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irAiErBapmcn)9 Tarborough, Edgecombe Count jf, vV. V. SatmUtaij, litgust lO, fS44. i6i. xr, Vo. aa. TlicTar:iPx2i Press, By (iKOsnc Howard, Jk- Subscribers are at nnenjr - ' time on .riving notice thereof and paying arrears. AdrerTiaemPnH not exceed msf a sq-rare will h inserted at (hit VAr the first insertion, and 2j cents for every continuance. Longer advertise ments at that rate per square. Court Orders and Judicial Advertisements 3 percent, hii-ner. Ad vertisements must be marked the number of inser tions required. Or they will be continued until otherwise directed, and charged accordingly. Letters addressed to the Editor must he post paid, or they may not be attended to. .ttlis ill mc r ,., . , nnlinilA Jit anV From the Young Hickory. THE CH ARGE OF TORYISM. An immense mss meeting ofth Demo cracy of the Old North Slate, was held ;i' Mecklenburg, or. the 23d nit., at which up wards of ten thousand of her hardy yeoman ry were present. The assemblage was ad dressed in a most eloquent and impressive manner by Hon. George C. Dromgoole of Virginia, and Hon. R. M. Saunders The latter gentleman went into a thorough and searching investigation of the Whig charge of Toryism against Capt. Ezekiel Polk, and proved us utter ra.suy. we copy 'marks otJ from the "JtlTersoman the re Gen. Saunders. "I come now to speak of a matter con- nected with the family history of Col. Polk, a nutter to which 1 refer with pride, as it enables me to remove a foul slander which our opponents have sought to fix upon the character and good name of a patriot and soldier of the Revolution. This duty I discharge with the more pleasure, as those who have revived this fonl slander have made a reference to some remarks of mine in the Baltimore Convention, as the pre tence for the revival of their base charge When 1 referred to the fame of Col. Polk, being born iiythe county of Mecklenburg, where, in May, 1775, had first been pro claimed the Declaration of Independence, that he Was a descendent of those who had participated in that glorious and daring act, 1 did so more with view of giving eclat to a transaction ,of which our Stale had been and still is justly proud, than of adding any thing to. the merits and claims of Col. Polk; for with us "nothing is more true than the couplet of the poet: "Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part there all the honor lies." Little did 1 think, by a reference to this act, that I was giving our opponents any ground for reviving a charge which ii i scemed they started when Col. Pull; was J firsta candidate for Govtrnor in the State! of Tennessee, But 1 proceed to the charge j and the proof. It v. as first charge:! that J Samuel Polk, the father of James K. Polk, J was a lory. This charge was met with the I fact that Samuel Polk was a boy at the! cloe of the Revolution that he had been a Republican and supporter of M r. JeftVr- son in 1S00, and had lived and died with i the reputation of an honest man and faithful poncnts claim to hold in Such high respect citizen. The Charge is next made against ( the soldiers of the Revolution, it is to be the grandfather, Ezekiel Polk, long since hoped they will admit our candidate was Ushered to the grave of his Revolutionary ;e ititled to the honor of hearing the name associates. Hut th ink? be to a kind Provi- iofastrue a Whig as existed irt the days dence, there still survives the proof to res-i that tried men's souls. I read the slate cue the name of the soldier from the fuul'menl nf David Dobbins a soldier of the aspersion of the political slanderer. We j Revolution, as to the services of Capt. are taught even bv the h' athen "de mor- .lame s Knox, the grandfather of Col. Polk tuis nil nisi bimuni" but these political vultures of our day have less char ity than the heathens, and gladly devour the charac ter of the dead to answer the unwholy pur poses of the living. I shall not trouble you with a rcferance to what has been of lered in support of Ihis charge, further than to say the affidavit of the old man re JieJ upon, loe not sustain the thd charge of toryism. Asking prolcciiC" ' thc vmrcr lor wnc, cnticircn, and propcity ssatnst the savairc assaults, and the .dood- thirsty ravages of the tories themselves, was certainly not taking sides against the country, rely not upon the insufficiency of the proof in support of the charge, but proceed lo offer the conclusive and tri umphant testimony in refutation. The fu st proof to which I refer is the affidavit of i.aptain .lames Jack, taken in isu, wnen there existed no motive for misrepresenta tion, and which was taken at the time for the nurnose of nemetuating the testimony ir -nnortof the fact of the Declaration of nd " n'ence CI zutn may. i o v,aH.. Jack not onlv" wslai.d through life a fair rW,r,,t.. I,t ih.S atUUav'il was orig.uuny published under the authority of the Gener iiecu.,nr,uwiaiA nd is thc highest PA-hlPHPo in ennnrt. nf the authenticity ol thfi riprlira1 inn. 1 trust no one huvmg any regard for the honor and character oir the State will dare impeaph the strongest nnu in the chain of proof in support of our claim to being ihe first to throw off the Hrit ih yoke, and proclaim our independence w nation. 