Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-07-14
VOL. XVI.


ienonTg county publicly absoved themselves from
their allegiance 70 the British crown. and issued
a formal manifesto Of independence, IN terms Of
manly eloquence. similar to some Of the c,pyes.
slons IN the declaration OF the American Con.
gresS adopted more than year aiterwsrd. Col
Thomas Polk, the prime mover ia this act d
noble daring, AID one Of the signers of this FIRST
: Declaration Of Independence, was tie great I'm.
Gle oilhe President; aud the family is also con.
neeted with the Alexanders, Chairman and Sec.
rotary Of the meeting which adopted the declara.
tion, as we'll as with DR.. EphTiam Breyard, the
author Of the declaration ITSELF
The father Of James K. Polk was farmer
Of unassuming preiensons, but enlerprising char.
aeier Thrown upon his own resources in ear
ly liic be became the architect Of bis own for,
tunes. lie was warm supporter of Mr. JefTsr,
son, and through life firm and undertaking
Democrat In the autumn of 1906 he removed
with bis family Of ten children, from the home.
stead in North Carolina, 10 Tennessee, where
he was one Of The pioneers I the fertile valley Of
Duck river, branch Of the Cumberland, then d
wilderness, but now the most fourishing and pop.
ulous portion Of the State. In this region the
subject OF this sketch resided until his election to
the presidency, so that he may be said literary,
! to have grown with its growth, aud strengthened
with It's strength. OF course, in the infancy Of
It's settlement, the opportunities for instruction
could not be great. Notwithstanding this dlsad.
| tage and the still more formidable one of pain.
| fiji affection from which, after years Of suffering,
he was finally relieved by surgical operation
no acquired the elements Of good English ed.
ucation. Appfehendng that bis constitution had
been loo much impaired 10 permit The conine-
msnt Of study his father determined, much. how
ever against the will of The son, to make him
commercial man, and, with this view, placed him
with merchant
lie remained a few weeks in o situation adj.
verse to his wishes, and Incompatible with his
taste. Finally, his earnest appeals succeeded in
| overcoming the resistance Of his father, and in
July, 1918. he was placed first under The care Of
| the Rev. DR.. Henderson, and subsequently at the
academy Of Mnfreesborough. Tennessee, then
under The direction of Mr.. Samuel r. Black, lust.
ly celebrated in that region as classical teacher
In the autumn Of 1915, he entered the Uniyer.
si'y Of North Carolina, having, IN less than two
years and halt, thoroughly prepared himself 10
commence his collegiate course, being thea in
the twentieth year Of his age.
Mr.. Folks career at the University was dis
! iinguished. At each semi.annual examination
he bore away the first honor, and finally eradna>
ted IN ISIS, with the highest distinction Of his
class. and with the reputation Of being the first
scholar in both the mathematics and classics.
of the former science be was passionatcly fond
tlosgh equally distinguished as a linguist, His
course at The college was marked by the same as.
sllhHty aud studious application which have since
distinguished him. His ambition to excel was
equaAed 10y his perseverance alone; In proof af
which, It Il said that he never missed recta
| ton, Eor omitted the punciious performance Of
any duty. Habits ofcloso application al college
are apt to be despised BY those who pride them.
selves on brillancy Of mind as If they were in
| compatible. This is a melancholy mistake
Genius has ever been defined the faculty Of an.
probation. The latter Is, at least, something
better, and more available. So carefully has
Mr. Polk avoided the pedaniry of classical dis
play, which Is the falselaste OF our day and coun
try, as almost 10 hide the acquisitions which dis,
guished his carly career Hi preference for the
useful and substantial, indicated by his youthful
passion for the mathematics, has made him se>
ieci style Of elocution which would perhaps be
deemed too plain BY tho admirers IL llashy dec.
lamation.
From the University he returned to Tennessee,
with health impaired BY application, and Ia the
beginning ofthe year, $40, commenced the stu.
dy Of the law {tbat profession which has furnish.
ed nine ofthe eleven Presidents of the United
States) in the Office Of the late Felix Grundy. for
many Years representative and senator OF Ten.
nessce iu Congress; under whose auspices he
was admitted to the bar, at the close Of 1920
he commenced his professional career in the
county Of Maugy, with great advantages, deriy-
ed from The connection ofhis family with It's ear
" settlement. His warrnest friends were the
sharers Of his fathers early privatons aud diff.
cutes, and the associates Of his own youth
But his success was due 10 his personal qualities
still more than to exsTinsic advantages. re-
publican in habits as well as in principles, de-
pending for the maintenance ofhis own assump.
ton, his manners conciliaied the general good
will. The confidence Of his 'fiiends'was justified
by the result. His thorough academical educa.
ton, his accurate knowledge Of the law, his rea.
diness and resources In debate, bis unwearied
application 10 business, secured him, at once, full
employment, and III less than year he was al
ready leading practitioner.
Mr.. Polk continued to devote some years ex.
clusiyey to the prosecution Of his profession,
with progressive augmentation Of reputation,
and the more solid rewards BY which 1t il accom-
panied. In 1928, he entered upon The stormy
career Of politics, being chosen to represent his
county in The State Legislature, by heavy ma.
iority over the former Incumbent, but not without
formidable opposition. He was for two success
sre years a member Of that body where his
ability III debate and talent Tor business, at once
gave him reputation. The early personal and
political friend Of General Jackson, be was one
ol those who, in the session Of Is23-'z4, called
that distinguished man from his retirement, by
electiug him to the Senate Of the United States.
IN August 1925, being then IN bis thiriieth
year, Nj. Polk was chosen to represent bis dis
trct III Congress, and took his seat in the nation
al councils In December following. lie brought
with him those fundamental principles to which
IA has adhered thrnfith Ill The mutations of Dars