The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-11
The Late Mai. ". Il. Polk.
Col. FoRSEv writes the following notice
Of the late Mai. Polk, to the Philadelphia
p,.o,.

Press: r
WAsHINGfoN, Dec. 90 1862.
The death Of William H. Polk, Of Ten
nessee, is not matter Of news, nor, per-
haps, 3 matter Of eulogy, for see that
you have already paid the proper tribute
to his memory in the columns of your
newspaper. And if refer to him o-day.
it is because the joyous times through
which Washington is now passing can
not fail to suggest one who was in other
days one Of the most popular and
genial leaders Of our social circles,
and partly because the delicate
and distressing condition Of Tennessee,
and The interest the nation feels ia The
great events there transpiring, lead us 10
regret the loss Of one who was among the
bravest and best of her loyal sons. Mr.
Polk was born in Tennessee, Nav "a,
1915, and was the youngest brother Of
the ex-President. His family were
among those who went from the compar-
atively crowded State of North Carolina,
to the freer and less developed ter
ritory Of Tennessee. They crossed
the mountains in a spirit Of rest
less adventure, and were among the
pioneers of the new settlement. The
generation which preceded him had out
lived the wild romance that surrounded
the primitive life of these early settlers
The Indian wars had been transferred
from the forests of the Cumberland
Valley to the everglades of Florida, and
civilization was stripping the rough bark
Of nature. Men no longer went 10 church
with the rifle and prayer book, or awoke
in the midnight 10 be butchered by the
light Of their burning homes. Daniel
Boone was telling wondrous stories 10
young lads with large eyes, and the CO.
| temporaries of Daniel Boone may have
taken young Polk on their knees, and
described, with enthusiasm, the qualities
of one to whose courage, endurance, and
skill the Western States owe so much
| The inhence Of these men was felt deep
| ly in Tennessee and in the country
| When Polk was attending school, men
whose names were afterwards to become
famous were in the busy walks Of life
Davy Crockett had told his stories 10 the
Tennessee Legislature, and was in Wash
ingtOn repeating them TO one of the
Houses over which Henry Clay presided
as Speaker. James X. Polk had finish
ed his law studies with Felix Grundy,
aud had gone into politics, while Felix
Grundy, kind, genial, noble hearted, gem
tleman that he was, had entered the
Senate Chamber Thomas II. Benton
had quarreled with jackson, gone 10
Missouri in disgust, and been sent TO the
Senate, which he honored for thirty years.
John Bell had dawdled away some fee
BILE years in Congress, aud was making
dreary speeches to patient judges and
impatient jurymen. Bailie Payton was
in the House, and contemplating his en-
bassy TO the Brazils, and ell Tennessee
was very much excited about the wrongs
of one of the bravest, boldest, and NIGH
test Of her sons-ra tall, gaunt, narrow
visaged man, with light hair, fierce pas
sions, and frame which bullet wound
had tortured upon the yack---a map " ho
had given law % Tennessee from his rude
court house, and carried IL into execution
whom The court had adiOuned--a mac
who went 10 church, and the race course
regularly; who was a devout Christian,
and had killed man in a duel; and
having proved himself 10 be one OF the
most upright judges, one of the most
skilful generals, and one of the noblest
patriots of the age, was now stalking
around Washington, swearing terribly at
the injustice of Mr.. Monroe's Admins
tration, threatening TO cut the ears from
Henry Clay, and anxious 20 be chosen
President Of the United States. In the
zenith of that strange, eccentric and ex-
traordinary mans career, Polk was con-
STRUNG Cesar in the University OF Ten
nessee.
Andrew Jackson had closed one OF the
: most illustrious Administrations the Re-
public had known, and was planting
corn al the Hermitage and writing indig-
nant letters against the enemies of Mrs
Eaton. Martin Van Buren, was summing
himself in the lingering rays Of Jackson's
, splendor, spending his time At the last
novel, and deyoting bis leisure moments
10 the duties of the Presidency, when
VIM. II. Polk was admitted TO the bar
and went into politics His brother
was Governor and in 1871 he became 9
, member of the Legislature of his native
, State. But his rowing temper would mol
, be at rest, and President Tyler having
rendered him an embassy TO Naples, h,
, went as Charge d'Ahaires in l842.--
There he remained, enjoying The deli.
oious climate Of Italy, and padding th'
, lazy hours away in the Vesuvian Bay
While there he negotiated treaty will
| the Two Sicilies, which gained him grea
credit as keen and practical diploma
, list. The cloud Of war that was appear
\ ing on the horizon when he left his ma
a tive land now darkened the heavens an,
burst into a storm. William II. Poll
: was too brave a man, too fiery aud i'm
r petuous, 10 spend the hours which hi
country demanded amid the sof, asso
4 Citations Of Sicily.
o He heard the thunder, and be cam
|. home He went al once into the arm
a as a major Of dragons, and served dur
h ing our brief campaigns with MeNio,
q Peace proclaimed, he returned home an
:. resumed the practice Of his profession
attending the Nashville Convention
1850, and being elected % Congress !
iS5l.53. or an the members Of iha
D, Congress, and there were many VII
7 have since become eminent, none viii D
N more kindly remembered by his associ
y aies than Vim II. Polk. In person