1 read from the printed doc- ument.page 16, letter C, with certificate annexed. The next proof I ofre'r, is a commission ol Ezekiel Polk, of a Captain of Rangers, as granted by the civil authorities of South Carolina, in pursuance of resolutions of the Provincial Congress. The authenticity of tltio 1 i . t m Ar4 I. I I . uiiju.iniiiiciii is ueyonu question; and it establishes the fact of Capt Polk's feelings of that day, as one of the principal duties enjoined upon him in his corhniand of the Rangers, was the destruction of the Tories. It shows the confidence reposed in him as an enemy of the very band with which he is now accused of associating. Thirdly, is the letter of the eldest son of Ezekiel Polk, who had preserved the original com-mis-ion "ranted his father-, as aort of fam ily relic: not, as he supposed, Ho save 'the character ot hH venerated parent from the tongue of the slanderer, but as a proud tes- nmuniai ol the patriotism of his ancestor. Fourthly, ihe affidavit of Geo. Alexander, who speaks from personal knowledge, and who, upon his oath, pronounces the charge to be false. As to the protection to which he speaks, those who know any thing ol the ravages which followed the downfall of Ch irleston. when the enemy overrun 'the country with the sword of death and the torch of conflagration, will not be surprised thai one who had been So active in rousing the Tone's should have l;een farced, for a time, to save his wife, children, and pro perty, from an enemy more cruel and vin active, than ihe savage himself. If this ,nan,e Capt. Polk a Tory, so was the brave and gallant Col. Havne a Torv. lie fell a victim and a martyr to British cruelty as a 'captive, alter having )een forced to entreat their protection, when every thine was gloom and despondency. 1 now turn in support of this proof to my venerated friend by my side, Gen. Me.Leuy, now more than 80 years old, but of sound and accute memory, who hims'clf was an actor in the Revolution; was one who nu t Corn wallis as he marched ihiough this county, and aided in capturing the provisions in tended for the support of his army a wor thy citizen of high character, whom you have often honored as your Senator in your State Legislature. I am authorized by him to say, which I now repeat in his presence, and in your hearing, that he knew Capt. Ezekiel Polk during and after the close of the He vol u iron that he then knew him as an active Whig that he was at all tinres esteemed and respected as such, and that he never heard him charged as being a lory until he saw the charge in the dirty sheet catted the Charlotte Jour nal, printed in this town. 1 ask you, then, whom you will believe; this venera ted man, whom you have at all times de lighted to honor, or the foul tongue of the slanderer? And here I Itave the proof, with the fact that Ez''kiel Polk, like Colo- ncl W illiam Polk, and otherstif his family, was at all times after the close of the Rev- olutimi oteemed and respected in this county of his residence as a Soldier and a patriot. I come now, fello v-citizens, to speak of another ancestor of Col. Polk, the grandfa ther oh the maternal side of his familv one whose fame tile tongue of slander has not as yet dared to assail. And as our op on the mother's side, whose name he bears. Oihers here recollect Capt. Knox, and stand ready to confirm the statement of D.;bbins, but confirmation is not deem ed necessary, as none will be! daring enough to gainsay it. 1 might add the name and services of Gillespie to establish the claim of Col. Polk's ancestors to the honor of Revolutionary patriots, but I forbear, and will only add, as his grandfather, an honr' blacksmith, contributed his serV';.cs in es j tablishing our independence, anil the haj ,7.mcot gove-.nment under whicn we now live, so let it be bur bride as Demo crats, and as independent voters, lo contri bute our mite in honoring the nameot the ancestors, by placing JAMES KNOX POLK in the proudest station ol the world. And so, Democrats, let it be. Received with great applause and the liveliest appro bation. EVIDENCE SUBMIT? ED BY GEN. SAUNDERS. Capt. Jack's Certificate. As taken from the documents as published under the order of General Assembly; at the session of 1830-'31. Page 16, letter C. 