Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-10
PEN THAT STOPPED SWORDS.
Tennessee Possesses Quill Which
Polk Used to Admit Texas.

The hurry orders for regular troops
, to assemble on the Mexican frontier
ring reminiscently of the days when
the political battle cry, Polk, Dallas
and Texas" had carried the Demo-
cratic party to victory and in conse-
quence the country into war.
Among the choicest relics that Ten
nessee possesses of that war with
Mexico and of her son, whose admins
tration of the presidency is especially
noted by reason of that war is a. Curl
| Gus pen fashioned from an eagles
quill, with which Mr.. Polk signed the
document proclaiming peace. It's value
! as relic of the men and of the war is
accentuated by the fact that the his
tory of the pen was written by Polk
| himself. And this is the story:
This quill was presented to me by
Mrs Curtis. the wife of Colonel Curtis
| of Gloucester Va, by the hand of Mr..
Fitzhugh, who states that Mrs. G.. is a
| Democrat ana her husband a wing. Yr,
| +. tells me that this quill was dropped
| by an eagle in living over the plantation
of Mr. Curtis ON the day Mr.. Clay wis
nominated for the presidency--in MAJ,
1874. l requested Mr.. Fitzhugh to pre- =
sent to Mrs. c. my thanks for the
quill, and to say to her that | would
make a pen of it and sign my first
message to congress with it. Pre-
scented August IS, 1S45. go
j. X. p"
Washington, Dec. ?, 1851 have
this day signed my first message to
| congress with the pen made of the
eagles quill described above, and with
which | write this memorandum.
j. X. p"
sIql I-etST &c 900 'uol5uIqseM,
day approved and signed a joint reso-
luton of congress. entitled Joint reso-
luton for the admission of the State
of Texas into the Union | signed the
said resolution, being the first legisla-
tive act | had approved, with the pen
of the eagles quill described in the
foregoing memorandum. | write this
memorandum with the same pen.
James *. Polk"
| Washington, Dec. %, 1S45-At 100
o'clock p. NJ. being about half an hour
after | had signed the resolution to adj
| NIT Texas into the Union, a committee
of congress presented me with an act
passed by that body to extend the laws
of the United States over the State of
! Texas. | approved it and signed it
with the same pen of the eagle de-
scribed above, and with which | make
this note. james *. Polk"
| Washington, July 80, 1S46-I this
day approved and signed an act, en-
titled An act reducing the duty on inn
ports and for other purposes This
act effects the long desired reform OF
the tariff act of 1912, which has giver
rise to one of the greatest struggles
between the two great political parties
which has ever been Witnessed in this
| country. | approved and signed the
bin with the pen made of the eagles
quill described in the first page of this
sheet. James X. Polk"
July 1, 1S4S-This afternoon about
4.30 o'clock, DIR. Reyburn, a bearer oil
dispatches. arrived, bringing with hin
the ratified treaty of peace witt
/ Mexico. The proclamation announcing
the exchange OF Publications of the
treaty. and the ratification of peace
between the two countries was pre-
pared this evening at the state depart
lment | signed the proclamation il
the presence of Judge Mason, the see
iretary of the navy, about IL o'clock p
I'M. I signed il with the pen made o