The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-08-06
W ASHIN G. I @ N.
TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 6, 1914.
JUDGE SAUNDERS, AND THE CHARGE
OF TORYISM.

OF TORYISM.
If any evidence was wanting to establish the
fact beyond controversy, that Ezekiel Polk did join
the British during the Revolutionary war, it has
been furnished by Judge Saunders, of North Ca
rolina, in his attempt to disprove it. He in the
first place proves what has been all along admit
ted that Ezekiel Polk held Captains commits
sion in the Revolutionary service. This has
never been denied on the contrary, Thomas
has that to do with his subsequent conduct, when
he deserted the standard Of his country and took
the protection of the enemy!
Judge Saunders proves this fact by the same
evidence which we have heretofore presented,
and which we have shown in no way conflicts
with the statement of Thomas Alexander-he
cites Captain Jacks certificate, and the records
of the South Carolina Congress granting the COM
mission to Ezekiel Polk But all this evidence
merely shows that Ezekiel Polk was Wing in
the early part of the struggle before the English
had sent any troops into that region-in word
he was Wing .ohen there ,uas no danger. Next
Judge Saunders introduces letter from son of
Ezekiel Polk, uncle to James K. written in 1910,
when the charge Of toryism was first preferred by
the Wings Of Tennessee, as an offset against the
charge made by the Locofocos against COL Viii
liam Polk of Raleigh. The letter of this gentle
man is merely an expression Of surprise on the
part Of the writer that the charge Of torylsm
should be made against his father. 1t winds up
with saying: 81 think it was near the close OF
the Revolution that he and Col. VIM. Polk OBJ
tanned Colonels commission (both about the
same time) which title he ever after bore" This
Coloaels commission is not published among the
evidence furnished by Gen. Saunders, from which
it is fair to infer that either no such commission
exists, or else, it was granted subsequent to the
war. 1t would be material link in the chain of
evidence for Ezekiel Polk, if authentic, and its
non-production throws suspicion upon it from
which bare assertions will not exonerate it The
son Of Ezekiel Polk, who alleges the existence of
this Colonel commission, is said to be about
seventy, and $ consequently, small boy, even
at the close !. the war and he only thinks the
commission was issued towards the close of the
Revolution. Of course, the commission has no
1t therefore rests upon the stink so" Of a son of
Ezekiel Polk, who was not more than ten years
old at the end of the war.
But the most singular piece of testimony offer
ed by Lawyer Saunders to prove his case. is the
affidavit of David Dobbns, Revolutionary SOL
der, resident in Kentucky. He certifes that he
was well acquainted, not with Ezekiel Polk, good
reader, but with James Knox, the grandfather of
James K. Polk on the side of the mother, and that
he, James Knox, was brave soldier, &c. We
are not disposed to conravert this fact, from which
it would appear that James X. Polk is at least
Wing Of the half blood. But why were the prai-
SEES OF the brave old James Knox unsung by Gen.
Saunders and his Democratic friends at Bati-
more and elsewhere? Was it because he was
only blacksmith ?-and because that reminis-
cence would give umbrage to the aristocratic DIR.
Polk and his slk-stocking friends! The trumpet
of the blacksmiths fame was as silent as his ham.
mer until it was found that the boasted Reyolu.
lutionary fame of Ezekiel Polk had crumbled
away before the light of truth.
We omitted to say that another Of Judge Saun.
ders's witnesses, Mr.. McLeary, allowed Judge
Saunders to declare for him, that he, (McLeary, in
the sOth year of his age, resident in that section of
North Carolina, and himself Revolutionary SOL
der, had never heard the charge of toryism made
against Ezekiel Polk until the present year.
To oppose this "never heard" we here intro
duce another of Judge Saunderss witnesses. who,
upon OATH admits that Ezekiel Polk took British
protection. The affiant George Alexander and
he confirms the main fact of Thomas AIexaDder's
affidavit making the evidence unquestionable:
"PAsoLA COUNTY, Mss, March 25, 1910.
II was acquainted with Col. Ezekiel Polk from
the time he came to Mecklenburg county from
South Carolina. Railways understood that he was