He was one of the most pronounced adherents of Jackson, and joined in the extreme and unreasonable opposition to the administration of John Quincy Adams.

The period of his service in the House was distinguished by partisanship of a more bigoted and vindictive type than prevailed at any other time in the history of that body.

He was Speaker during the last Congress of Jackson's Presidency and during the first under the administration of Van Buren.

When the Whig members forced an inquiry in to the conduct of Samuel Swartwout, the defaulting collector of customs for the port of New York,--a case which figured prominently in the exciting Presidential canvass of 1840,--they would not trust Mr.
Polk with the duty of naming the committee of investigation.

The House itself exercised the power of appointment, to the great disparagement of the Speaker.
When Mr.Polk closed his service in the Chair, at the end of the Twenty-fifth Congress, no Whig member could be found who was willing to move the customary resolution of thanks,--an act of courtesy which derives its chief grace by coming from a political opponent.
When the resolution was presented by a Democratic Representative from the South, it was opposed in debate by prominent Whig members.
Henry A.Wise, who five years later supported Mr.Polk for the Presidency, desired to have the resolution peremptorily ruled out on a point of order.