'Having seen in the newspapers some nippp.o resnectintf the declaration of ihde- oendencc by the people oi lviecKicuuuig county, in the Slate of North Carolina, in May J77 and being solicited to state what I know of the transaction, 1 would observe, that for some time previous to, time those resolutions weie; agreed urjoh fi, 1 resided in the town of oudi I'jiit;, mecKienuurgcounty, was privy to a number of meetings 6f s6me of the mdst influential and leading characters of that county on the subject, before the fi nal adoption of the' resolutions, and at the time they were adopted. Among those who appeared to take the lead, may be mentioned Ilezektah Alexander, who generally acted as "charrman, John McKnitt Alexander, as secretary, Abra ham Alexander, Adam Alexander, Major John Davidson, Colonel Thomas rViA', EZEKIEL POLK, Doctor Ephraim Bre vard, Samuel Martin, Duncan bcheltree, William WillsOn, Robert Trv'in." When the resolutions Were finally agreed 6n, they were publicly pro'claimed from the court-house door, in the t6w"n of Char lotte, and received with every demonstra tion of joy by the inhabitants. "I was then solicited to be the bearer of the proceedings to Congr ess. 1 set out the following month, (say June,) and in pas sing through Salisbury, thc general couit was sitting;, at the request of the court 1 handed h copy of the resolutions to Colo nel Kenhon, an attorney, and they were read alotid'in open cfcurt. Major William Davidson, and Mr. Avery, an attorney. called on meat my lodgings the evening after, and observed, they had heard of but one person, (a Mr. Beard,) but approved of . them. I tlfen proce'eded 6n to Philadelphia, and delivered the Mecklenburg declaration of independence, ci May, 1775, to Richard Caswell and William Hooper, the 'delegates to Congress from the State of North Caroli na. 41 am now in'the eighty-eighth year of my age, residing in the county of Elbert, in the State of Georgia. I was in the rev olutionary war, from the commencement to the close. "I would further observe, that the Rev erend Francis Cummins, a Presbyterian clergyman, of Greene county, in this State, was a student in the to wn of Charlotte at the time of the adoption of the resolutions, and is as well, or perhaps better acquainted with the proceedings at that time, than any man now living. "Colonel William fcolk, of Raleigh, in North Carolina, was living with his father, Thomas, in Charlotte, at the lime I have been speaking of, and although then too young to be forward in the business, yet the leading circumstances I have rela ted cannot have escaped his recollection. JAMES JACk. 'Signed this 7th of December IS 19, in presence of Jok Weston, 'C. C. 0. James Oliver, Alt. at Law. The following is a literal and true conv . O 1', of the Original commission of Carjt. Ezeki el Polk, of the Revolution, viz: "South Carolina. In pursuance of the resolutions ot the Provincial Congress, we do hereby certify that EZEKIEL POLK, esq , is second Captain in ihe Regiment of Rangers in the Provincial Service. Dated the eighteenth day of June, 1775. WM. WILLIAMSON, J. HARRIS, THOMAS BfeE, CHAS. pincneV ARTHUR MIDDLETON, M; BREWTON, THOS. HEYWARD, Jr. VVM. H. DRAYTON, JAM&S PARSONS, HtNRY LA WRENS; RAWS. LOWNDES, THdS. FERtilSON; BENJ. ELLIOT. The following is a copy or a letter of William Polk, now a citizen of Arkansas'. He is about seventy years old; and is the eldest surviving son of Cdpt. Ezekiel Polk; , . . . Sept. 15, 1S40. liear Sir: Voiirs bt" August 27 has come to hand this day, and 1 forthwith comply with your request. The commission which Maj. Bills referred ybii to, in my hands, I have preserved, and riovv enclose it herein; (after taking a cdpy of it,) and forward it to you. cah'riot believe for a moment tliat such malignant, fabricated calumnies, is, or ever will be, believed. Knowing, as I do, the high standing of bur lather amongst the other soldiers of the Revolution, during the whole bf his resi dence in North Carolina. Arid there is no man at this time more venerated than old Capt. Ezekial Polk, both for his patri otism, uriwavlng Democratic principles, his talents, and stern integrity. 