The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-08-30
From the Nashville Union.
THE LATE COL. EZEKIEL POLK-GOV-
NeERNOR T K POLK

@ERNOR J. K POLK.
The fendsh attack made by the most reckless
of the whig press, upon the memory of the late
Col. Ezekiel Polk, the grandfather of Governor
James X. Polk, is unsurpassed in atrocity by any
thing which has occurred in the present exciting
canvass. Even the fact of his having been regu-
lar officer in the service of his country has been i'm
pudenty denied in some prints. This renders it
necessary in resuming the consideration of his life
and character, that we should repeat portion of
the testimony and facts, already submitted, with
fuller statements and veri6cations, leaving his de-
graded slanderers not even the sembance of an
excuse to rest upon
Unable TO find the slightest stain upon the char
acer of Governor Polk himself, or upon that Of his
father, some of the depraved minions of federalism
have not scrupled to make the charge that his grand
father-Coonel Ezekiel Polk-was tory of the
revolution. They hoped, by making charge that
would require the evidence ofmen who lived and
had knowledge Of Ezekiel Polk sixty-fve years
ago. that their base .lander Of the dead would es-
cape detection and they succeed in prejudicIng an
| honest people against his grandson. The wick
edness of this act is the greater because, in their
zeal to injure unjusty public man, they have
wantonly attacked and narrowed up the feelings of
the numerous posterity and collateral relations of
Colonel Ezekiel Polk; and the friends of the fami-
ly now find it necessary to vindcate his reputation,
and do justice to his memory.
Col. Ezekiel Polk was a native of Pennsylva-
nia, afterwards resided in North Carolina and Ten
nessee, and died. at an advanced age, in the coun-
ty of Hardeman in this State. In every neighbor-
hood in which he lived he enjoyed the highest re-
spect and good will of his fellow-citizens. He
was honest in all his dealings, and punctual in per-
forming all engagements. His fine sense, pru-
dence, and industry enabled him to accumulate
more of this worlds goods than he himself had any
use for. No man aided his poor neighbors with
more hearty good will and liberal charity than Col
Ezekiel Polk. His house was always open, and
he was ever ready to assist those who were less for
tunate in life than himself There are hundreds in
the counties of Maury and Hardeman, who will
testify that there was no kinder or more benevo-
lent neighbor than Ezekiel Polk. The records of
Maury county will show that he has g ven as many
as three poor families one hundred acres each of
the most fertile land of the country, as homes for
themselves and to raise their children upon. The
records of Hardeman county will show similar
liberality. No man ever called on Col. Ezekiel
Polk for help or assistance but he received it. 1t
is the memory of this man, SO estlmable in all the
relations of private life, that is attempted to be
backened, and the feelings of his posterity and nu-
| tor fha
vile purpose of injuring politically one ofhs de-
scendants, upon whose own escutcheon they can
find neither blot, stain, nor bemish, SANDER so
base and groundless cannot fail to rebound upon
its authors. There is abundant evidence to prove
this charge wholly false and an entire fabrication.
There is abundant evidence TO prove conclusvely
that he was one ofthe signers Of the Meckenburg
declaration of independence on the goth of May,
I775-a true whig and patriot during the war that
followed--a sound Jefersonian republican, good
citizen, and an honest man-whose memory his
posterity have right to cherish with respect and
admiration. In the mean time, we subjon the fol-
lowing, which is part OF the testimony that will
hereafter be produced of itself, however
to convince every candid mind that more out
rageous slander never was uttered. This is in ad-
dition to the clear proofs we have already laid be-
fore our readers.
We find in the Globe of the 25th of July, 1914,
the following:
"There is another document contained in the
Archives, and appended to the Mecklenburg dec
laration, which shows that the grandfather OF Col
one Polk was among those who appeared to take
the lead in forwarding this great measure, and was
regarded as among the most active wings OF that
day-a time when Whig meant the very reverse Of
what it does now that is a patriotic republican,
who opposed the designs of the British to Cypress
and enslave America.
"This fact appears iL Captain Jacks certificate,
to he found at page s5s, vol. 2, of the Archives;
and we here transcribe it:
| "cAPTAIN JACKS CERTIFICATE.
"Having seen in the newspapers some pieces re-
specting the declaration of independence by the
people of Mecklenburg county, in the State of
North Carolina, in May, l775, and being solicited
to state what l know of that Transaction. would
observe that for some time previous to, and at the
time those resolutions were agreed upon, resided
in the town of Charlotte, MecklenbuIg county;
was privy TO number of meetings OF some Of the
most influential ndleadng characters OF that coun-
ty on the subject, before the final adoption Of the
resolutions, and at the time they were adopted
Among those who appeared to take the lead may
be mentioned, Hezekiah Alexander, who general
ly acted as chairman, John McKnitt Alexander, as
secretary, Abraham Alexander, Adam Alexander,
Major John Davidson, Major afterwards General)
William Davidson, Colonel Thomas Polk, Ese-
kiel Polk, Doctor Ephraim Brevard, Sam. Martin,
Duncan Ocheltee, William Wilson, Robert Irwin.
.'When the resolutions were finally agreed on
they were publicly proclaimed from the courthouse
door, in the town Of Charlotte, and received with
every demonstration Of joy by the inhabitants.
81 was then solicited to be the bearer Of the pro.