The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-05

A
- 5ne country went Wild over him. Il
~ yonn quincy Adams who uas the first
pkes10ene - travel on railroad. but his
ssLayeiin9 ~ done after be lei the presi-
gency, and 10 was in railroad accident
y wnich two people were killed
*! rres1dent Marfiscn's grandfather, viii
nam Henry Harrison, took the Baltimore
g Ohio railroad ct Wheeling to come
% washington, but he rode from his home
e tn1t point In coach. He had saddle
more with him, and he was 30 fond OF
norseback riding that when he went out
g me capitol to be inaugurated he refused
% roe IN coach-and-four which had been
k1epered Tor him, and rode on horseback.
The Day was bitterly cold and be made his
speech without IN Overcoat, catching, it is
$40, at his Inauguration . cold which
aiaed IN causing his death : few weeks
rEEsTDEHT LIxcoLa's TOURS.
President Lincoln travelled somewhat
while he was in the White House, but his
lie was too busy one for the ordinary
presidential junket. His first trip to
Washington was made by the Michigan
Southern and the New York Central. He
was received with great respect every-
where, except at Baltimore, where it was
feared the Southern. sympathizers would
mob him, and through which city, it il
train, and he made his speeches from the
baggage car. Andrew Johnson's tour was
speech-making one. He was under the
influence OF liquor during q part of it, and
some OF his utterances were injudicious in
the extreme. He went nominally to lay
the cornerstone OF the Stephen a. Doug
lass monument at Chicago, but he travelled
all over the country to get there. taking In
New York, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
he spoke everywhere, and hurt himself
every time he spoke.
HAYES AND THE SOUTH.
President Hayes was . great traveller.
He was constant frequenter of Grand
Armp reunions, and his Southern policy
made his Southern tour very successful
one. He was accompanied by leading
Eoutherners, and he received great deal
Of praise and taffy in the South. He was
one OF the greatest of the presidential
travellers, and did q great deal more travel
ing while in the White House than he has
done since he left it. It 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 ~ that of his around the
world. All men-all nations tried to do
u.
and he formed an intimate acquaintance
with the greatest statesmen all the world
over. He came back to the United States
with many new ideas of government, and
had he been reelected president for q third
term the country would have greatly
profited by the results of his experience
and observation.
HOW FOLK WAS NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENCY.
James K. Polk did not do great deal of
travelling while in the White House. His
nomination was 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 nomi-
writes to Andrew Jackson Donelson, en-
deavoring to get the support Of "Old
Hickory" to make him vice president.
After stating his qualifications for the
place, he closes as follows: II hope the
Tennessee delegation will exert its in
fiuence in my behalf as the candidate for
vice president. This has been the ambi-
tion Of my life. Four years ago / desired
the nomination, but gave way to others,
and now hope my friends will support
me-"
"The Tennessee delegation. I" said Colonel
Brownl0w, had no idea Of making Polk
their candidate for the presidency, and
merely nominal The convention, how
ever. did not know this. The friends Of
the other candidates were fighting hard,
and IL was in one of the bitterest of the
struggles that, merely to divert the atten-
ton Of the convention, Major Donelson
arose and nominated James X. Polk as
candidate for the presidency. Donelson
was supposed to be the mouthpiece of ssOld
Hickory" and the influence of Andrew
jackson was such that this caused stam-
pede toward Polk, and he was nominated.
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-
ton % asked.
'sThey tell queer story concerning it in
Tennessee" replied Colonel Brownlow.
brother, William Polk, and James X. Polk
would not believe it. William Polk was
much brighter man than James X. Polk.
He was the Tom Corwin of Tennessee in
his days, and was noted as a wag. He
could tell stories by the yard, and Presi-
dent Lincoln, who knew him well, was
very fond of him. He was ruined. how
ever, by drinking, and it was a curious
thing that drink made his face white rather
than red. He drank Great deal, but he
had no blossom on his nose.
Well, William Polk was the first man to
get the news of James X. Folks nomina-
ton. He heard of it while his brother was
trying o petty $40 dollar justice Of the
peace case IN the town. and he came into
the lawyers Office and interrupted the
trial, saying:
jun, have you heard the news from
Baltimore2'
"srhe future president replied that he
had not.
"sWell, Jim. the nominations are made,
and am blank BANKED if you are not
"James X. Polk laughed, and so did the
rest Of the crowd. They all thought it was
one OF Bill Folks jokes. but they soon
learned that it was the truth, and Polk
made an active canvass during the cam
paign. Andrew Jackson helped him be-
cause he was the Democratic nominee. He
didn't like the pill, but he took it.
HOW POLK WAS KILLED.
president Polk was killed by anxiety
and hard work." Colonel Browniow went
on. sHe was laid in his grave by the Mex
lean war. 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. This feeling preyed upon him.
and the anxiety and hard work connected
with his position brought him to his grave.
When he entered the White House he
vas Young, straight, hlack-haired, and
ahout so wears of age When he came out
he was q stopped, wrinkled old man,
whose hair was grey and whose step was
feeble. He went back to Nashville, and