The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-21

diary was acquired by the Chicago His
torical Society from the Polk family IN
1901 and 10 now for tho AIRS, time published
90 the world
! This diary constitutes q notable addition
N our knowledge ~ a period the inpor-
/ sance ~ which has not been adequately
appreciated In the gallery ~ American
! Pr~aidents the portrait ~ James X Polk
has not doomed large He vac nominated
nv the Democratic national convention
| in isIt as a compromise candidate Al
| though he had long Secn prominent in
Tennessee. his own state. which he had
| represented term after term in Congress.
during two ~ which terms he was Speaker.
| lea wing the House 81 Representative. -
become Governor. he was comparatively
little known in the North. His Whig oppo-
nert vas Henry clay. whose popularity
| probably eSc~~sied that ~ ara American
who had ever lived up - that time. and
Clay's supporters ironically demanded -
know who's Poke He came int once
without the hearty support NJ his own
party and in the face ~ bitter hostility
from the Nhiks. who characterized him
a. a narrow minded representative ~ the
ala veholdins sristorracy II the South
In March. 1875. when Mr. Polk assumed
the Presidency. there were troublous
times ahead There was the Oregon
question a. II was called involving the
controversy a. IN the true position Of the
northern boundary line which separated
the United States from the British pos
se-sions between the great lakes and the
waters - the Pacific The Tinted States
had cpntsndei for q location which was
indicated ny the political wat~hwnrd
50 W or fight. the British Government. a.
! IL -as Understood was willing ~ consent
that the forty ninth parallel ~ latitude
should he f1ed a. the true boundary.
Next there wss the question ~ the pro
pos~i annexation 81 Texas. involving ~
IL Did the ascer' ainment ~ the actual
area ~ that republic and the disrupted
/ aov~reIgnty over the western portion.
which was claimed nv Mexico N the
| Cnit~i States annexed Texss including
this di.putei terrr Try. that acti ~ was
: practically certain 90 bring on war With
Mexico Although this outcome was not
apparent AZ the beginning Of President
! Polk = term the Mexican war. which fol-
I,w~d. was complicated nv the deaire NJ
the United State IN acquire California
and tho region nov compreh~nded in the
Territory ~ New MEXICO
( Mr. Polk did not begin his diary ~ the
beginning 81 his Administration. Tn.
first entry therein was made on August
/ -. iaS wear later he explained whv
h" undertook n keep ~ 4 very i'm
portant conversation had taken place
a, a rn..ting ~ the rab,n., hs,w..n ,h.
pre.iden, and N, BUCHANAN IN. Sac,a.
,,,v -, S,,,s ON IN. OREGON ou..,io,
/ Tn. rhsrac,., ~ th,. conversation was
.ucb TIA, the prc.,dsn, r.duced !, %
writing ON the sam. evening for the muir.
nos. ~ retaining IL more d,s,inc,Iv IN
hi. r,.npry IL va. ,h,s circumstance
n. s,vs which frst suxsested % me TN.
id.a II no, the n.c.s-ity Of k.ep,ns a
journal or diary OF .y.n,s and transac.
lion. which nigh, occur during INV pre.i-
d.pcv r.-oIyed 10 do 40 and accord.
,nsly procured a blank hook for ,hn,
nuynose ON IN. ne., d.y in which I hava
every dsv .inc. noted whatever occurr.d
cha, I deemed Of interest sometimes
have found nyseIf 80 much ENGAGED
with nv pubIic dutie. as o. lie abla 20
make onIv n very condensed and Inner
fec, statement 81 events and incidents
which occurred and =, he forced 10 omi,
other. altogether which would have b.sn
pIeas..d 90 have noted
Writing under date OF October =, Isis.
he mentions having received a call from
IN. Rev DIR Roland hin Of Winchester
Va a venerable clergyman 81 VI who
had kept a diary since no whcreupon /
IN. President rsmarS. 4 reRre, very
much tina, did no, commence ke.pins
a diary az the beginning ~ nv roIi,icaI |
life All puhIic men should do 40
Naturally many ~ the entire. ar.