Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-05-25
PRICE ONE CENT
How the News OF His Nomination Was
Conveyed Go Him.

conveyed eo Him.
Colonel John Brownlow, a SON of the
famous fighting parson, tells me there is
letter in existence, written by James
X. Polk few weeks before he was NOM
mated at Baltimore. In the letter Polk
writes 10 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 viii exert its in-
fluence in my behalf as the candidate
for Vice President. This has been the
ambition of my life. Four years ago
desired the nomination. but gave way
70 others, and now hope my friends will
support me-"
"The Tennessee delegation" said
Colonel Brownlow. "had no idea of MAX
ing Polk their candidate for the Presi-
dency, and their support of kim rs Vice
President was merely nominal. The con-
vention, however, did not know this.
The friends of the other party We're
fighting hard, and it was in one of the
bitterest of the struggles that, merely 10
divert the attention of the convention,
Major Donelson arose and nominated
James X. Polk as candidate for the
Presidency. Donelson was supposed 10
be the mouthpiece of Old Hickory, and
the influence of Andrew jackson was
such that this caused stampede toward
Polk, and he was nominated. When
Andrew jackson heard of it he was not
pleased. He had 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.
"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 il. William Polk
was a much brighter man than James X.
Polk. He was the Tom Corwin OF Ten
nessee in his day, and was noted MS wag.
He could tell stories by the yard, and
President Lincoln, who knew him well,
however, by drinking, and il was Curl
Gus 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 nomi-
nation. He heard ii while his brother
way trying a petty $40 justice OF the
peace case in the town, and he came into
the lawyers office and interrupted the
trial, saying:
"'Jim, have you heard the news from
BaltimoreY
~The future President replied that he
had not.
"'Well, Jim, the nominations are made,
and am blank blanked il you arc not
nominated for the Presidency
"James K Polk laughed, and 30 did
the rest of the Gro d. They all thought
it was one of Bill Folks jokes, but they
soon learned it was truth, and Polk made
an active canvas during the campaign.
Andrew jackson helped him because he
was the Democratic nominee. He didn't
like the pill, but he took it.
president Polk was killed by anxiety
and hard work, Colonel Brownlow went
on "He was laid in his grave by the
Mexican war, and in some way he got
the idea that the responsibility for that
war rested on 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 the grave. When he entered the
White House he was young, straight,
black haired, and about so years of age.
When he came out, he was a stopped,
wrinkled old man, whose hair was gray
and whose step was feeble. He went
back to Nashville, and he died in a few
months after he left the Presidency
POLK was Presbyterian, was he not =
said l.
mo, replied Colonel Brownlow, "he
was Methodist, and knew the Method
ist preacher who baptized him. His
wife was Presbyterian, and II is proba
ble that the statement that he was a
Presbyterian himself comes from that
fact. - Washington Correspondence
Philadelphia Press.