Correspondence of JAMES K. POLK
Permit an humble individual, “V.D.M.” the father of Col. James Ross Snowden of ye. U.S. Mint in this city, & ye. father in law to ye. Hon. James Thompson of Pena.: to address a congratulatory letter to you, on the close of your glorious & most triumphant, Administration of 4. years ye. most wonderful, & benificial ever known in the Annals of our beloved, & highly favoured Republic.
Your administration fell in the most momentous & eventful times. All ye. great objects of your trying, & glorious administration, have been fulfiled. They have been vindicated against the fierce & bitter attacks of enemies, & have more than met the expectations of your numerous friends.
You retire triumphant in your policy, & in the wisdom, and success of it and you leave ye. government most prosperous & millions of people your fellow citizens blessed & happy! What more can I say, for your name will be venerated & held up to ye. admiring gaze of all future ages, as well as the name of your amiable, pious, & talented Lady, who is universally, admired, & acknowledged an Ornament to her sex, & a pattern to all the ladies of our Great Republic. To whom, & yourself our family send our most affectionate respects & love. And fervent prayers for you, both: that your last days may be your best, happy & comfortable, as your wise Administration, has been glorious & triumphant.
P.S. Please give my best respects to ye. Hon. James Buchanan & to ye. Hon. Robert Walker to whom I am personally known.
[P.S.] Hond. Sir, Permit me to add, that I voted for Gen. Washington at his 2d. Election, & ye. first vote I ever gave & I voted for you, & permit me to say I prayed most fervently on the day of your Election, that God wd. not permit ye. Ark of our political Safety to have an unhallowed touch, by the Election of any other candidate but yourself.
I also heard the Bell ring for ye. declaration of our Independance July 4th 76. being six years old. On that bell was cast a text out of Leviticus. Proclaim liberty to this land & to all its inhabitants. How appropriate & prophetic on ye. birth day of our nation, as Genl. Jackson, said to me, when I told him of it at Washington.
Your Uncle Mr. George Pollock was a class mate of mine & graduated with me at Princeton College N.J. 1787. under the Revd. Dr. John Witherspoon one of ye. signers of Independence. I was licensed by the Presby. of Philada. 57. years ago.
My daughter Mrs. Thompson, sends her best thanks, & love to Mrs. Polk for her kind attention to her when in Washington.
All which as you lawyers say, is respectfully submitted, as I cd. not go, as I desired, & wish you, & Mrs P. as I now do an affectionate farewell, & happiness in time and Eternity. N.R.S.
N.B. If ever I go west I will visit you Deo Volente.
ANS. DLC–JKP. Addressed to Washington City. From Polk’s AE: received March 4, 1849.