antry of classical display, which is the false taste of our day and country, as almost to hide the acquisitions which distinguished his early career. His preference for the useful and substantial, indicated by his youthful passion for the mathematics, has made him select a style of elocution which would perhaps be deemed too plain by the admirers of flashy declamation.* From the university he returned to Tennessee, with health impaired by application, and, in the beginning of the year 1819, commenced the study of the law (that profession which has furnished nine of the eleven presidents of the United States), in the office of the late Felix Grundy, for many years a representative and senator of Tennessee in Congress; under whose auspices he was admitted to the bar, at the close of 1820. He commenced his professional career in the county of Maury, with great advantages, derived from the connexion of his family with its early settlement. His warmest friends were the sharers of his father's early privations and difficulties, and the associates of his own youth. But his success was due to his personal qualities still more than to extrinsic advantages. A republican in habits as well as in principles, depending for the maintenance of his dignity upon the esteem of others, and not upon his own assumption, his manners conciliated the general good will. The confidence of his friends was justified by the result. His thorough academical education, his accurate knowledge of the law, his readiness and resources in debate, his unwearied application to business, secured him, at once, full employment, and in less than a year he was already a leading practitioner. Mr. Polk continued to devote some years exclusively to the prosecution of his profession, with a progressive augmentation of reputation, and the more solid rewards by which it is accompanied. In 1823, he entered upon the stormy career of politics, being chosen to represent his county in the state legislature, by a heavy majority over the former incumbent, but not without formidable opposition. He was for two successive years a member of that body, where his ability in debate, and talent for business, at once gave him reputation. The early personal and political friend of General Jackson, he was one of those who, in the session of 1823-24, called that distinguished man from his retirement, by electing him to the senate of the United States. In August, 1825, being then in his thirtieth year, Mr. Polk was chosen to represent his district in Congress, and took his seat in the national councils in December following. He brought with him those fundamental principles to which he has adhered through all the mutations of party. From his early youth he was a democratic republican of the strictest sect. He has ever regarded the constitution of the United States as an instrument of specific and limited powers, and he was found in opposition to * For a part of this sketch we are indebted to the Democratic Review of May, 1838. every measure that aimed to consolidate federal power, or to detract from the dignity and legitimate functions of the state governments. He signalized his hostility to the doctrines of those who held to a more liberal construction of the constitution, in all their modes. He always refused his assent to the appropriation of money by the federal government for what he deemed the unconstitutional purpose of constructing works of internal improvement within the states. He took ground early against the constitutionality as well as expediency of a national bank; and in August, 1829, consequently several months before the appearance of General Jackson's first message, announced then his opinions in a published letter to his constituents. He has ever been opposed to a tariff for protection, and was, at all times, the strenuous advocate of a reduction of the revenue to the economical wants of the government. Entertaining these opinions, and entering Congress, as he did, at the first session after the election of John Quincy Adams to the presidency, he promptly took his stand against the doctrines developed in the message of that chief magistrate, and was, during the continuance of his administration, resolutely opposed to its leading measures. When Mr. Polk entered Congress, he was, with one or two exceptions, the junior member of that body. His first speech was in favor of a proposition to amend the constitution in such manner as to prevent the choice of president of the United States from devolving on Congress in any event. This speech at once attracted public attention by the force of its reasoning, the copiousness of its research, and the spirit of indignation, with reference to the then recent election by Congress, by which it was animated. At the same session the subject of the Panama mission was brought before Congress, and the project was opposed by Mr. Polk, who strenuously protested against the doctrine of the friends of the administration, that as the president and senate are the treaty-making power, the house of representatives can not deliberate upon, nor refuse the appropriations necessary to carry them into effect. The views of Mr. Polk he embodied in a series of resolutions, which reproduced in a tangible shape, the doctrines, on this question, of the republican party of 1798. The first of these resolutions declares," that it is the constitutional right and duty of the house of representatives, when called upon for appropriations to defray the expenses of foreign missions, to deliberate on the expediency of such missions, and to determine and act thereon, as in their judgment may seem most conducive to the public good." From this time Mr. Polk's history became inseparably interwoven with that of the house. He was prominently connected with every important question and upon every one took the boldest democratic ground. He continued to oppose the administration of Mr. Adams until its termination, and during the whole period of General Jackson's terms he was one of its leading supporters, and at times, and on certain questions of paramount importance its chief reliance. In December, 1827. Mr. Polk was placed on the committee of foreign affairs, and sometime after, as chairman of a select committee, he made a report on the surplus revenue, denying the constitutional power of Congress to collect from the people, for distribution, a surplus beyond the wants of the government, and maintaining that the revenue should be reduced to the exigencies of the public service. In 1830, he defended the act of General Jackson in placing his veto on the Maysville road bill, and thus checking the system of internal improvement by the general government, which had been entered upon by Congress. In December, 1832, Mr. Polk was transferred to the committee of ways and means, and at that session presented the report of the minority of that committee, with regard to certain charges against the United States bank; this minority report presenting conclusions utterly adverse to the institution which had been the subject of inquiry. The course of Mr. Polk arrayed against him the friends of the bank, and they held a meeting at Nashville to denounce his report. His re-election to Congress was opposed, but, after a violent contest, Mr. Polk was re-elected by a majority of more than three thousand. In September, 1833, President Jackson determined upon the removal of the public deposites from the bank of the United States. This measure, which caused great excitement throughout the country, was carried into effect in October following, and at the subsequent session of Congress it was the leading subject of discussion. In the senate the president was censured for the measure, but he was sustained in the house of representatives. On this occasion Mr. Polk, as chairman of the committee of ways and means, vindicated the president's measure, and by his coolness, promptitude, and skill, carried through the resolutions of the committee relating to the bank and the deposites, and sustaining the administration, after which the cause of the bank was abandoned in Congress. Toward the close of the memorable session of 1834, Mr. Speaker Stevenson resigned the chair, as well as his seat in the house. The majority of the democratic party preferred Mr. Polk as his successor, but in consequence of a division in its ranks, the opposition united with the democratic friends of John Bell, of Tennessee, and thereby succeeded in electing that gentleman, then a professed friend, but since a decided opponent, of the president and his measures. Mr. Polk's defeat produced no change in He remained faithful to his party, and assiduous in the performance of his arduous duties. his course. In December, 1835, Mr. Polk was elected speaker of the house of representatives, and again chosen to that station in 1837, at the extra session held in the first year of Mr. Van Buren's administration. The duties of speaker were discharged by him during five sessions, with ability, at a time when party feelings ran high in the house, and in the beginning unusual difficulties were thrown in his way by the animosity of his political |