The North-Carolina standard., 1844-10-09
Career and Character of Dar. Polk.

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The following is the concluding part of long
and able review of the political life Of Mr.. Polk,
which has been continued from time to time 10
the Nashville U1sion We only regret that our
limits of space have not permitted us to insert
! it all.
Destg gnGted as tie Democratic candidate FIR Vice
/ resident-mag agmamimousiy declining IN con-
sequence of a division of Sentiment az the Con.
rcntion-his course, in the contest Of IS4O--
| makes a second and q third effort TO reclaim
lis State-no6Le sentiments retiring to pric-
ate elye-is nominated for The PresiGency-his
! r. priO@te and public character.
Both before and after he was elected Governor,
his name had been mentioned at the North and
! the South by public meetings, by the democratic
tportion of several Legislatures and by leading
presses, the democratic candidate for the Wee
Presidency, on the ticket with MIR. Van Burcn. to
be formed by the National Convention at BaIti-
more, of May, 1910. And the Democracy of
Tennessee, fully approaching his eminent quail
fications for tfat office, while they had, from
becoming sense of propriey, not been foremost in
urging his name for it, thought it to be their duty
the cause, to him and, to those who had so m-
voraby spoken of his 6tness to hold State Con.
vention; make preparation for the approaching
presidential contest, and embody in their proceed
| ings their sentiments upon the question. The
Convention assembled at Nashville in February,
1910. 1t was an inclement season of the year :;
but the meeting was fully attended from the three
grand divisions, and for responsibility and mum
bers it was equal to any assembly ever convened
in the State. After organizing for the national
campaign, a series Of resolutions were adopted by
exclamation, the last of which, with the preamble
plainly set forth the feelings, wishes and sen-
ments of the Democracy of the State with refer
cnce to Governor Polk and the Vice Presidency
The Democratic National Convention assem-
b1ed at Baltimore on the 5th of May and, after
nominating Mr.. Van BHren for reelection, they.
declined naming a candidate for Vice President
in consequence of division Of sentiment among
the delegates. -...s-- s -
Unwilling TO occupy position which could, I,
by any possible construction, be regarded throw
ing an obstacle in the path of his friends Govern
or Polk addressed letter to the Hon. Felix Grun-
dY then in his seat in the United States Senate, de-
string that his name might be Withdrawn if it
was regarded in that light by any of his friends.
During the excited Presidential contest of 1910,
Governor Polk announced that he would be
candidate for reelection tothe Office of governor
in the year following, and, so far as it was posi-
bic without glecting his official duties, he stood
forth with his political friends, and participated
with them in their powerful struggle against an
fnfuriated opposition. He stood up nobly with
his friends to the last hour Of the contest and
with them he was swept down - The State was
given to Harrison, in November, by a majority Of
,102 votes oyer, Mr. Van Buren,. There was
no such thing as staying thetorrents of caIumny,
abuse SANDER and constant misrepresentation that
were made to overcome the Mississippi valley
hike a food y:
No,hing daunted at this; une xpccted result, Gov.
Polk entered the field for TceLccion h the spring
Of 1841, issued gan address to the people, and a.
gain canvassed the State as he had done two years
before The late overwhelming defeat that the
party had sustained, broke up the previous organ-
zation to great: extent; the Democracy of the
State were good deal disheartened, and it was
rally them into action usin 1889
On hisdefeat he determined to return to pfivt life,
and ia speech made to the democratic members
of the General Assembly, whoS with the citizens
of Nashville. gave him public dinner in that
city, before returning to Columbia he declined the
honor of being considered a candidate for the u
States Senate, to supply a vacancy then existing
in happy and feichous manner In referring
TO the election that had just Terminated he said:
In that contest I fought the battle of principle,
and honestly kept my political faith. If IfeIl in
the conflict, Isfell with my principles, and am
proud to know that more than fifty thousand free
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