The Lincoln County herald., 1870-01-13
I.-JAMEs KNOX POLK.

President Polk, though not . man oi
great ability, surrounded himself with
statesmen, and made creditsble admin
ishation Of public Affairs. lie did not
however, impress me With any appreciable
amount Of reverence st my 6rst, and
nearly ny only interview, which was uu.
der peculiar circumstances. During the
political canvass of 1874, l edited daily
paper in New York. The opposition
journals, in additio, to the customary
bosh INDUCED in by political writer's Of
all parties, made use Of q large amount of
personal abuse. This was moro persist
ent in the ase Of Mr.. Polk, from the fact
that his previous psblic career had pre-
sented few salient points for attack.
Among other things, it was said that Mr..
Polk's grandfather an officer on the
American side during the Revolutionary
war, had taken British protection, and
abandoned the caue of the rebels. What
this had to 10, if true, with the contro.
versy between the Democratic and Whip
psrties, or why MI Polk should be held
to account for the act of an ancestor. oc.
curing before his birth, would puszle the
mos: ingenious. Bat the charge was made,
and one half was tue, though as whole
it was false. The elder Polk, . colonel
in the rebel service, was local and par
tisan Officer, and when the loyalists got
the upper hand sroend him, did lik.
Hayne, and many others, and accepted
protection. Like Hayne, as soon as ho
could escspe, he took fresh commission,
and again Joined the rebel ranks. The
difference 10 the txo cases was iu result
a very happy one for the elder Polk.
Hsyns was caught and hanged /; Polk they
could not catch, snd therefore did not
hang. No one assailed the memory Of
Hayue, but then no grandson of his vas
. candidate for Office. I replied TO these
attacks with some spirit, and no little
venom, and rated the opposition soundly
for the Stiffness aud nalignity of such
attscks, and when the canpsign vas over,
dismissed the natter from ny mind. nr3
PresiAent Pok, who was subscriber
to my Journal, vas sensitive on tho sub.
ject, and kept t.s thing in bis mind after.
ward, as il provsd. 7 @1.I % II lpgI
In Match, 1874, I think IL was the day
AFTER the inauguration, ! was in Wash.
ington. and received . message stating
that the sRsesid,nt would like to see me.
made my way to tha White House IL
once, and found the ante chamber crowded
with Judges Of the Supreme Court, and
others, waitingfOr FORMAL interview. III
handed writttu card to the usher, whom
l think vsss pulstto body servant Of the
President. Hb told me that it would be
impossible to zee Mr.. Polk that day, IS
those in waiting we're there by special
..Ppoi%ment, nd would occupy the whole
time. ST ~ y.~T- ~ -. .-r II
"No matter" I said II have 40 spe. |
cial wish to SO the Presideat uow, but |
am here at his request, and you will give
him my card, 10 let him know that l am |
here"
Ho took Ii, card 10, and returning in |
, moment, sad "The Presidents com. |
plimeats, sir. sad hs vould be glad, II yov
could mskc Y convenient, to see you this
evening at eight o'clock" !; N0'l
"Vsry god" l answered |; sud rather
enjoying thu evident surprise Of those
Who overheard the colioquy,I turned
awsy. Tho bystanders supposed was .
member cleo, Of the Kitchen Cabinet, At
least, which - I neither sought nor sx.
pected ofdce, wss great fan for me. l had
several profound bows from perfect
strangers, at various times after; apd 7