1 think it was riear the close of the Revolution that he arid Col. William Polk obtained a Col onel's commission, (both about the same time,) which title he ever after bore. With high respect, your POLK. The following is a literal and true copy of Capt. David Dobbins' statement, ahigh- and 31 trie ly and respected sol&er of the Revolution, .ty who at the period of lift tleaih and for ma-j ny years previous, received a pension from the Government: "State (if Kentnckp. Graves Vouhfi. I, David Dobbins-, a citizen of Maury Count', from about tlie year 1866, up to Nov. 1S-40. when I removed t6 this State, do hereby certify that I was during ihe Revolutionary war a citizen of North Car olina, Rowan county": 1 served as a sol dier in the Revolutionary war, and was en gaged in active service three months in 1775, (in the Snow campaign) as a private in Capt Cowen's cbmpanv, and .Col. Lock's Regiment, tihder Genl. Rutherford, who was commander in that campaign. 1 also served three months in 1776 against the Cherokee Indians, in Carbt. Bill's com pany, Col. Lock's Regiment and undei Gen. Ruiherfi'rd commander. In. the spring of 1777. I "served three months un der the "s ;me officers also in the fall of the same year I commenced "serving a nine months camp dgn in the regular Service, in which 1 acted as Orderly Sergeant in aptain Cowen s company, Colonel I hax lon's Regiment, General Davidson com mander, which campaign terminated in 177S. In 176. 1 served 'three mdnths in South Carolina a a private in tTe horse company of Cap. Simmons, under Maj. Mabury. commander. In 17&1, I served j ten mouths as Lieitenant in CajSt. Alekan hler'5 Horse' Company and Col. Wadt Hampton's Regiment under Gen. Sampler commander. 1 do further certify, that 1 was engaged in Vh e bailie o!f Saluda against the 1 n'd i nf. s and S c ofe I iies , a I so To r ies . I n 'he snow campaign 1 was alsb engaged in several skirmishes l)u'ringlhe campaign agaiifst the Cherokecs in 1776, in I77s. I was engaged in severaPsVirmishe's and in the battle ofStono in 1 779 I was engaged in several skirmishes, and in 17bl, in the seige of ninety-six, in the battle of Eutaw Spring", and at the taking of several British forls, &c. I do fun her certify that ,1 was well acquainted 'with Capt. James Knox (of Rowan county at the commencement of the war, and afterwards of Mecklen burg, North Carolina) who was the grand father on the maternal :ide of James Knox Polk, the present Governor of Tennessee. 1 know that Captain James Knox was as good and true a Whip; of the Revolution as breathed, and was actively engaged in the snoxV campaign; he was Captain of a militia company, and I believe was a brave, pSlri otic and true soldier in the service of his country during the Revolutionary war. Capt. Knox was a blacksmith by trade. He was by all who knew him esteemed an excellent officer, a gallant soldier and an honest man. Ca'pt. Knox had six brothers who were also engaged in the Revolution ary war, and Were all eSteenied firm pstri ots, excellent soldiers and honest men One of them served as Captain in the regu lar Service for at least two years, and was under Gen. Washington in ihe battles of Germaritown, Brindywine, &c. Signed. DAVID DOBBINS." Graces Ccufify, Kentucky. do Wrcby certify that David Dobbins this day personally appeared before me, James K Fair, a Jdstice of the Peace for the said cbuntyj and wfl3 sworn' that ihe above certificate was true. Given under my Hand this 2d day of April, lS4t. (Signed) J. K. Atm, J. P. I, John Anderson, Clerk of ihe County Court bf Graves COuniy iri the State nf rv'pnthrL-v lrnhi, rPHift, that J K Farr, whose name is signed to Ihe foregb .I?,1.'1 Jnkhn, Howard county, . ..souri. ing certificate, is now arid was at the time Ul9 fdlhe,r grandfather, and Uncles., -ere of signing the same, a Justice of ihe Peace jmcn of high standing arid respeciab y. lor l ie County and State aforesaid. IJUIV commissioned and (qualified as such, and authorised to administer oaths. In testimony whereof I have hereun- n to subscribed my name and affixed ' my seal of office, this 3d day April, ib4l. JNO. ANDERSON. L. The following is a trlie copy of trie State ment of George Alesdridcr, viz: " Panola Count ft . Miss , Mrth 25, 1840. Statement bl 6eorge Alexander concern ing the life arid character of ihe late Col. Ezekiel Polk, formerly of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina; during the Revo lutionary war: . . I was acquainted with Col. Ezekiel Polk from the time he came to Mecleoburg coun ty frbm South Carolina. I always under stood that he was an officer in the South Carolina Rangers, together with Col. Wm. Polk, who was an officer under his uncle F.zekiel Polk. This regiment of rangers performed a campaign and dispersed the tories at Ray burn's Creek, where Col. Wm. Polk was wounded. This was called the snow campaign. After this, William Polk (as soon as he could be brobght with safetv, not having recovered from his wounds) rerhoved tb Mecklenburg county, N. Carolina, 1 think about the year 1778, where my personal acquaintance com menced with him, it being also an intimate t- i i i i. i lamong thc citizens of Mecklenburg coup. - one. r rom