The Ohio Democrat

OLD "ROORBACK"
HIS MASSACRE ON SALE RIVER
A correspondent of the Journal of Commerce traveling in Tennessee, writes as follows. With what gratification will it be read by the thousands of honest patriots who have cast their votes for this noble and worthy citizen. What a contrast between Mr. Polk, the candidate of the democracy, and Clay the candidate of the aristocracy of privileged corporations and factory owners:

Correspondent of the Journal of Commerce.

Columbia, Tenn. October 16, 1844.

I reached this town yesterday, in the stage coach from Nashville, 40 miles, on a good turnpike road. This is one of the finest counties of land in the State, and inhabited by an intelligent and wealthy class of people. As you are aware, Gov. Polk, the democratic candidate for President, resides in this place. I had the honor of taking tea at his house last evening, and of enjoying the society of himself and his amiable and splendid lady. His features are strongly marked by evidences of intellect, blandness, firmness and benevolence. His head would be esteemed a splendid model by phrenologists, in which the intellectual and moral faculties are largely predominant. His forehead is high, broad and full, and perpendicular, if not projecting. The upper part of the head rises high above the ears. The organs of benevolence, veneration and firmness, are prominently developed. Col. Polk's character, through a long public life, is known to correspond with these characteristics of his mind.

He represented the Congressional district in which he lives, for 14 years. While he has at all times had strong political opponents in Tennessee, he is without a personal enemy in the State. All, with one accord, declare, that they know of no spot or blemish on Col. Polk's whole private life; that a better neighbor, a kinder master, a more indulgent and faithful husband, a more upright, honest, benevolent and moral man; they never knew. When the Roorback slander reached Tennessee, even the whigs cried out, "shame, oh! oh shame." Of all the slanders ever started against him this was the most unlike the truth. All his opponents in Tennessee admit, that there is not a kinder man to his servants to be found in the State. Col. Polk is not rich. He has a moderate property, and owning nothing is independent. He does not own forty slaves in the world. What he has, consist of families, many of them small, having inherited them principally through his lady. He has parted with some of his best men servants to gratify their wish to be with their wives. In other instances he has purchased, at high rates, the wives of his men from other parties, and also the husbands of his women, in order, as far as possible, to keep families together, and by that means to make them more comfortable and happy.

His lady is both beautiful and accomplished, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. There is not a human being living; that is an enemy of hers.

It is painful to find that a man like Col. Polk, whose whole life has been pure and without reproach, should be so shamefully assailed as he has been.

During his whole life, he has been strictly a temperance man, in every thing,-in liquor, tobacco, in eating and in all respects. He never gambled. In all his life he never gave, or accepted a challenge to fight a duel. He is an anti-duellist on Christian principles. He believes duelling to be morally wrong, and has the moral courage to put in practice the moral principles he professes. He is a much better man, than the world, and especially his opponents have ever given him credit for.

He is a modest and retiring man. but bold and firm in the discharge of his official duties when called upon by the people to exercise them. I should say the most prominent trait of his mind was that of moral courage, a rare and valuable trait of his character.

He made a good and faithful representative, and an able and efficient Governor, a prompt, able and impartial speaker of the House of Representative, and if elected will make, an able, judicious, sound and safe President of the United States; one that will aim to maintain the rights and honor of the country, in our foreign relations, and secure as far as practicable, the peace and prosperity of our country at home.