Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-11-17
Queer Story about Mr Polk

| CJlcuel ] JJbn BroWnloW, O eou OF tho ia
nous Egb:ing psrson, tells Uio there Is
latter in existence, written By james K'
Polk q few weeks btf,rs hs was nominated
at B.leiuore. L. the !etser Polk writes to
Andrew jackson Dnue.son, enaesvofiug 10
get the support Of o d Hickory" to make
bim Vice President. After stating his quai-
| iecatious f;r The place, no o!osea as fellows :
Il hope the Tennessee delegation Will eX.
ert ts ipf1ceuce il "a behalf as TIE. .ca1d;-
date fer Vice President. This has been the
smbltica OF my life. Four years sgo de.
sired the domination, bur I geve way to
others, and nov hops ny f;ienda Will sup
pors me-"
Tho Tcaueeeee delegation sa!d Colonel
Dsown!ow, - cd 90 Idea OF masking Polk
their candidate for the Presidency, and their
support OF him es Vice President was merely
aomiosl Tba convention, however, CID
net EnoT this. Taa friends of tae otter
party wefs fighting bard, aac Ii w:s ID oae
If shs bitteresE ofthe e.rusgea the. merely TO
dwarf be atae2iica Of the Convention,
~ IT Doneison aroso aDd oomiDafsd James
z. Po!k ss candidate f;r The Presidency
Daeeison vas suppodsd 10 be tae ncutc-
piece OF "O!d HlcEorS," nrd tie lrhasnos
CT Andrew Jackscn Wes sgch thas this
ecu ;ad cts mpeda toward Polk, ana be was
nominated. Whep AEdrew jscksua hesrd
Of Il be wss rot pleased. Il hao coz
tempt for pok, because P9lk woa!c nst
| isht ducI vita Henry Z. W:ee Rnen hs
| pulled his noee d1rug his say - Wa3hiDS-
tor as Speaker OF .hs Ksnee CT Representa-
| tivas."
'Wha. 4 Folk eayas 10 Ills ~ ElitS:'o. p
Issked
"Ths9 toll qaeer story osocerniDg u ia
Teunessee," replied Colonel B:ow1!oE.
| 'Toe news was ernoIucsd 10 him By his
brother, William Polk, end I6mos K. Polk
would Dot believe It. William Pok was
much brighter nan than games K. Folk.
He wss the Tom Co.wln Of Tenressse
in bis Cay, epd wss noted sE . wag. He
corld toll etor!ss by tho yard, and
| President Liucoip, VITO kne@ hiG veil.
was perg fond OF hir. He was ruined. how
ever, By drinking, sDd II was a curious thirg
that driuk made his face whito rather than
red. He drank gysa: deal, but he hal no
blossom en- hia nose.
We'll, William Polk vas tho ftst man to
gst TIE news cf James &. Poik's ncmins-
| lion. lie heerd il while his brother wss
trying petty $40 justice Of the peace case
Ia tie tcwr, and ho oene Into the laWget's
office and interrupted the ttisl, saying:
"'Jlu, have you heafd the news from
| B.ltmore?'
"The future Ptesdsnt replied that he bad
rot
"Well, jim, shs nominations ere neds,
snd an blank blapkad II yen ale Eos n0m-
Da!ed for the Presidency
James z. Po'k laughed, and so cid the
rest OF the crowd. They all though. it was
ore cf Bill Polk's ioEes. hut they soon lsarn-
cd 1t vas truth, end Po!k made an active
CANVASS durngi The campaign. Andrew
Jackson helped him because he was the
democratic nominee. Hs dldn'6 like the
pill, but he took it.
"Precident Polk wa5 killed by aD1,e,y
| and bard Work, )" Colonel Bsos7nlow went OF.
"He was laid In his grave by the Mexican
| war, end In s3ms way no get the Idea that
she responsibility for that waT rested on
| hlm. Ee Wss cclecience stricken and felt
| himself responsible fer tae lives Lost in 1t.
| This feeling preyed upon hlR, end the snx.
| ie;y aCd hard work connected With his po-
sition brought hm TO the grave. When he
entered the White HcEss be was young.
straisht, blaok heirsd, and about 80 gears OF
age. When he came out, be YVES stepped,
wtiakled old map, whose heir was gray aud
whose step was feeble. He went hack tc
Nashville, and he died in few moaths s!-
tor he left TIE Presidency"
Polk was Presbyterian, was be not ?"
saidI.
Me-" replied Colonel Brcwnlow, "he was
q MetEoiis.. snd I knew the Methodist
preacher who beptiz,d him. His wife yes
8 Presbyterian. and 1t is probable that the
statement that be was Presbyterian him
ss:f Genes from lhst faot."- Wash. Cor.
Phila. Press: