The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-19


checking the system Of internal improvement by the
general government, which had been entered upon by
In December, 1882, Mr. Polk was transferred to the
COMMITTEES Of means and ct that session pro-
sented the report Of the minority Of that committee
with regard to certain charges against the United
States Bank this minority report presenting conclu
sons utterly adverse to the institution which had been
The course of Mr. Polk arrayed against him the
friends Of the bank and they held meeting at Nash
gress opposed but, after a violent contest, Mr.
Polk was reelected by majority Of more than three
thousand. In September, 1888 President Jackson de-
termned upon the removal Of the public deposits
the Bank Of the United States. This measure. which
caused great excitement throughout the country was
carried into effect In October oowng and at the subse
quent session OF Congress- it the leading subject Of
discussion In the Senate the President
the MEASURE; but he sustained in the House OF Re-
representatives. On this OCCASION Mr. Polk chairman
the committee Of ways and means, indicated the Pre-
sidents measure and by his cooness prompttude and
skill carried through the resolutions Of the committee
relating to the bank and the deposites and sustaining
the administration. after which the Of the bank
abandoned in Congress.
Towards the close Of the memorable session Of 1894
Mr. Speaker Stevenson resigned the chair we'll his
seat in the house The majority ofthe democratic party
preferred Mr. FOLK as his but in
OF division In its ranks the opposition united with the
democratic friends of John Bell, Of Tennessee, and
thereby succeeded in eecting that gentleman then
professed friend but since decided opponent, Of tn
President and his Mr. Polk's defeat produc
ed change in his He remained faithful his
duties.
In December, 1855, Mr.. Polk elected Speaker OF
the House Of Represe and again chosen that
station in 1887 the session held in
of Mr.. Van Buren's administration. The duties Of
Speaker were discharged by him during five sessions
with ability, ut time when party feelings high in
the house, and in the beginning unusual difficulties
were thrown his way by the of his political
opponents During the first session In which he pre-
sided more appeals were taken from his decision than
had occurred in the whole period since the origin Of
the house including many Of his political adversares
Notwithstanding the violence with which he had been
ssaed Congress passed. the close of the session.
March 1887 unanimous vote of thanks to its presid-
ing officer from whom it separated with the kndest
presided as Speaker at three sessions, commencing in
September, 1887 and ending In March, 1889, parties
we're more nearly balanced Nsr. Folks majority rs
Speaker being only eight and theimost exciting ques
tions were agitated during the whols period At the
close q the term Mr. Elmore of South Carolina moved
Hon James X. Polk for the able, Impartial and dign
fed manner in which he has presided its debera
tons performed the arduous portant duties
Of the chair" On this resolution u long and excited
debate arofe, which terminated by the previous
question when the resolution was adopted by "a in the
affirmative, to 81 in the negative; but few of the
brs of the opposition concurrcd in the Of approval
The Speaker, inEadjourning the house made reply Of
part deep feeling. Among other remarks, he said
" When l look back to the period when first
for those who at that time my associates here
find but few, very few, remaining But five members
who were here with me fourteen years continue to
constant and aborous can perhaps say what but few
Others any, can that have not failed TO attend tho
daily sittngs Of this house q single day since have
been member Of it, a single OCCASION when pre-
vented for short time by indspostion. In my inter
nsce mno h oor .hom. ans
debates upon interesting public questions and Of
exciting character Ii Is source OF unmngled grat6ca
tion to 70 TO the fact that occasion
there the slightest personal unpleasant collision with
any Of Its members. Maintaining, aud at all times
fully conceded to Others For four years past the STA
ton have occupied and sense Of proprety in the
divided and unusually excited state of public opinion
the country, have precuded from participating in
your debates. Other duties were assigned me-
The high Office Of Speaker TO whchht haAbcen twice
the pleasure Of this house to elevate has been ut all
Tin II labor and high responsibility 1t has been
made my duty to decide more of
law and order many Of them Of q complex and difficult
character, arising often in the midst of high excite
ment In the course Of proceedings than had been
foundation Of tho government This house has uni
formy sustained me- without distinction of the politi
them thanks for their constant support In the dis
charge Of the duties have had to perform.
"But, gentlemen, my Acknowledgements are espe-
ciay due to the majority OF this house. for the high
and fat,ering evidence they have given Of their a
probation Of my conduct the presiding officer Of the
house by the resolution you have been pleased
regard 1t Is Of infinitely more value than if 1t had
been the common, course, and customary
solution which, Ia the courtesy usually prevailing be-
tween the presiding officer aud the members of any
Lucrative assembly s always passed at the closef their
deliberations. regard this rs the highest aud most
because know that the circumstances under which 1t
has passed. have made it matter Of substance and not
of mere form shall bear it in grateful remembrance
to the latest hour of my life
trust this high Office may in future times be filed
as doubtless II will be, by ADLER men IL cannot,
know be file by any who viii devote himself with
more zeal and untiring industry to do his whole duty
than have done.n
Few public men have pursued frmer
consistent course than MIR. Polk in adhering to
the democratic party, in every vicissituie. In
1855, when all Of his colleagues Of the Tennessee
la
mined to support Judge White Of shat State rs the
successor to General Jackson for the Presidency he
incurred the hazard Of losing his popularity through
out the STATE by avowng his unaltcrabe purpose
to separate from the great body Of the democratic
party in the PRESIDENTIAL election. He therefore be-
came identified with the friends of Mr. Van Buren, in
Tennessee in 1896 when Judge White received the
vote OF that State by popular majority Of over nine
thousand.
After service Of fourteen years in Congress, Mr..
Polk in 1850, declined re- election from the district
which had so long sustained him. He then taken
by the friends Of the administration in Tennessee
as candidate for Governor, to oppose Neston Can
non who then Governor Of the State and support
ed by the wing party for re. election After an ami
mated canvass, during which Mr. Polk visited the
the people the political topics of the day election
took place In August 1882 and resulted in GRITTY
for Mr.. Polk, Of more than $500 Governor Can
vernon Polk was nominated by that body for Vice Pre-
sdent Of the United States to be placed ticket
for the same Office In several other States but the
election OF 1910 he received electoral only
Vice President which was given by OF the electors
In Virginia.
Having served as Governor Of Tennessee for the
stitutiona term Of two years, Mr. Polk candidate
for re- election in August, 1871. His prospect
unpromsipg Us the State in 1910 showed wing majo-
rty OF $4,000 at the presidential election The result
was the defeat Of Mr. Polk and the election Of James
T. Jones the Wing Governor, by majority
Of 1924 Mr. Polk therefore, retired from public life,
at the expiration OF his executive term Two years
alter in l643, he again candidate for the
tive chair in opposition to Governor Jones' but he
the second time defeated, and the whg candidate
elected by majority Of 500.
From October, 1S<l, until his elevation to the high
est Office In the Union Mr. Polk remained In private
lie, not however, an inert spectator Of the Wild and
troubled drama II politics. Happy in the confidence
OF his imrne neighbors and his political
friends throughout the State In the affections Of a
charming family and in the ardent friendship of An
drew Jackson lac had determined to withdraw himself
from the anxieties and abors Of public life. But the
voice Of the democracy Of Tennessee forbade the graft
tcation Of his wishes have seen, he repeated
y summoned to stand forward its representative for
Governor Of the State and he yielded to the summons
whatever might have been the Of sue cess