Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-12-08
ROCKY FORD. COLORADO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 l9l
q ONE OF OUR NATIONS
III TRIALS and the BUILD
II INC OF A GREATPARTY
BY an Old Rocky Ford Resident


March 4, IS4s. A man who had held
|.offce as congressman from Tennes-
see, but had done nothing to recon-
mend him to the people as good pres
idential timber, and was a dark horse
in the race at the convention. The
really great men, then as now, OF the
rival parties, excited too much jeal-
ousy and rivalry to be safely put for
ward as candidates. hence men little
known and of much smaller calibrc
as statesmen, were sometimes nomI-
mated and elected, and the electing OF
Polk was one of those instances, but
he was sound democrat, being in
full accord with the party on its own
great live issue, negro slavery and its
extension, and he did all he could to
foster and extend it. He was elect
ed over Henry Clay, statesman OF
great and acknowledged ability, who
desired to settle the boundary ques-
tions between Texas and Mexico by
negotiation or traety, as Texas had
been received into the Union with I'M
defined limits, but democracy cared
for no treaty. They had an eye on
the slave territory and the more the
better, as the slave question arose
Just as soon as Texas was admitted
in congress, and even before in fact.
The democrats were so anxious that
4 bill was proposed in congress that
Texas Cor what they was going to
call TcNas) be divided into four com
monwealths or states and that all
territory north of 80 deg. 30 min. 10
be free state territory. and all south
to be slave territory, this having oc-
Cured during the latter end OF the
Tyler administration, there being
much talk now of war with Mexico
over the boundary question. this be-
ing brought about by the south in
interest of slavery and was ably sec
onded by Polk. who took the rcins OF
government and brought on the was
as soon as it could well be done. Gen.
Taylor was sent to Texas to claim all
territory to the Rio Grandc River in
the name of the United States OF
America. though Texas had never
exercised any authority over this ter
ritory between the Nueccs and Rio
Grande. neither was there anyone liv-
inc there and Mexico claimed the
Nueces as the line. and Texas never
attempted to exercise authority be-
yond this and OF course Mexico pa
trolled this territory and had several
garrisons on this territory. This
Polk knew. hence sent Taylor ont
there to order them off at once and
should they refuse to begin hostilities
which he did and the war was on, the
Americans being victorious, and in
the treaty OF peace much territory
was added to the United States, ex-
tending to the Pacific and including
territory, but to make it look like it
was not so much of steal after all
Mr.. Polk agreed to pay the Mexicans
government fifteen millions of dol
lars and on July 4, 1913. peace was
declared The war had been quite
popular in the south. but not much in
the north. rs everybody looked upon
il as in the interests oil slavery. and
it led into a decided opposition in al
way. but as yet not organized. A.
we now have the Free soil party, the
Abolitionist party and the Whip par
~. this Free soil party was princi-
ally an offshoot from the democrat
party, by northern democrats who
were no longer willing TO stand the
policies and aims of the party. They
were ruled by the south, then as now
They were opposed to the further OK
tension of slavery. but willing to
leave it as it was. The Abolitionists
were in favor of abolishing the in
stitution at once, and at any cost.
The Wing was willing to allow the
state coming into the Union to have
slaves if the state would vote on the
question and wanted it, and vice YER
sa, but yet good many with strong
leanings towards the Free soilers and
Abolitionists. The was was now
over. Nominations had been made
bv the various parties for the prcsi-
dency. the democrats namino Lewis
Cass. the Wings Gen. Taylor and
the Free soil party old Martin Van
Buren,. This time the Wings were
vic rious by a heavy majority and
Ia, Or became president, but the
Wings were again unfortunate as
Taylor died July. 1850. having been
elected in 1873. Lincoln was del
epatc to this convention). And now
milford Fillmore became president.
Clay had ran for the presidency three
times and as often beaten. Daniel
Webster, too, was anxious for the
presidency, but as with Clay was be
yond his reach. He looked upon the
nominating OF Taylor as a great mis-
take. Clay and Webster were Wings
and men OF great and acknowledged
ability as their speeches and work in
congress and senate ci the United
States, SO will attest.