The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-07-13

States, TO be plsced on the ticket with |
Mr.. Van Buren. He was afterwards
nominated for the same office in several
other States, but at the election of le40
he received only one electoral vote for
Vice President, which was given by enc
Of the electors in Virginia.
Having served as Governor of Tsnues.
see for the constitutional term Of two
years, Mr.. Pelk was candidate for a re.
election, in August, ls41. His prospect
was unpromiaing, as the State, in lS40,
showed a Wing majority of 10000 a. tho
Presiden tia! election. The result W as the
defeat of Mr.. Polk, and the election If
James G. Jones, the Wing candidate, as
Governor, by a majority of 2,224. Mr.
Polk, therefore, retired from public lite,
at the expiration of his executive term.
Two years after, in l643, he was again
caud idate for the executive chair ia ons
position to Governor Jones, but he was
the second time defeated, and the Wing
candidate re elected, by a majority OF
2,s33.
From October, ls41 until bis elevation
to the highest Office ir the Union, Mr..
Polk remained In private life, not, how.
ever, an insert spectator Of the wild and
troubled drama of politics.
On the 26th of May, 1874. Mr.. Polk re.
ceived the nomination Of the Democratic
National Convention, assembled at Bal
timore, for President Of the United
States. To this high office he was cleo
ted in the Fall of the same year, by the
people of the United States, and nis ma
jority over Mr.. Clay, the Wing candidate,
as expressed through the electoral COL
leges, in December, 1874, was 65. Tue
votes Of the Presidential electors were
for James X. Polk, 10; for Henry Clay.
l05. Geo. NJ. Dallas was elected Vice
President by the same majority, over
Theodore Frelinghuysen. The votes
were counted in the House of Represents
tatives on the l0,h Of February, 1915
The President elsct having repaired to
the seat Of Government, informed the
ed nn him, that, In signifyisg His .acespa
tance Of the office to which he had been
chosen by the people, he expressed his
deep sense Of gratitude to them for the
confidence which they had reposed 10
him, and requested the Committee to con-
vey to their respective houses of Con-
gress assurances that. in executing the
respepsibly duties whieh would devolve
upon him, it would be his anxious desire
to maintain the honor and promote the
welfare Of the country"
In person, President Polk was of mid.
die stature, with a full angular brow, and
quick penstIating eye. The expression
of his countenance was grave, butits ser
ious cast W as often relieved by a peculiar
| ly pleasant smile, Indicative of the a.
msnlty of his disposition. His private
life, which had ever been upright and
pure, secured to him the esteem and
friendship Of all who had the advantage
Of his acquaintance. He married lady
Of Tennessee, who is a member of the
Presby yterian Church, and well qualified
by her virtues and accomplishments,
equally to sdorn the circles Of private life,
or the station 10 which she had been calls
ed. He was without children. and leaves
widsw to mourn her irreparable beS
reavement. The only surviving EXPIRES
idsnts, at the present time, are Martin
Van Buren and John Tyler, the latter Of
whom, it will be remembered, became the
Presid ent, on the sudden decease o Gen.
Harrison, soon after his Inauguration.
The following letter from the New
York Herald gives an account of the last
hours of the Ex.President.
NASHVILLE, June 10, 1910.
Yesterday, at 20 minutes before Eve
o'clock, P. NJ, J ames K. Polk expired at
his residence ia this city. Mr.. Polk had
suffered from diarrhoea, on his way up the
Mississippi river from New Orleans, In
March; but the attack passed off, and he
reached this city In good health. A few
day after his arrival, he moved into his
new mansion; stately edifce, which had
just been completed and furnished in
style of combined elegance and taste.--
His estate lies in the very heart of the
city, % an eminence known as Grundy's
Hill having been the home of the Hon,
Felix Grundy, from whose heirs MIR. Polk
purchased the property.
Having taken up his abode here, the
Ex-President gave himself up to the i'm
ptovemeut of the grounds, and was seen
every day about his dwelling, aiding aud
directing The workmen he had employed.
Now overlooking a carpeuter, now giving |
instructions to gardener, often attend
cd by Mrs. Polk, whose exquisite taste
constituted the eleme OF Of esefS improve