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

aIyianu Precedeu Tie year l7OO, and
branch of whom came first in Pennsylva.
mia in l772, and thence went into the
Western Districts Of North Carolina
that he was boln on the 2d of November,
l703, the son Of an upright, intelligent,
and cnterprising 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 avowal on the
2Oth May, ITS, has recently received
such interesting and irresistible authenti.
cation by the researches Of MIR. Bancroft.
There would, indeed, seem to have
clustered in Mecklenburg county, imme.
dlatcly prior TO the revolutionary war,
family group Of these liberty. loving Folks
and their near connexions. Under the
inspiring auspices and orders of one Of
them; the Convention assembled at the
town Of Charlolte-it was presided over
by another, (narned Alcxander)-an an
other as recording Secretary, (also Of that
name "a fourth penned the celebrated
manifesto ! have mentioned, (called Bre-
varo) )--and .ffM recruited company of
rebels, of whom he retained the active
command DUNG The whole struggle.
When bu, eleven years Of uge, in
lSO6, 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.
fIn fol Il.
had been too seriously impaired by dis
ease for the scdcntary studies towards
which his inclination led him, he was a,
first dedicated TO mercantile pursuits but,
ycarning for mental exercise and acquire.
ment, the counting room, in less than
month, became dis,as,cful, and he ul,i
mntely succeeded in persuading his Par.
cnts to place him, after u preparatory
schooling in Murfrecsburg, and ut the
age oftwenty, in the University of North
Carolina. He left that seat of science
and learning in 1913, with physical
strength much diminished by The assdu-
ty and intensity of his collegiate course ;
but with intellectual strength and rcputc
augmented to degree, implied by his
having at every periodical trial Of his
class, received its highest distinctions.
In his twenty-fourlh year he entered
the office Of Felix Grundy, for many
years United States Senator from Ten
nesscc, but then a lawyer Of extensive
practice, and, after the customary proba-
ton, procured his admission TO The bar.
Mr.. P's legal career was one of unsulicd |
honor, of admitted ability, and Of decided
succcss-bearing him rapidly 10 rcpu,a
t'on and independence and also gave
',ln that extensive acquaintance Which |
demanded his services subsequently, in n |
political sphere. Persuaded by his neigh.
borhood, he entered the General Assem-.
bly,, in which he remained for two sessions |
when his transfer 10 the Hall Of Repre- |
scnlalvcs al Washington was accomplish. |
cd by general desire. on tho 5lh of De
ccmbcr, 1925.
Although, perhaps, the youngest of 2lS |
Representatives, there was not upon the
floor Of that great chamber one whose
politics were more dcterminatc and avow
cd. lie had inhaled at every hour of his
lie opinions and sentiments respecting
the rights of humanity, and the only c-
SItlmate foundations Of civil power which
his Judgment had approved, and which
now constituted as essential portion of
his moral as his arteries did Of his physi..
cal structure. lIe was impulsivcly,
lnsllnctivc!y, and irrcversablv a Demo |
crat-a Democrat in fundamental theory,
in uncompromising practice, in look,
word, thought, and motion. 1t was
impossible for him to 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 McLanc,
James Buchanan, George Mcdullic, Sam
ucl ID. lngham, VIM. c. Rivcs, Edward
Everett and Jas. Iamilton-whic he
had but 10 pass through the Rolundo, into
the Senate Chamber, in order to minslc
with those equally conspicuous, as Van
Buren, Woodbury., Tazcwcll, Macon,
White, Benton, Harrison, Randolph,
Bcrrien, and Hayne. Young as he was,
however. and unobtrusive as n dcbater,
Mr.. Polk promptly participated in the
leading discussion. His very first speech
related to the REIMBURSEMENT of the titles
Of public lands in Tcnncssce-a topic
wholly devoid Of attraction, and yet it
manifested SO happy faculty in lucidly
arranging and explaing dry and compli-
Gated facts, that his character as an exact
and laborious man Of business, was at
once recognised and established.
For fourteen years he maintained
leading position in the House and, af
ter dlScharging with signal ability the
arduous duties Of chairman Of the Com