CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. MR. POLK AS GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE GREATER THINGS IN VIEW-THE CONVENTIONS- PAGE. (5) TEXAS AND 54° 40'-GREAT SUBJECTS BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION-PREPARATIONS FOR WAR WITH WAR PROCLAIMED ACTS OF CONGRESS-FRENCH CLAIMS VETO-TWO MILLION MYSTERY-WILMOT PROVISO- A GRAND PLAN FAILS-MR. BENTON DISAPPOINTED- -SOME SECRETS-SANTA ANNA AND THE THREE MILLIONS WAR WITH MEXICO-GENERAL SCOTT IN THE HEART OF THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY WITHOUT CHANCE OF SUCCOR- WAR WITH MEXICO-CAPTURE OF CHAPULTEPEC-THE CITY OF MEXICO IN THE HANDS OF THE INVADERS- LIFE, ADMINISTRATION, AND TIMES OF JAMES KNOX POLK, ELEVENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. March 4, 1845, to March 4, 1849. CHAPTER I. ORIGIN OF THE POLK FAMILY-DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES-FAMILY TREE. JUDGE UDGE A. O. P. NICHOLSON says, in his "Eulogy" on James K. Polk, that "it is a truth, not unmixed with cause for regret, that posterity is the only tribunal on earth whose judgment as to the character of distinguished men can be impartial, and consequently infallible." This is an old, threadbare saying, and, besides the mere fact that infallibility does not belong to man under the most favorable circumstances even, there are other difficulties in the way of its acceptance as the truth. Posterity depends for its knowledge of an individual upon the testimony of his contemporaries, or those who not 9 |