The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-02-13


sharp sighted composiiors will have trouble with
my chrogrsphy. But / must write as l go, what
have to communicate, or "Young Hickory" or
Young America" as the President is sometimes
called, Will give me no time TO write at all.
Yours, respectfully, Nc,
ON BoARp 1.-THE Man. STEAMER !
Near Pomeroys Landing, o. River, Feb s.lsa5.
We reached Gnyandot, IN Virginia, yesterday
evening about o'clock, from whence a line OF
stages dlverge across the mountains to the Vir-
glnia Springs, and by way OF stanton, &C., TO
Fredericksburg. If the ice embargo had become
conn lete, il was, stated, the Intention OF the
President to have landed this point, and to have
proceeded by land through Virginia to Washing
ton But just before getting to Guyandot, the
"Cincinnatt," large boat from Wheeling, passed
US going down. At Guyandot the "John Ross
came along side-she had just come down from
Wheeling. Her passengers, officers, &c seemed
to concur IN the opinion that we might get up
These favorable reports decided the Presiden mt in
remaining on the boat, and await the result of her
efforts 10 get TO Wheeling. AS our wheels had re-
ceived some damage by striking the ice, the cap.
tain lay too TIL morning, IN part TO make repairs,
and in part, 10 avoid danger by running up stream
against such heavy masses OF ice.
During the evening the President received the
calls Of many people from the village, of both sexes,
from small boys and girls up to limping and de
crepid age; among the latter was seen an old, plain,
warmly dressed old man, who made his way up TO
the President saying, Sir. am happy TO see you
i have been rs years Post master at this place
sinned once, and was turned out by Amos Ken
dalmi Iepenied and gained my place voted
election, and am resdy to yield up my appointment
whenever required" To which the President re
Piled, che had no doubtthc Post Office at "Guyan-
dot" was in very safe hands, and that he was clear
for every man being free to form his own opinions
and to vote as he console ntousy believed was best
for the country. You know" continued he, " the
people created Offices for their own convenience,
and to promote the general welfare, and not for
the heup FIR Of fhOoo GplpCf IN fiji
and II is to the people, both Post masters and Pre-
sidents. under the constitution, are responsible"
This speech seemed to make a strong impression
on the mind Of the old man, who, again seizine
the hand Of the President, acknowledgements,
yon have expressed my sentiments precisely, and
had seen you before the election would have
given you my vote.' As the old man was leaving,
ne seemed much pleased with his interview, De.
claring the President was better looking, and
more clever man than he expected TO see.
whole string of rough mountaineer- looking
men, dressed in heavy home spun pants and cover
ed with wool hats, entered and were presented,
except a few who seemed too timid to venture up
One or two of them were SO much embarrassed as
to keep their hats on while the President approach
ed them bare headed. This unintentonal polite
ness on their part produced quite a gggle among
their more polished companions, who cried out To
them to "pull off their hats Some girls came on
board with their friends and expressed great de
sire to see Mrs. Polk, who received them in the
ladies' saloon. A brace OF fat, chubby, red faced
boys came on board asking to see the President;
who seeing them some steps of walked over t.
them, commenced a kind and lively chat with
them. They told him they wanted 10 see the Pre-
sident, when Governor Polk answered and said,
81 presume am the man you want to see." Here
the boys walked round him, scrutinizipg him with
enlarged eyes from head to foot. :" Umph," says
one, he is no bigger nor uncle George" They
seemed at loss whether to believe the Governor
the President, not sure but they had not been i'm
posed upon, they seemed to think he ought t.
be something quite extraordinary, and dlfferenl
from all mankind besides.
This was the Presidents first reception in Virgi.
nia-the Old Dominion-the land of Washington
and Jefferson. During the day. the weather hac
clonded NJ, threatening rain; but in the night
away the clouds, leaving the sky clear, blue and
cold. Considerable ice was made during the night,
which, with prospect Of its further formation tn
succeeding night seemed to lesson our prospects o
60, the greater the difficulty. The officers of ,he
boat deserve great credit for the persevering man
ner in which they have continued to srueg,
up stream ssnSst strong and oans
by the Captain and Engineers on board, who have
built her out Of their hard by boat
ing up and down the river, having trst commenced
operations as common hands on fiat bottom and
keel boats. This is large, comfortable, well
found craft, new and in good order. She has two
excellent engines The bow and sides of her hull
are covered with sheet iron to prevent her hui!
may not get further than Marietta, "a miles below
Wheeling. If we get to Wheeling at all, we shall
not probably arrive there before late to-morro
evening, the 9th inst.
ranged the programme of his journey to Washing
ton, as folows:-To have reached Wheeling to-
day, the 9Th; to spend the Sabbath and attend
church in that place, on tomorrow, the 9Th;
place, on Monday the 10th, ill u O'Clock; then
proceed to Washington, Pennsylvania, there to
lodge for the night next day. the llth to dine in
Brownsville, sleeping the following night at Union
and lodging there that night, proceed on the next
day, Friday, the 18th, via the Baltimore and Ohio,
and Washington Railroad to the seat Of Govern
day. The ice has so far impeded our progress, as
to render 1t certain we cannot reach Wheeling, It
at all. till Sunday evening Which, however, il
we accomplish. the plan OF the journey will re-
pens to delay us, the President may certainly be
expected to arrive at the capitol either ON Friday
the 18th. or Saturday, the l4th inst.
Mrs. Polk, on account OF slight indispostion. has
remained very close in the ladies' cabin. The
President was little unwell this morning, send
ing in word not to delay breakfast on his account
He and lady, however, were both at the dinner
table. The President was occasionally about the
At Sheffield, where we landed to take in Goals, he
received nearly all the inhabitants in that small
village of dozen or two dwelling houses.
The whole river country west, goes in for
SUNDAY, the 9th February. 1s45.
Contrary to what was apprehended by many. our
boat continued to buffit the heavy floating ice all
night Day light found US fifteen miles above
Marietta, and sixty-nine below Wheeling.
No boats are running between Guyandot and
Wheeling, but the gallant and intrepid Mail She
seems determined to place the President elect anc
suite in Wheeling, altogether IN spite Of wind
and weather." She seems to stride with gigantic
energy, through vast fields of floating ice, a.
though she was conscious of bearing the incoming
chief magistrate Of the greatest nation of people
on earth. AS we near Wheeling, we penetrate
lofty hills, coated with deep white snow, from
their bases to their submits. The small channel
of floating ice, left open to u.s. seems narrower at
every stage, till solid and fixed Ice, of great thick
ness, almost impinges the wheel houses on either
side.
| made an effort this morning to be up before
the President, and before the sun had darted the
first ray of pure light athwert the eastern hills,
smped from my berth, rushed into the gentlemens'