Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05

| speech without an oYercoat, catching, 1t is
said, at his Inauguration, cold which aided
in causing his death few weeks later.
President Lincoln travelled somewhat
while he was in the White House, but his
| life was too busy a one for the ordinary
Presidential junket. His first trip to WASH
ington was made by the Michigan Southern
| and the New York Central He was re-
ceived with great respect everywhere, except
at Baltimore, where it was feared the South
ern sympathizers would mob him, and
through which city it is said he went dis
guised. He had a special train, and he
| made his speeches from the baggage car.
Andrew Johnson's tour was speech max
ing one. He was under
The Influence of Liquor
during part of it, and some of his utter
ances were injudicious in the extreme. He
went nominally to lay the corner stone of
the Stephen A. Douglas monument at Chi
cago, but he travelled all over the country to
get there, taking in New York, Philadel-
phia and Cleveland. He spoke everywhere,
and hurt himself every time he spoke.
President Hayes was great traveller. He
was constant frequenter Of Grand Army
reunions, and his Southern policy made his
Southern tour very popular one He was
accompanied by leading Southerners, and
he received great deal of praise and taffy
from the South. He did great deal more
travelling while in the White House than he
has done since he left it 1t was different
with General Grant. He travelled but little
while President, going only now and then
to Long Branch or New York. He started
out on his trip around the world, however,
just after he left the White House, and no
man has ever had such tour as that of his
around the world. All men-all nations
tried to do him honor.
How Polk Was Nominated.
james K. Polk did not do a great deal OF
travelling while in the White House. His
nomination was q surprise to him and to his
friends. Colonel John Brownlow, a son OF
the famous fighting parson, tells me there is
letter now in existence, written by Polk
few weeks before he was nominated at Balti-
more. In this letter Polk writes to An
drew jackson Donelson, endeavoring to get
the support of "Old Hickory" to make him
Vice President. After stating his eualif-
cations for the place he closes as follows: "I
hope the Tennessee delegation will exert its
influence in my behalf as the candidate for
Vice President. This has been the ambi-
ton Of my life. -Four years ago I desired
the nomination. but gave way to others,
and now I hope my friends will support
me-"
'"The Tennessee delegation, said Colonel
Brownlow, chad no idea of making Polk
their candidate for the Presidency, and
their support of him as Vice President was
merely nominal. The convention, however,
did not know this. The friends of the other
candidates were fighting hard, and it was
in one of the bitterest of the struggles that,
merely to divert the attention of the conven-
tion, Major Donelson arose and nominated
James x. Polk as candidate for the Presi-
deney. Donelson was supposed to be the
mouthpiece of "old Hickory" and the in
fuence of Andrew Jackson was such that
this caused stampede toward Polk and he
was nominated.
Why jackson Didn't Like Polk.
When Andrew jackson heard of it he
was not pleased. He had a contempt for
Polk, because Polk would not fight duel
with Henry A. Wise when he pulled his
nose during his stay in Washington as
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
What did Polk say as to his nomina-
tion?" asked .-,.,..s. ..-....-ss.s... y
''They tell queer story concerning it in
Tennessee" replied Colonel Brownlow
"The news was announced to him by his
brother. William Polk, and James X. Polk
would not believe it. William Polk was a
much brighter man than James K. Polk.
He was the Tom Corwin of Tennessee in his
days. and was noted as wag. He was
ruined, however, by drinking, and
1t was curious thing that
drink made his face white rather than
red. Well, William Polk was the first man
to get the news of James K. Polk's nomina-
tion. He heard it while his brother was
trying petty ten-dollar Justice of the Peace
case in the town, and he came into the law
yer's Office and interrupted the trial, saying:
Jim, have you heard the news from Balti-
more?"
The future President replied that he had
not.
"Well, Jim, the nominations are made,
and am blank blanked if you are not NOM
mated for the Presidency"
James K. Polk laughed, and so did the
rest of the crowd. They all thought it was
one of Bill Polk's jokes but they soon
learned that it was truth.
How Polk Was Killed.
President Polk was killed by anxiety |
and hard work., Colonel Brownlow went on. |
''He was laid in his grave by the Mexican |
war, and and in some way he got the idea |
that the responsibility for that war rested !
upon him. He was conscience-stricken and |
felt himself responsible for the lives lost in |
it. When he entered the White House he |
was young, straight, black-haired, and about
30 years OF age. When he came out he was
a stopped. wrinkled old man. whose hair was
grey and whose step was feeble. He went
back to Nashville. and he died few months
after he left the Presidency.
81 often see it stated that Andy johnson
was Presbyterian. The fact is he was an
,gnostic. I knew him very we'll, and ac-
,ording to my understanding, he was inside
! church only three times while he was
President of the United States. The first
lime was at the memorial services over Pres
dent Lincoln in the Senate Chamber. The
second time was at the funeral services of
Colonel Elliot Dahlgren. and the third time
when Henry Ward Beecher came to Wash
ngton. Beeeher had come out in a sermon,
md had supported My policy, as John
'on's policy was called. Beecher had re-
,eived considerable criticism for this action"
FRANK G. CARPENTER
THE CHL0ROFORM DRUNKARD.