The North-Carolina standard., 1844-09-18

IL: 3 - aH now seVenty-two years OF age. l
whole time. Ezekiel Polk and my father were al<
ways intimate. My faIher was q sianer Of the
Mecklenburg declaration Of independence. news
eE heard this charge Of toryism until saw IT, in the
Charlotte Journal.7I was indignant when saw il
and pronounced it then, as do pronounce il now
false Islander. He lived IN Mecklenbure for many
years after the revolution, and stood high as 4
man OF talents aud stern integrity, - ~ zH
AUGUSTUS ALEXANDER."
s. George Oliver, another venerable relic of
l7o, adds his testimony to the others. as follows;
Statement Of George OIiver, about IS gears old.
LINCOLN county, Aug. s, ls44.
was born and raised in North Carolina, and
was q soldier in the VoulionarY war; (which the
pension records will show.) | was well aeduaint<
ed with Ezekiel Polk, Thomas Polk, and all the
Folk family that served in the revolution In the
Carolnas. and state they were all good and aetiVs
whigs, and that the charge made against Ezekiel
Folk at this late day, that he tory ia the rev.
olutlon, is base SANDER and falsehood Il is true
he was forced from his residence in South Carroll.
Charlotte to take protection leave alt his ptOper=
TO the ravages of the tories but he left him on
the hrst chance, and headed scouting party Of
PaLIlots who annoyed and fought the British tories
IN South Carolina. Il was said that Corh wallis
was so anxious TO induce him to raise arms against
his s>country, that he offered him a commission of
colonel. l went to live with Col. William Polk,
near the town of Charlotte at the close of the war
-
lel Polk, and never head the charge Of toryism
against him. And on the other hand, be was con-
sidered patriot aud friend 70 his country and a
useful citizen, being talented aud business man.
GEORGE OLIVER"
"Signed in presence of Pleasant Oliver and s.
Caldwell"
6. General Michael MeLeary, being present
at Charlotte on the 23d day of July, ls44 the Hon.
r. NJ Saunders, before crowd of thousands,
spoke as follows:
Ertract from Mr. Saunders Speech.
81 now turn in support of this proof; to my
venerated friend by my side, General Mcheat Mc=
Leary, now more than 80 years old, but of sound
mind and accurate memory-who himself was an
actor in the revolution, was one who met Cornwall
lis as he marched through this county, and aided In
capturing the provisions intended for the support of
his army-a worthy citizen ofhigh character, whom
you have often honored as YOUR senator in YOUR
State Legislature. l authorized BY him to say,
which InoID repeat IN his presence and in vour
hearing that he knew Captain Ezekiel Polk dur
ing and after the close of the revolution-that he
then knew him as an active whig-that he was at
all times esteemed and respected as such, and that
he nsUer heard him charged being a torH,
until he sGaD the charge IN the Char
Lotfe Journal, printed in this toIcn ask you,
then, whom will you believe, this veneratsd man;
whom you have at all times delighted to honor. or
The foul tongue of the sIanderer7 And here TEeave
the proof with the fact that Ezekiel Polk like Col.
William Polk and Others of his family, was at
all times after the close of the revolution, esteemed
and respected IN this county Of his residence, as
"a soldier and patriot"
z. Reuben Hood, too has borne his testimony
against the calumny in the following words:
Statement of Reuben Hood, "a ye0rsaof age!
MEcKLEEBURs county, North Carolina,
"Adgust Z, 1914.
I was acquainted with Col Ezekiel Polk, before
and after the revolutionary war; 1t was mf under-
standing at the time, aud heard it often, that he
assisted in getting up the Meckenburg declaration
Of independence, and that he signed that instru@
ment: of this have no doubt. heard that when
CORVALLIS came to charlotte on his way from Cams
den, Colonel Ezekiel Polk, then living in South
Carolina near the Mecklenburg line thar he was
forced in order to save his property from destrGc4
led to do this. The British threatened to burn his
house and destroy his property. Col. Polk escaped
with his property, as soon as he could-somes of
which the troops of CORVALLIS captured in cross.
ing the Yadkin river. l heard that CornwaIlis
said if be could catch him he would hang him.
That he was a true 1Dhig there can be no doubt.
AndI consider that charge of toryism falfes He
s,ened man q nne REREN Es1fP's Hoon
I" In presence Of Margaret Hood"
g. The statement of Solomon Reese, Ia minis
ter of the gospel in Alabama,) has been taken
from the public press in these words viz:
TUscUMBlA Alabama, July "a, 1874.
'' To the Editors of the Franklin Democrat:
"GENTLEMEN: Whearas there is a tale going the
rounds of the Whg papers, asserting that the grand
father of the Hon. James K. Polk was a tory now
his is to certify that was intimately acquainted
with Ezekiel POIk, the grandfather of James K
Polk, during the revolutionary war, and that nel-
her he nor any of his relations ever had drou Of
ory blood in their veins ; but, on the contrary.
Ezekiel Polk was appointed 10 and held the Office
If colonel Of the militia, vacated y the promotion
If Thomas Polk to the Office Of bTigadier general.
Any one who says or publishes thai Ezekiel Polk
was tory. says or publishes that which is utlerly
alse. -s
"SOLoMoN REESE"
g. Mr.. George Alexander's evidence upon this
'oint as he gave it several years ago, (viz, in
Is4o) follows:
Statement of Mr.. George Alexander.
"I was acquainted with Col Ezekiel Polk from
he time he came tothe Meckenburg county from
South Carolina. / always understood that he was
N officer of the South CaEolina RangerS together
With Col. William Polk, who was an officer under
lis uncle Colonel Ezekiel Polk. This regiment
# rangers performed q campaign, and dispersed
he tories at Rayburn creek, where Col William
'olk was wounded. This was called the Snow
ampaign. After tins, Ezekiel Polk (and also Col.
William Polk, soon as he could be brought with
afety, not having recovered from bis wounds) re-
1oVed to MeckleDburg county, North Caroline,
mink about theyear 1878. There nv personal &C.
commenced with him, il being also. an
Ultimate one. From my knowledge he stood high
mong the cieizeDs Of Mecklenburg County. He
hen Garmed inMecklenbuTg county, and aecumu-
tied property lhere. When Cornwalis oVerran