The Arkansas banner., 1844-08-28
From He :. Yonnc Llichnl9L.,,
THE CHARGE OF ToRYIsM

From he Young HictolY'
 THE CHARGE OF T0RYISM.
 An immense mass meeting of the Demo- cracy of the Old North State, was held at Meclllenburg, on the 23d ult, at which np- wards of ten thousand of her hardy yeoman- " were present. The assemblage was ad- dressed in most eloquent and impressive manner by Hon. GEORGE c. DRoMGooLEs Of Virginia, and Hon. R. M SAUNDERS. The latter gentleman went into a thorough and searching investigation of the Whig charge of Toryism against Capt EZEKIEL Polk, and proved its utter lalsity. We copy from the 'Jeflersonan' the remarks of Gen. SAUNDERS
 si come now to speak of matter con- nected with the family history of Col. Polk, matter to which refer with pride, as it enables me to remove foul slander which our opponents have sought to fix upon the character and good name of a patriot and soldier of the Revolution. This duty dis charge with the more pleasure, as those who have revived this foul islander have made a reference to some remarks of mine in the Baltimore Convention, as the pretence for the revival of their base charge When refer red to the fame of Col Polk, being born in the county of Meeklenburg, where, in May, l775, had first been proclaimed the Declara- ton of Independence, that he was descen- dant of those who had participated in that glorious and daring act, did so more with the view of giving eelat to a transaction of which our State had been and still is justly proud, than of adding any thing to the merits and claims of Col. Polk; for with us nothing is more true than the couplet of the poet:
 '.Honor and shame from no condition rise
 Act well your part-there all the honor lies'
 Little did think, by a reference to this act, that ] was giving our opponents any ground for repiying a charge which 1t seemed they started when Col. Polk was first a candidate for Governor in the State of Tennessee. But ] proceed to the charge and the proof. ltwas first charged that Samuel Polk, the father of James K. Polk, was tory. This charge was met with the fact that Samuel Polk was boy at the close of the ReyoIution-that he had been Republican and supporter of Mr. Jefferson in 1900, and had lived and died with the reputation of an honest man and faithful citizen. The charge is next made against the grandfather, Ezekiel Polk, long since gathered to the grave of his Reyolu- tionary associates. But thanks be to kind Providence, there still survives the proof to rescue the name of the soldier from the foul aspersion of the political slanderer. We are taught even by the headlen-''de ntoriais AI aisi bonua''-but these political vultufes of our day have less charity than the heathens, and gladly devour the character of the dead to answer the unholy purposes of the living. shall not trouble you with reference to what has been offered in support of this charge, further than to say the affidavit of the old man relied upon, does not sustain the charge of toryism, Asking protection of the British officer for wife, children, and proper ty against the savage assaults, and tie bl0od- thirsty rayages of the tories themselves, was certainly not taking sides against the country. rely not upon the insufliciency of the proof in support of the charges, but proceed to of fer the conclusive and triumphant testimo- ny in refutation. The first proof to which l refer is the affidavit of Captain James Jack, taken in 1913, when there existed no motive for misrepresentation, and which was taken at the time for the purpose of perpetuating the testimony in support of the fact of the Declaration of Independence of 20th May, 1775 Capt. Jack not only sustained through life fair character, but this affidavit was ori- ginally published under the authority of the General Assembly of the State, and Is the highest evidence in support of the authen- ticity of the Declaration. trust no one having any regard for tie honor and character of the State will dare impeach the strongest link ill the chain of proof in support of oul claim to being the first to throw off the British yoke, and proclaim our independence as ; nation. read from the printed document page Is, letter c, with certificate annexed.
 "The next proof offer, is a commission of Ezekiel Polk, of Captain of Rangers, at granted by the civil authorities of South Caro- lima, in pursuance of resolutions of the Pro vincial Congress. The authenticity of thi. document is beyond question; and it cstab fishes the fact of Capt, Polk 's4eelings of tha day, as one of the principal duties epjoinet upon him in his command of the Rangers was the destruction of the Tories. It showi the confidence reposed in him as an enemy of the very band with which ne is now ac cused of associating Thirdly, is the ette
 of the eldest son of Ezekiel Polk, who Ina, piSsSINtu lIG Ol 8liltl COii4nSSlOll iedtCNl III father, as a sort of family relic; not, as h supposed, to save the character of his vene rated parent from the tongue of the slanderer but as a proud testimonial of the patriotism of his ancestor. Fourthly, the affidavit c Geo. Alexander, who speaks from persona knowledge, and who, upon his oath pro
 nouces the charge to be false. As to the pro
 lection to which he speaks, those who knoN any thing of the ravages which followed tn
 downfall of Charleston, when the enemy ovel
 run the country with the sword of death an
 the torch of confagration, will not. be SUI prised that one who had been so active i routing the Tories should have been forced for time, to save his wife, children, and pro pelty, from an enemy more cruel and vindiC tive, than the savage himself If this mad < Capt. Polk Tory, so was the brave and ga lant Col Hayne Tory. He fell victil and martyr to British cruelty as a oaptiv after having been forced to entreat the prt lection, when every thing was gloom an