The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-06
TO THE PUBLIC.
EZEKIEL POLK-(CoNcLuprp. J

TO THE PUBLIC.
EZEKIEL POLK-( CoNcLUpfp)
| Il-l2 The statements of Messrs. John Smith
and Thomas Gribbe we been forw arded TO n e, with
strong testimonials of their respectabty and veraci
ty, and they are submitted, as tollo~s
Statement Of Mr. John Smith.
WARREN CO., Tenn. July 2l 1874.
" The undersigned, formerly OF Meckenburg conn
ty, North Carolina where he resided during the
vol iloDaty war and until ms removal, in the year
1882 with his family, TO Warren county, Tennessee
where ne resides having understood thai arg
have been made aud circulated, d.rogatory TO the
tame aud PATIO ism Of the late Col. Ezekiel Polk as
soldier OF the revolution, and knowing the same tn
be untrue, respectfully subm the following ate
ment Tor the purpose OF doing justice to the memory
of deceased lenJ
" Was well acquainted with Col Ezekiel Polk
from the time he seat ed ia Mecklenburg, North Ca
rolf 81 believe In the year 1913. be and his kins
man, the late Col " m Polk, of Raleigh came 10
reside III Meckenburg ani ap, VI The time, as
be ie'e. Coz. Ezehei Poik mad previously borne the
tllle aud COMMISSION of officer the service vi
his country against the British and tories. | know
the Whole ianIiy WELL some Of item iutlnateiy, aud
dmoog hers, Col. ELeAel Polk, wnO l. the ptsTndl
grandfather of Gov. James X. Polk, uf Tennessee
whose father Samuel Pok deceased, was the
son of Col Ezckie Polk The revolutionary ser
wees and zeal ui Col. kztkiei Polk agai.s the Br-
lIsh AID cores, with whom lie ID frequent baulp
DUNG the war and al liz close, Were wei known al
The i'm, to hundreds If not thousands o. his then
liv ~ cCun fyDen, ana lie was Afterwards esteemed
| through ie accordingly have seen and read the
stateuent OF Mr.. George Alexander, inaelaiIon a.
his Got POk s. conduct and services, and the same
Is just ald true IN every particular according TO the
besl oi my recollection OF lar back and Of
the nam fees stated by MI Alexander | had per
sonai knowledge, as tuings of public occurrence a.
/ 4 IA. 4 IA ina r Rrt,t-h 49,
tish arms had, lor time, Totally suhugated par,
OF the coun r., as was particularly the case IN DO h
the CaruInas, especially after Gates defeat, a, the
matyfeJ Hayne and Others did on the condition Of
! not bearng for the time being was what hum
dred, of the purest and bravcst OF the whIps we're
conn ecd by overriding uecessliy to do m order %
save their properly irou destruction the rapine of
| the torres and tier families from brula nsut. and
! In many cases, still more brutal violations The to-
RES aud friends OF the British open and private
netd rd such projections being under tue iin q
diate and secure protection OF the regular British arm,
nd troop " ho we're then IN pIssesson OF aud huu
ovtrrun all tnat part of the county. The cIrcum-
stance OF having taken these projections under ne
rsty Rendering II proper aud just IN the eye Of God
and man, was never esteemed Il having been dis.
honorable, or tayoung the Brush and tory side
/ and especially where these no took them as & oI
Polk aud Col. Hayne did again drew their words m
their oOunify's behalf as SOON as hope again .uucd
/ upon The American cause, and The Blush had re.
CURED portions OF the country admit of the hons,
OF success IN renewed efforts OF the wings To drive ont
ur make head against the common enemy. MANY
men IN the situation of hose who TOOK thee t-p,-
rary proleciIuns-ot whom l. Polk and Col Hayne
we've two prominent instances were, and ever viii
be- esteemed IN their lives, aud in their ~, nories a.
among TIE pufest and bfayest soldiers of the re,ou
uon. CRATE al pOsteriy, to he latest genernt ION
will revere their memories a. such.
never beard ii limited during C,l. Pok's life. or
7 I'll .t.I 4
friendly 10 The British cause, IN the revolution
feel clear that eau truly saw IN view o the great
account OF my life which | must shortly give befor.
ths dread tribunal the secrets of all heart, are
known, that the charge Is, and must De- false mali
cious and uniound'd for, If II rue or had IL
been true, In any sense II could not have escaped nv
knowledge and recollection, and tie knowledge of
other men who lived at the time IN hItcsienb rg
among aous, ardent and yigllant wings of rs and
20 and OF l7ol-2, It could not have been hidden or
unknown. feel happy tbat my life. under Proyi.
dence has been prolonged m sound health and ,n,
moiy, SO as TO enable me 10 make this statement a,
an act o. JUS ce to the living, as well as the I,sd
(Sgned) JOHN SMITH,
Statement Of Thomas G,ibble, ESQ.
WARREN COUNTY, Tennessee July %, 1914
Having heard that It is reported. and evan has
been charged in pint, that Col Ez KEEL Polk. for.
merly Of Meckenbufg North Carolina, the pa ernal
grandfather OF Gov. James h. Polk, Of Tennessee
was tory IN the revolutionary war and considering
the charge as an unfounded SANDER upon solder l
20, feel Happy that my life has been prolonged 50
as to enable me 70 give my contradic ion 10 the
cha &c. ] lived N Mockenburu county North Caro-
Ina during and at the close Of the revolt q nary war
pave read the statements OF George Alexander and
OF my friend and neghb5r, John Smith | had an
acquaintance with Colonel Ezekiel Polk from the
We nc settled m Mecklenburg, and, from ersonsi
kno~iedSe concur fully IN the statements Of Nesr,
Al xanjer and Smith. Colonel Polk lived about
niue miles from where lived and had been raised
knew him and Colonel William Polk well They
we're both known 10 have served faithfully and a.
wings and good soldiers, in the revolution Tina
Colon PolA could have ever, at any time. been
tory, or friendly 10 the British esteem 10 be VIII ,,,
Impossible, aud a SANDER on the dead If thad be-
80, must, m some way have heard of IT, I con
tlnued to live IN North Carolina until l,I4, since
winch time | have. lived in tennessee The st,te-
ment Of facts and dites, by Mr. Ale1 ,nder and Nr
smith, corresi ouds from my recollection with all 1
ever knew or heard In bis life, no man was more
beloved, or more esteemed after he rovo utlon a,
patriot, than Colonel Ez ,ke, Polk
(Slgned) THOMAS GRlBBLE"
These statements proceed from such Of tue com.
patriots OF Ezekiel Polk as are known to be- alive
lhey DO not require comments to understand them
Dut spo K iJr themselves. that can be- neces,ar,
- 10 read them with feeling OF ordin iry charity
and they must and will prove that E1,kei PoU was
not a, Tory THIS paper, however, would be imper-
feet, II It did not review a number Of other state
ments published IN the Charlotte Journal only few
ys ago, which will no doubt be extensively cireu.
lated by tie enemies Of Col James X. Polk SIN
ctrely desfous not to speak uukindy of those who
signed We statements nor OF those whose ORE m
dices have prompted them to hunt them up viii
not indulge The full license even of a Legitimate
criticism. A very few words must render them
harmless.
ls'' Mayor Thomas .7iernndr, certificate Of 1871