The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-02-29
Her Loyalty g sAe Unisa.


Her Loyalty % sAe Union.
We were told by . friend that the
v idow Of President Polk va living IN
Nashville, and that We ought 70 60 and
See her residence, and the monument in
her front yard, erected over the romans
of her husband. who had once filed the
highest and most honorable Office in the
world. We accordingly repaired TO Vine
street, and soon found ourself in front of
the lady's beautiful mansion. An elderly
female in "weeds," with young lady By
her side, was standing at the front gate.
We assembled the steps. at the top OF
which they we're standing, and asked the
elder Of the two if this was the residence
Of Mrs. Polk? She answered that it was.
We then said to her, "I think it highly
probable, madam, that l have the honor
of addressing that very lady now" eff
it be any honor, sir, you have" was her
response. We expressed ourselves highly
gratited at the circumstances, and said
that while it was only in our programme
to obtain sight of her residence and the
monument OF her husband, we had not
even hoped for such an interview. We
then gave her our name and character as
a soldier, q voluntary and occasional cor
respondent, when she expressed herself
much pleased that we had called, We
soon realized that We were in the pres
ence Of noble, intelligent, philanthropic
and patriotic woman--patriotie, l mean,
in the true sense of that word.
We confessed to much establishment
when she told US that from the time Of
her husbands decease in lS49, to the
present hour, she had never been out of
her own house to party or gathering
of any kind, except occasionally to flu
neral. She has not even taken tea out Of
her own domicil, since that melanch holy
event. Twice she has dined out while on
business with her late husbands execu.
tors, when it was almost unavoidable. ~" II
live in and belong to the past" was her
remark to us ct this interview. | pre-
sumo, at no time since her husband
death, has she ever laid aside her
"weeds."
THE MONUMENT.
The plain monument beneath which lie
the remains of James K. Polk with ap-
proprlate inscriptions on three sides, J
stands little to the right of the walk,
leading from the street to the house, and
very near to it. This, together with hel
almost perfect seclusion, and continuous
mourning for fourteen years, tells strong
ly with what tenacity and affection, and
reverence, she clings to the memory Of
her late illustrious husband.
MRS. POLK AND SECESSION.
Much has been said of Mrs. Folks &C.
cessionism. On this, and hundred topics
that constituted some of the themes Of
our converse, we shall have but little tt
say, as with this retiring and truly mod
est woman,
at is an aim snd-an attainment.
to shun as much as possible the publ.
gaze. We will, nevertheless, Ito wip,
the stain of the charge of secession from
her escutcheon give here some portion
of our talk on this theme.
said to her: 'sN1rs Polk, | have
heard you accused, since | have been il
Nashville, of being bitter secessionist
how is thisY'
She quickly and warmly responded il
substance as follows:
"Mr. c., that is wrongful accu
sation. never was a secessionist, and
don't think ever will be one. Ialway
said there was no excuse for the cours
taken by my misguided friends. | sail
that Mr.. Lincoln was Constitutional
elected, and that election should be &C
quiesced in BY every true patriot. | 60
Sir, for my Government-my whole Gov
ernment."
''In other words, Mrs. Polk" we res
ponded, "you 60 for that United States
OF which your late honored husband va
once the President"
"fes sir" che responded, with mark
ed emphasis, 81 do. / know my nam
has been placed before the public-onc
at ieast-in connection that may hav
engendered. In some minds, doubts of m
loyalty but was SO placed against N
wishes and remonstrances But, inasmuc
IS it was done for humane and CHART,
BILE purpose, said nothing publicly abor
1t. do not deny" she added, "that m
womanly sympathies are with the Soutl
and that l often catch myself exultiu
over the success of the Confederate arm
but this is only my judgment temporari
suspended at the bidding Of my symp,
thies, prejudices and affections. / ",
born IN the South from infancy to oil
age-for my days, now, you know.
Are in the sere and yellow leaf
my surroundings have all been Southern
My relatives, my friends, and more ths
all, my late loved and honored husban,
were all of that sunny cline Is it, the
reasonable to suppose that. in momen
IN the twinkling Of an eye,' with the fros
OF many winters upon my head, / 9.
throw off, as would garment, all Il
affections, all the endearing accocia,ion
All the prejudices (if you please, of
long liteE No no this cannot be A,