The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-03-19
JAMES K. POLK.
"reminiscences of His Life and Of
the Campaign OF 1914.
Correspondence Of the n. Y. Observer.

OOAAcSkoANSASD u VIC ~ - OD1SA
PMEvnLE, N. c., Feb. 20. 1879.
This distinguished individual,
member Of Congress from Tonnes
zee, Speaker Of The House Of Repre-
sentatives, Governor of his adopted
State and afterwards President Of
the United States, had his birth place
in this immediate vicinity. Part Of
the very building In which be was
born, removed little from its then
locality, / am informed, is still to be
seen on an adjacent farm. James
Knox Polk was a remarkable man,
and his history is we'll worthy the
study of the youth of his native State,
and for that matter the youth as we'll
rs those of mature years of any State
or country. His characteristics en-
ergy, punctuality and assiduous aP-
plication to whatever engaged his a.
tention, were proverbial; aud well
it may be said by the historian that
'whils at college he laid the fouRda-
ton Of his future fame and useful
ness, for it is said "he never missed q
single recitation or avoided single
duty during the whole course OF his
collegiate term" After serving for
fourteen years in the Congress OF
the United States, during which he
was never absent q single day from
his post, he voluntarily declined a
reelection. After his retirement
from Congress he was made Govern
or of Tennessee. In 1914 he was
nominated as the Democratic candi-
date for the presidency in opposition
to Kentucky's favOrite son, the great
champion OF the American pGotec-
tive system. Harry of The West.
The writer of this well remembers
some of the incidents of that event
full aud never to be forgotten period,
when the Wing party, all aglOw with
enthusiasm and confidence in their
success, assembled by thousands in
the beautiful City of Oaks, the cap
ital of North Carolina, TO hear their
champion discourse in words of mi
mitable pathos aud eloquence, on
the great political issues Of the day.
we'll remember the sonorous voice
and commanding presence of John M.
More head, the then Governor Of
State, as be introduced to the crowd.
vociferating their cheers at well nigh
every word the man whose history
was so Intimately connected with
that of his country that to read the
one was TO know the other IF you
wish TO know the history of your
country for the last forty years read
his biography if you wish to know
his biography read the history OF
country for the last forty years. | in.
troduce to you the sage of Ashland,
Henry Clay, of Kentucky" Anoth-
er interesting and attractive episo-
de of the days proceedings was the
present alton to him by patriotic
and enthusiastic lady admirer, from
Granville, of a beautiful vest pattern
ofgenuine homemade silk, condition.
ed that he was to wear it on the &C.
casion OF his Inauguration as Presi-
dent. The election came off and it
was discovered that the great crater
was defeated. which perhaps was
due in part to fatal letter which he
wrote for the public prints while stil
in the goodly city of Raleigh, in OPP
position 10 the annexation of Texas.
At any rate the little Tennessee
giant was elected by a majority Of
sixty five in the electoral college,
and the tune which ran thus before:
"Get out the way you Polk-root poison,
You can't kill Clay and Frelinghuysen;"
was changed after the election to
'fGet out the way you Polk-root poison,