my Knowieqge, ne siouu inu He then farmed in MccklcnbnrS county and accumulated property there vnen iorn wains overrun the country in I SO and came to Charlotte, after Gates' defeat there were ho regular organized troops in the field, and llv? tbuniry was. overrun, it was my understanding that then, in order to save his property from, distruction, he, together with others, took protection from 'Corn wall is. When Corn wall is left Charlotte for the South he, Eze kiel Polk, removed his properly from Corn wallis' protection,, a part of which was ta ken by CornwalhV troops, when be Eze kiel Polk, was crossing the Yadkin. He went from there to Pennsylvania and re lurned in the summer of 17SI. That ha was a tory, Or acted any wise for, or with he British, I consider a slander against him and to be false. He stood high among the citizens of Mecklenburg county. (Signed) GEORGE ALEXANDER. Fiendish Slct. The Richmond Star Says tha the train between Weldon and Petersburg on Thursday niht, when hear Pleasant II ill V. 0., met an obstruction upon the rails in the shape cf a large sill, placed there by some villain, which threw off the engine, tender and mail ear, into the ditch. On Saturday evening while leaving Weldon, another sill Was found up on the track, 'about two hundred yard from the depot, but fortuatXily, the slow rate at which the engine was moving pre vented any seriouh damage. Giirilf. They are growing a giant in Coxackie. in New York, who proin'M to overtop all competition in this country or Europe. His name is Nathan Lamp'- man, and he is sixteen years old, weiliin 19S pounds, standing at this time 7 net I inch in height, and growing Hike mad." He is described by Dr. Smith a as a great tall, awkward, good natured, sixteen year old boy." He is believed already to have the longest legs on ihe continent, and hai actually grown nine inches ihe last year He is an ambitious youth, aud has a great desire to outgrow all creation; an aspiration likely to be reached, for he has good health and good habits. The doctor . thinks he will reach at least another foot, and on, the whole we have a very god d prospect oi raising an "Empire" Giant. An innocent man hung by a Mob Under this caption ihe Paris (Mo.) Mercu ry relates some curious particulars connec ted with mob laio. Some years since, Mrv Jarries Barnes, son of Aquilla Barnes bif Missouri; Was hung by a hibb ih Arkan sas, because he was suspected oif having murdered the Wright family," in bh'iiof the counth s of that State. Barnes to thd very last asserted his irinbeehee, but thfci mob were inexorable, and he was hanged by them, it ndw appears from i statement in the Van Buren (Arkansas) Intelligencer; that the real murderers have been found, and are in confinement At Fayelteville id l hat State. There are three of ih'em, bv" thc names bf Star and Reese; and they nr& said to have frequently boasted of the crime: they will be convicted, it is said, oii the testimony of many witnesses to thesri confessions. But their conviction will hot restore the idribbent man to life, nor save his murderers from the slings of remorsi lor sj cruel an act. The editor of the Mer cury says that the news of Barnbs's inno cence is truly gratify inj to llim Kfor we personally knew Aquilla Barnes, &uJ the uarnes mmiiv, iweniysix yearapo, at v ' " kilUlk.ll Jk VIIllOl. ilUVY pdilllUI It must have been to his father and mother; the wife of his bosom, with her helpless babes, and his relatives, to be thus depriv ed cf his society; and to think; too, that a mob hung him wilhobt judge or jury; under ihe chargb of murder thus blast ing his fame, and putting a stain updri his poor little children, his unoffending; wife his aged father and mother, together wiiK his brothers and sisters, his friends and relatives. St. Louis (Mo.) Repubiicdri. Returning. The St Lbus Republican mentions the arHval at that city of a steam boat from St. Joseph's Mo. having bri board two hundred passengers many tit whom wpre driven from their homes by Ihe flood, and are returning to tlib old States, from which they originally emigra ted; many of them having lost all their property. Methodist Episcopal Church itt the United Slates Nett increase in 1S43, 102,s21. Whole number of communi cants in the United Stales, at the present time, 1,171356. It is said that this is more than all the baptists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalian.!, united. fjpMr. Crane, of Newark, N. J.,?has invented 'a hew clock, which will rur l - months without winding
The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, N.C.)
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Aug. 10, 1844, edition 1
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