The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-07-19

nIs .sa srS void and the constitution Of each paro
Received, Thai he Provneai comgrss of each prov
with az s sG u.ssss Within
their respective Proynces and that Other sgisatips
10 Rssevsd Ths, whatever person shall hereafter rsesiss
commission heretofore received shall Be deemed snsmy TO
20 Resolved That COL Thomas Polk and Dr. Joseph Ken
needy purchase 800 pounds Of poWdr 600 pounds olead
and 1000 gint for the OF the military Of this county
| These incidents, which reluctantly refrain from
enlaging were thought TO Indicate deep-seaed and
inveteraie enthusiasm for civil liberty. Although the
late President was not born until some twenty years after
their readily suppose that during his
boyhood they would be the topics OF domestic tradition
Of ancestral pride, and OF frequent meditation. His
as his grandfather. and became early, warmly. and
steadily the admirer and supporter OF Mr. Jefferson. How
far such circumstances contributed to mould that hm
fearless, and infexibe democratic spirit which pervaded
MIR. Folks whole character and conduct from first to
last every experienced and rejecting observer OF pract
cal influences and examples can readily imagine.
was transferred 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 Under
parental fear that his constitution had been too seriously
impaired BY disease for the sedentary studies towards
mercantile pursuits but yearning for mental exercise
and requirement, the counting room, in less than
month"; became dstastefu, and he ultimately succeeded
h . he q
the University Of North Carolina. He left that seat OF
science and learning in 1918, with physical strength
collegiate courses but intellectual strength and repute
augmented TO degree implied by his having, at every
periodical trial of his class. received its highest dstnc
TONS
Mr.. Polk had now, by extraordinary perseverance and
with acknowledged success qualified himself to take
whatever direction, in the busting and varying realities
nj NIGHT
him to. Which path to chooses His temperament was
confident and elasc confident Of progress and elastic
exact and irreiracabe processes Of mathematical inyes
tgaton, while, at the same tme he delighted IN classical
researches and acquisitions lively susceptibility to
thoughts Of leading men, the advance Of principles and
measures, was almost his necessary inheritance He
prompt in apprehension generaized with clearness
and never weared in the abors OF analysis and detail
Without imaginative power, he was gifted with an I'M
common astule sagacy, which Instantly appreciated the
force or value Of facts and penetrated directly into their
or sentenous, his style, while it vigorously rejected
everything merely ornamental was perspicuous, pure
and persuasive These traits of fitness for the pro-
fesson of the law. and doubtless mpelled him TO adopt
it In his twenty fourth year, Mr. Felix Grundy an ad.
yocae OF extensive practice and reputation, with whom
he harmonzed in political sentiment, and whose friend
ship his parents had long enjoyed welcomed him.
daily to his ohse; and after the customary probation
procured has admission to practice at the bar.
Mr. Folks legal career was one OF unsuied honor OF
admitted ability, and OF decided success Ii bore him rapid
y to reputation and independence and obliged him
embrace, within the range Of exerton larger portion Of
Tennessee, his opportunities 10 become known and ap
precated in that State constant and extensive His
personal qualities conciaed universal confidence and es
TEEN few men have ever attained, with equal speed,
popularity among their counymen sincere and solid as
that he had achieved for himself by himself, 1928
The simplicity and Rnkness OF his demeanor the fdel
ty and ardor with which he adhered to his clients the
animation OF his eloquence, and the well as
fulness OF his information before and jures the
Underwriting rsctituds Of his conduct the open, unds
and comprehensive democratic doctrines, all adorned by
calm and chasened respect for religious observances
and moral duties, marked him out not alone to the Cana.
lie Of the Hermitage, at whose feet he with reyer
and affection, but TO all who his progress as
one destined, by rare combination Of qualities, to rise
from spheres Of local and State importance into those
/ of national usefulness and eminence.
Nor was this expectation slow in being realized Per.
suaded by his fellow citizens Of his immediate neghbor
hood to the General Assembly of the State the
ability with which he acted in that body during two Of
IFS sessions, made his transfer TO the halls of legislation
easy execution He was accordingly elected member
OF the House OF Representatives Of the United States
and took his seat at the first session OF the 10th Congress
Let me here, fellow. citizens the narrative for
moment, In order to depict the precise attitude in which
Mr. Polk Stood when he thus crossed the threshold OF
local. and entered the vast OF national existence
when his baque, as II were, left the placid and familiar
inlet for the uncertain, unbounded, and empesuous sea
there was not upon the floor Of that great chamber one
whose politics were more determinate and avowed He
had inhaled al every hour OF his life opinions and senti
ments respecting the rights OF humanity and the only
legitimate foundations Of civil power, which his judg
men had approved and which constituted as essen.
a portion Of his moral his actions did OF his physi.
cal situation He was impuIsyey, iAstinctively and
lirreversibly democat-a democrat in fundamental
theory IN incorporating practice, in book, word,
thought and motion Ii impossible for him 10 be any.
thing else. II was his nature.
In conformity with this cardinal trait Mr. Polk re-
garded the constitution OF the United States with attach
ment and veneraon il is true, but with perfectly con.
ssent and INCREASINGLY watchful jealousy as TO those
clauses OF which, by Implication, liable 10 be Der.
vered into sanctions for encroachment or abuses He
could admit OF no construction OF that instrument which
extnguished the federave and substituted the conso.
dated formation OF government He exacted from rs
operation strict adherence to sefmposed limits cru
basis he was, in the universally understood technical
phrase OF the times, party man jealous in the ranks OF
party; conscientousy Identifying with constitutional
pafrohsm The aims, organization, and usages OF his par
~. He looked 10 party buwark for the maintenance
OF the rights OF the States expressly reserved in the con-
shtuton he looked TO IL ellcemened dixie agains,
extravagances OF expenditure and oppressveness OF tar
ucaliy guarding the constitution itself from eneebling
excuses and the Union from the dangers OF sectional
excltements suddenly predomnaiing.
HIS position may become clearly apprehended n
add TO these broad outlines more nice and distinci,ye
stroke OF the pencil He counted among his
and lovedj who was then the bright particular star of
almost universal doatrywho, in the February prece.
ding, although returned by the electors having
for the Office OF President fifteen more votes than Mr.
John Quincy Adams, and iftyeght more than Mr. Craw.
ford yet failed 10 he the choice OF the HOUSE Of Represent
opportunity, immense and indignant democracy was
already in aroused exertion Mr. polk,s relations a.