Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-15
VISIT TO MRS. POLK.
The Members of the Legislature Call
Upon tho widow Of the Ex-PresIdent
i'm q Body.
A pleasant Reunion.


Pursuant to a Joint resolution of both
Houses of the General Assembly, both
branches adjourned at half past two O'Clock
yesterday evening, and proceeded in body
to the residence of the honored widow of
ex-President Polk.
Mrs. Fall, who ofiieiates on such occasions,
had invited a few friends to be present.
among whom we noticed Mrs. Gov. ].
G.. Brown, Mrs. DR.. Van S. Lindsey, Mrs.
John o. Ewin, Mrs. Connor, of New Orleans,
Mrs. j. d. Horton, Mrs, A. j. Duncan,
Mrs. MCGUIRE and Miss Julia Putnam.
There were also few gentlemen, including
Gov. John G. Brown, Col. r. B. Chatham,
Arson Nelson, A. j. Duncan, Col. John G.
Burch, T. ID. Craighead, S. w. Childress,
Felix Demoyille, Bruce Buckner and A. G.
Adams, occupying the parlors previous to
the arrival of the members of the Legisla-
ture.
As the members entered the parlors, they
were introduced separately, and cordially
received by Mrs. Polk. A half hour or
more was spent in conversation, when the
guests were invited to,partake ola sumptuous
repast prepared by the hospitable lady of the
mansion. The tables were filed with
choice viands, fruits and confections, and
wines in variety. A half hour more passed
by, around the festive board, when the Le-
gislators returned to the parlors. At this
juncture, the Speaker of the House was
selected to return thanks for the courtesies
extended, and in compliance with the
solicitation of his brother members,
Mr.. Speaker Richardson said: Mrs.
Polk:-Upon me has devolved the very
pleasant duty of presenting to you the
members Of the Lower House ofthe Thirty
Seventh General Assembly of the State of
Tennessee, who have called upon you to-
day to pay you their respects not, as mere
matter of form and in compliance with a
custom established and acted upon by our
predecessors for many years, but as a mat
ter of choice, and of sincere qualification to
each member for the opportunity thus af-
forded. We have called to make your ac-
quaintance, or to renew an acquaintance
already made by many, and to express
our best wishes for your happiness
and prosperity and of our most
profound yeneration and respect
for the memory of the iltustrious dead
whose honored remains repose in yonder
tomb, and whose spirit has gone to God
who gave it. Allow me to assure you that
yon have the best wishes of each member
of this Assembly, and that we most earn
estly hope that you may yet be spared many
years of happiness and pleasure to yourself
and of comfort to your friends, and that
many succeeding Legislatures of State
not rendered the more famous by reason of
the ability and wisdom and chivalry of her
sons, than the grace and dignity and gentle
ness of her daughters, may enjoy the happy
privilege of calling upon you and partaking
of the like generous hospitality you have
to-day extended to US.
Following these remarks of the Speaker
of the House,
Senator Ridley said: Mrs. Polk: 1t is with
pleasure as a representative of the Senatorial
body to whom belong; it is with heartfelt
pleasure that | extend to you the hearty
wishes and cordialities Of each and every
member of that body. 1t is a consolation
to myself (and take it that it has ever con-
soled yOu) for the distinguished association
and cheering recollections of him to whom
you were allied by affection and devotion,
that by the kindly interpOsition of Provi-
dence, he was called to his home long be-
fore the recent struggle with its blood, war
fare and desolation which visited this ma
ton. We regard you as a bright link that
connects the past and the present, and sad
indeed will be that recollection, in common
with the whole people, when God in his
providence shah call you to His home, and
the link shall have been severed. In part
ing with you this evening, and thanking you
for these cordialities, wethank you as body,
each and every one of us, and hope you
may live to see many occasions like this,
and that your life may be as brilliant as it
has been useful and good.
Col. John c. Burch, of the UNION AND
AMERICAN, at the request of Mrs. Polk,
said:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives: am requested by Mrs.
Polk to return to you her sincerest thanks
for the compliment which you have paid
her. She feels, and doubly feel, that no
language can express the qualification that
your visit is to her on this occasion. She
feels, and doubly feel that L am but poor
representative of her to-day. She has been
the recipient of favors of similar charac-
ter on many previous occasions, but l am
authorized by her to say that on no oeca-
sion has it made deeper, nor viii any ever
make more lasting impression than this.
when these receptions come, there is
in the mind of the general public,
perhaps an idea offormality that she desires
to have removed. Whatever of formality
there may have been in your visit, be as
sured that in the reception it was cordial
and heartfelt, and while you have alluded
to the past, she, too, looking back over the
bloody scenes to which you have referred,
that mar the picture of our country, re-
members the bright past, and hopes with
your assistance, and with the assistance of
future legislators of Tennessee, and of the
nation, that the future may be still brighter
than ever the past has been.
To you, gentlemen, who have been the
speakers on this occasion, she desires to
tender her most cordial thanks for the man.
ner in which you have expressed the views
of your respective houses. Coming, as both
of you do, from the county of which she
is native, she feels doubly thankful to the
Legislature which has made you its Speak
ers. Again she tenders to each of you, and
to the General Assembly which you repre-
sent, her most cordial thanks.
The members were then about to take
their leave, when
Senator Gibson said: Mrs. Polk, in the
name and behalf CT the minority in the
present General Assembly, allow me to pro-
pose an imprOmptu toast to our country, to
George Washington, the man who didmore
than any other man to found it to Andrew
Jackson, the man who did more than any
other man to preserve it, and to James K.
Polk, the man who did more than any
other man TO enlarge it.
Col. Chester, the venerable member of
the House, at this point, made happy hit
when he remarked;
Mr.. Speaker, move that this House adj
journ till tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
No former visit to Mrs. Polk, by the
of the Legislature passed off more
agreeably than this. The visits were in
some years past, andit is a source
of great pleasure to this estimable lady to
have the custom kept up. May she live
loOO TO nniOV Suph visits