiate course With the
same habits confirmed, with virtue, morality, and rev
erentia regard for religion in all his conduct with his
mind thoroughly trained and disciplined, with native
energy Of character always found in pioneer life with
for the endurance Of mental and labor
reckoning him onwUd. it would have been equally
strange il James X Polk had failed to fill large space
in the worlds eye.
The body Of his character was composed OF those pc
cuar elements which distinguish the hardy snerprsing,
intelligent pioneer-native shrewdness, closeness and
quckness OF observation, disregard OF hardshps or dan
GERS frmness and steadiness OF purpose promptness in
deciding and rapdity in executing, scrupulous devo
lion to personal integrity, and indomitable energy and
perseverance these the prominent features exhb
tied in the lives and characters Of that noble pand Of
enterpsing patriots who cut themselves loose from the
endeaments OF friends and homes In the old States about
the beginning OF the present century, and penetrated oui
western Willis search OF larger liberty and wider heds
OF enterprise All that they wanted to constitute them
best republican PGpasO1 2" hsra dsea ne
Polk possessed all these noble pioneer traits OF character
but they modified and reformed OF their rougbness
and reduced TO symmetry and beauty by the hand OF edu
cation. They STILL however, constituted the body anc
substance OF his character Education had done for his
character Just what the chse OF the artist does for tn,
marble blockt gave form, proportion, symmetry, ane
|, beauty.
With the traits of character and the previous prepare
ton which have endeavored TO describe Mr. Polk tool
his place the stage OF action in the year 1870 prac
ttioner OF law, in the county OF Maury His career a
lawyer was short, but eminenty successful He occu
pied prominent position the bar from his first appear
ance and continued have extensive and lucrative
practice until he withdrew to devote his whole time
his public duties
The political career Of Mt Polk commenced in 1893
by bis election the General Assembly OF the State
that body he acquired the character OF prompt atten
tive practical, business member, and ready, efficient
Z and iorcible debater
d AT the election in 1875, he was chosen member :
/ Congress, after most arduous and warmly -contese
canvass In this canvass the peculiar traits OF his char
acter were prominently developed. His competitors
men OF age, experience, and intelligence He youn
and comparatively inexperienced and unknown. II was
contest 10 be decided mainly upon personal popularity
The people were not then divided into two great politics
parties The candidates all professed the same gener
e political faith The chances at the outset decided
against him. but he had set his heart upon success
he resolved TO attain it, The district large, but
raversed and canvassed il again and again Before Il
lie canvass half he had displayed much actv
ID and energy in his movements, and had inslled into
supporters much Of his ardent ZEAL that he wa
VI regarded by each OF his competitors the most form
dabe opponent In his public speeches there was awa
ID earnestness and sincerity of which was pec
afy Impressive. He seemed TO feel what ne san
and to speak with an animation and ardor which HOVE