The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-15
Roosevelt Will be Fifth
to Come to State.
POLK AND HENRY CLAY
IT Was in Raleigh That Clay Commit
ted Political Suicide. Polk, BuCh-
anan and Johnson Spoke at
University's COmmenCements.
incidents OF Trips.

The coming of President ltoosovrlt
this week VIII bc the nfth time that
Presidents of the United states have
visited North Carolina and the second
time that President has visited the
state since the war Considering the
long line OF distinguished men given TO
National affairs from thi, State prior
to the civil war and the fact that
since Lees surrender there have been
two Democratic administrations the
truth that so few of the Presidents
have visited so potent State of the
Union i'm the one hundred and twenty
six years OF its existence is a remark
able one.
The first President Of the United
States to visit this state was the first
President himself, Washington. but
a shodt time after his elevation
TO the Office took occasion TO
come South travelling by coach
and following IN great meas
ure the old military road made
by Lord CORVALLIS through North
Carolina, aud other states. Ills chief
stop was made in the old town or
Salem, when Winston MAS non-exist-
ent He stopped AT the Belo Hotel
which is still standing and there de-
the town and the students at the old
Moravian Female Academy
Visit OF President polk.
After the washington ysii the next
President to come To tie State was
James *. Polk, in tS47, tll June. He
was on that occasion en- kpute TO the
University of North CAROLINA. then
one of the most important and largest
institutions in the country, aud Of
which he was an alumnlis. At the
time Of his visit. President Polk had
only Il short while before come
through. an exciting campaign waged
on the question Of the annexation Of
Texas. a measure which had convulscd
the country. and which had resulted
in the defeat of the eloquent Henry
Clay for the Presidency. He was In
Raleigh overnight. waiting here TO
take the train TO Durham for Chapel
Hill where he spoke on tI1e final day
of commencement and made no pubs
lie speech In this city, except IN re-
sponse to an informal mass meeting or
citizens at the old Union depot here.
CIay's Vlsft Which Elected polk.
Three years previously to President
Polk's visit. Raleigh had entertained
Henry Clay. the statesman whose fire
and imagination have kept their last
Clay came to Raleigh on the eve OF
the. presidential c9mpaiRn in which
he was doomed 10 failure. and It was
here that he wrote the letter and made
the speech which marked the end Of
his great ambition to the presidency.
While III the city Mr.. clay was en-
tertained at the home Of Mrs. Taylor.
the grandmother of MessrE. G. M. and
+. ri. Busbee. or Raleigh. at the house
still occupied az a dwelling by Mr.. G.
NJ Busbec here. He also visited dur
ing his stay the old Polk mansion.
then occupied by Col. Rayner. and
then standing with q Southern en.
posure in the middle Of what is now
Blount street ut its intersection with
North street. II vas at the residence
of Col. Rayner that Mr.. Clay ~ said
To have writtea his famous letter 10
Broadhead, Of Missouri. opposing the
annexation of Texas, and which more
than all else cost him his defeat IN
the election Mr.. Clay also at that
time spoke to the people in similar
vein from the west pUrtico of the
capitol building, his speech and his
(Contlnued on Page F'our)