The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-08-07
THE DESCENDANT OF A TORY THE
LOCO FOCO CANDIDATE FOR
FS1nENTf


The State Printer is exceedingly unwill-
ing TO disturb the ashes of Col. Folks an
cestor. who happens to have been Tory
during our Revolutionary War. The Elec-
tors, however, will be very likely to enquire
into this matter, the more especially rs Col.
Polk himself has shown strong Tory in
stincts by voting, while in Congress, against
Pensions for surviving Soldiers of the Revo-
luton, though willing enough to vote money
to those who were concerned in Wars waged
more recently to rob the Creek and Chero-
kee Indians of their Lands and their Mines.
We have already shown, from the official
Congressional record that Col, POLK voted
steadily against Revolutionary Pension Laws
while in Congress. We now offer conclu-
sive proof that his Ancestor abandoned the
cause of America, at the darkest hour of the
Revolution, accepted the protection of Lord
! CoRSwALLIs, and took the Oath Of Ale
glance to George the Third.
The Charlotte IN. CO. Journal, paper
published where Col. Folks ancestors set
tied, and where Col p. himself was born,
says:-
Ezekiel Polk. the grandfather of James
X. Polk was MOST KECREANT TO
RY. He exhibited through the war most
vascillating and undecided course of conduct
which he finally crowned, for motires Of
drdrice, by taking the oath of allegiance to
the British Government. We would refer
all those who wish to know the particulars of
this subject, to all the soldiers of our revo-
luton who now reside in Mecklenburg.''
In 1911, when Col. Polk was candidate
| for Governor, in Tennessee, the Loco Focos
| claimed support for him upon the ground
that his Grandfather was a Patriot of the Rev.
olution and one of the signers of the Meek
lenburg Declaration. This led to an investi-
CATION which demonstrated the fact that there
were, during the Revolution, two Polk
families at Mecklenburg, one of which was
WIG and the other Tory and that JAMES
X. Polk was adescendant ofthe Tory fami-
| ". 1t also called out the following letter
from an old Veteran who is still living, and
whose veracity and character is unquestion-
| ed and unassalable -
MEcKLENBURG, JUNE 10, 1874.
At the commencement of the War of the
| Revolution, Ezekiel Polk. at that time res
ident of North Carolina, received Captains
| commission in the militia, and raised COM
pany on the frontiers of the State, against
the Cherokee Indians. l was one of that
company. After this, Ezekiel Polk was Or
dered to proceed with his company into
South Corlina, to protect the whites against
the negrOes-that he relusedto do.
| The winter following, he proceeded with
| his company, on an expedition against the
Tories, stationed not far from Ninty-Six, I'M
der Cunningham. FROM THIS TINE
| HE DID NOTHING TO FAVOR THE
WINGS DURING THE WAR. WHEN
! LORD CORVALLIS MARCHED HIS
ARMY INTO THIS COUNTY, AND E.
RECTED HIS HEAD QUARTERS IN
AND TOOK BRITISH PROTECTION.
One Jack Barnette, having learned that Polk
had gone to Charlotte, to avail himself of
British protection, determinated TO way-lay
him as he returned, and kill him. From his
course he was deferred by his friends. / was
in the way, and personally know these facts
| to be true.
THOS. ALEXANDER.
Subscribed and sworn before me, one OF
the acting Justices ofthe Peace for the said
county of M ecklenburg and State of North
| Carolina
THOS. NJ. KERNS, J. p.
June, 49, 1874.
| With such facts before them, we have no
| fears that the American People will elevate
the descendant of Revolutionary Tory to the
Presidency, even though he is in favor of Re-
pealing the Tariff Law and of immediate An
nexation of Texas.