1844

In 1842, James K. Polk wrote a lengthy letter to his friend James Howry of Oxford, Mississippi discussing Democratic Party strategy and potential White House candidates. Of former president Martin Van Buren, he wrote “V.B. is a great man & a Patriot, & no man would be better pleased to see him President than I would be. He has however a weight of popular prejudice to encounter – which it will require time & vigilant & unceasing labour on the part of his friends to overcome.” Polk asserted a few lines later, “If I know myself I feel & speak disinterestedly. The success of our principles – is prominent to all considerations – or personal preference for mine. I shall be ever ready & willing to work in the ranks – where I have long labored, or in any other position where my friends may think I can be most useful.” Two years later at the Democratic National Convention, Polk’s friends succeeded in naming the Tennessean as the party’s presidential candidate after Van Buren’s opposition to Texas annexation alienated a majority of delegates

Since Whig nominee Henry Clay also opposed annexation of a territory that permitted slavery, Polk easily carried Mississippi’s popular vote in the national election. Future Confederate president Jefferson Davis appeared on the 1844 Democratic ticket as one of Mississippi’s Electoral College delegates

A few days after the election, a Yalobusha County resident rhapsodized to a fellow Mississippian about

the Glorious Democratic victory which we have just achieved over the Great Embodiment of Whig principles. Our country is again redeemed from taxation monopolies misrule and injustice – Aristocracy is crushed by the strong arm of an intelligent people – their voice has come from hill and valley we will be free – this is a bright epoch in the history of our union every man may enjoy the peaceful fruits of his labour and democrats may drink egg-nog…