{"character_count": 6117, "word_count": 1081, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9836999773979187], "ccnet_perplexity": [1306.699951171875], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
Again the magistrates of MeckIenburo eoun.
ly were a body of .'76 Whigsn at that period. as
sound as the whole country could produce. Aps
pointed by the legislature and holding their Office
for life, they were clothed by law with the power
of choosing the sheriff; and it is believed that.
not long after the war had terminated. Ezekfei
Polk was chosen a sheriff of Mecklenburg coun-
lty Those who have assailed him indirectly con-
tess that that was appointed "sherif." =
| Now, who believes that the whig magistrates
of Mecklenburg would have appointed TORY
their sheriff. IF his competitors for the office did
not then urge their pretensions by reminding the
court that Ezekiel Polk "took protectiond and
was Tory, what becomes ofthe accusation now2
II they did so, then the magistrates of Mecklen-
ourg' luxe the legislature who had appointed him
colonel must have known that under all the cir
cumstances, his "taking protection" formed no
ground OF suspicion against his patriotism, or they
would not have elected him to the station have
seen it somewhere insinuated by the accusers of
EZEKIEL POLK, that some poenIe Objected
to his serving" If that be true, does il not give
strength to my view ofthe subject? Does it not
prove that the Mecklenburg '76 whig magistrates,
who must have understood this matter then better
than we can possibly understand il no.U, deiber-
ately and upon their knowledge have at once put
down this imputation ? The compatriots of Eze-
klel Polk having thus buried the calumny more
than halt a century ago. it would have lain in de.
served oblivion still, had not party hostility to his
grandson made the unmanly effort to reproduce
it. How ungenerous are the devices of party spi-
ritl How ignoble thesmeans of party warfare
But these views, and the proofs already offered
however conclusive of themselves to refute this
calumny, are fortified and sustained by the testmo-
ny OF Ezekiel Folks compatriots, to which alIusion
has been made; and 1t is here presented in the
words ofthose good old patriots themselves.
i. The letter of General Andrew Jackson, writ
ten in answer to an inquiry of gentleman of
North Carolina:


"HERMrAeE, July 12, 1914.
:" SIR: have just received your letter of the
3Oth ultimo, informing me that
recently declared that he travelled through Ten
aessee at the time Governor Polk aoas for the first
time cdaeidGte for governor, and that his oppo-


ents (the 1ohigs) then brought the charge of his
IGRANDFATHEhPSb being q tory against him
and that the DEMOCRATS of Tennessee met
the charge by throwing it upon the North Carolina
branch of the Polk famiy-that is, Col. Thomas
Polk ); and you desire me to state for your infor-
nation, and that of the people, what know Of The
facts.


"In reply, state, with pleasure that Iltne.O all
father of Colonel William Polk, and Ezekiel Polk
grandfather of Colonel James K. Polk THEY
WERE ALL GOOD '76 WHIGS. Old Colonel
Thomas Polk was the first mover of independence
in MeeklenPurg county. AH the PoRs then





liam Polk, son of Thomas, was twice wounded in
the war of the revolution, and [ think he had
brother killed in the baftle. never knew one
branch of the family to be charged with roryism
before If such rumor was circulated during the
canvass referred TO, never heard of it.


81 am grat6ed thus to be able to give nv testi-
monY to the revolutionary services and patriotism
of the Polk family, with many of whose mem
bers have been intimate the greater part Of my
life.


WIt SCENE thar In ,besa t;Y,es ro oho-.o,o. :;
safe against the sanderer for there was less
excuse for it than in the case of Mr.. Polk. have
known him since he was boy. A citizen more
exemplary In his moral department. more punctual
in the expression of his opinions, and more patrie
tic, does not live.


am, very respectfully,


Your obedient servant
5 ANDREW JACKSON"


2. The original certificate of Major Thomas
Alexander (how, and by whom was it procured
we know not) formed, it is believed, the basis of
this accusation at the outset against Ezekiel Polk
when his grandson was candidate for governor |
of Tennessee; and what Major Alexander him |
self now says of his own first certificate will an
swer it without need ofcomment 1t would seem |
that when Major Alexander became apprized of
the base ends which party malignity had aimed
to accomplish through the agency of his unguard-
ed declarations, he did not refuse his own second
statement 10 defeat tnem, VIZ:


STATEMENT OF THOMAS ALEXANDER.


"MEcKLENBURa Co., IN. Co. Aug. 5, 1914.


"I was acquainted with Colonel Ezekiel Polk
during the revolutionary war. l knew that he
served two campaigns as Captain, one against the
Tories Ravburn's creek, where he dispersed
hem, and one before that against the Indians and
others in the neighborhood of Ninety six in
which campaign / served as soldier under him.
The seat of war was then removed northward Il
lnd do not know of his being in the armY afief-
wards. He never took sides in any shape, man
ler or form, against has country nor did ever
intend TO charge that he did; aud now consider
he charge to be JdLse nor did ever hear that
charge made until of late heard it. always con-
'idered1hat Ezekiel Polk was the most talented of
Ill the family. -


"THOMAS ALEXANDER"


8. Abram Forney, soldier of the revolution,
Ipeaks as follows S


STATEMENT OF ABRAM FoRNEY, IS YEARS OLD.


LINCOLN COUNTY, IN. CD Aug. 3, 1914
Observed in the revolution under Colonel Thom-
IS Polk, elder brother of Ezekiel Polk knew all
he Polks. l was not in the army with Ezekiel {
Polk but always understood that he was true
riend of his country, and was an active whig Il
md indeed know that there was no tory among iC
my of the Folks; and I consider the charge that
Ezekiel Polk tory to be false in every paFtic
liar. did not ever hear even that he took protec
ion under Corn nor do believe that he did
nd / heard at the time that Ezekiel Polk was a. "a
nong the foremost in getting up the Mecklenburg il
declaration Of independence, and that Ezekiel Polk
nd Brevard, and minister by the name of q
3alch, wrote that declaration. LII


