The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-18
LETTER FROM NESSEE-COL
POLK.

LETTER FROM TENNESSEE-COL.
POLK
The last Richmond Enquirer contains long
letter from an old and attached friend of the
President elect, from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts:
TO the Editors Of the Enquirer:
NASHVILLE Tenn, Dec. 5, 1874.
The last deed, touching the Presidential campaign
in Tennessee, was perpetrated here yesterday. The
Wing Electors, victors by bare majority Of ll3
votes have met here and cast their suages for Clay
and Frenghuysen. They assembled at the Court
House under the flourish of Wing procession, and
last night the closed by illumination,
deeply tnged, however, by dim and slckly glare
The Wings commenced the campaign with ma orIty
Of $500 in their favor; they ended with loss
of full 3 800 Of their forces 1t is true, they kept
possession of the battle field but the Democrats
tired with 800 of their army captives-with drums
beating, colors flying, in perfect order, and ready for
the coming fight next summer and fully conscious
then of glorious and overwhelming triumph The
re oicing of the Wings last night not at advanta
ges gained but that their disasters were not more
overwhelming. Although the Wings have carried
the State, think our brethren throughout the Union
must admit that the Democrats of Tennessee
have fought the good fight. In 1910, the majority
against us was 10000 IN l643, we reduced it TO
1900; and in 1914, we have brought it down to Is
Does not this show both steadiness and infexbllity
Of purpose on the part Of the Democracy-and arc
not the indications Of glorious resurrection in our
n sisfs has been p saa espss
rlor for The last forty years. In many a wel-fought
aud victorious field has he battled with the enemy.
His experience has enabled him to view with calm
ness and serenity, with candor and discrimination
alike the causes Of disaster and success He well
knows, in these contests how hard 1t is for an iner
or force TO climb the steep and drive an entrencb
ed adversary from his works. Such was the state OF
things IN Tennessee, when the recent war begun and
though we have not been yctors in the battle which
terminated on yesterday, we have still taught our
foes that the next field will be to them field of Wa
terloo-routed, dispersed and anntiated! Abdca-
ton must follow
But for the course which Colonel Benton felt il his
duty 10 pursue IN the Senate with regard to the Tex
as treaty, The Democracy would have carried Ten
nessee oy ten thousand votes. Every intelligent man
IN this State knows this 10 be So The Texas cues
ton was at hrst popular in all parts of the State II
would have taken us trlumphanty through this con-
test Though inferior in point of numbers to the
wings at The onslaught, we could have overcome
their majority but for the artillery Of Colonel Benton
The enemy seized upon his speeches printed and cir
culsled them by tens Of thousands. In the fury of
The hght these terrible guns of bis were turned by
The adversary upon our rsnks-snd destructive en-
gines were they made | mean to east no censure
upon the motives of Colonel Benton, bot Just so sure
as the Spartan Band Of Richmond gave life and yigor
"a.
So sure did the speeches Of Thomas III. Benton give
success TO the cause of the Wings 10 Tennessee
Still Colonel Polk is elected. But, notwithstapd-
ing this, perceive, some OF the Northern Whig pa
Pers are still crying, I" Who IS this Jane, X Polk, -
oho has thus cast dozen the idol of their partu They
seem TO think man must be hoarv with age before
his best faculties can be developed and vet William
Pitt was triumphant minister at TWENTY-FIVE Ma.
poleon victorious general at twenty-sr and the
author of the Declaration Of independence was but
thiriy-bree, when he gave 10 The porid hi, first true
chart Of the rights Of man.
IL - now about TWENTY-FIVE years since | first be
came acquainted with James X. Polk
lie is native of North Carolina, though raised
Gas we back woodsmen ssy,) in Tennessee He
however, finished his education at Chapel Hill. in
the former State.
He sprang from good stock; and though his pa
rents dwell in the humble ranks Of life, yet no family
IN Tennessee were more respected As regards
worldly goods, though not in aGluent circumstances
they had sufhciency to give to all their children
the best OF educations, and sufficient start with
which to begin life.
James X Polk can boast of a classical education
as highly finished is taught at the University of
North Caroiina-and no young man has ever left |
mat respectable establishment who has taken more |
pains to build upon what was there given to him.
lie studied law in the town of Nashville, under |
the direction OF that distinguished lawyer and states
man, fELh NRUNDY, WITH whom he was ALWAYS n |
fayorte and may be well asserted that under his
patronage, me seeds of Democracy, which we're, |
doubtless, IN him very early in life, were made TO |
take deep and vigorous root Oh that his early |
labor had but lived to see the distinguished eminenoe
to whlch his fsvorite pupil has arrived | do not |
think Mr. Polk remained at the Bar more than seven
or eight years before he engaged in public life His
success as a lawyer was everything he could wish
lis flrst public employment was that of chief clerk
70 the Legislature OF 4 ennessee; and according 10
my best recollection, he was twice returned a, a
member OF that body, by the county Of Maury-tbe
county IN which bis father first settled in Tennessee
aud The county IN which the has ever since re.
SIDED. About this time he married. He married
The daughter OF Joel Cbildress merchant of Ruther-
lord county, Tennessee. Mr.. Cbildress was born
and raised N Campbell county, Virginia and there
are persons, perhaps, still living in Campbell, who
viii remember Mrs. Polks grandfather, as he truly
was hard-hghting soldier of the Revolution SO.
you will perceive that that famous " Old mother Of
States though not as Byron says, /" the lone mo-
,her OF dead empires has q deep interest in Mr..
foiks family Her amability Of character, intelec-
tual accomplishments, and suavty of manners. will
secure her the affection Of oil who may cutiv.,. her
scqusisisnes.