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President James K. Polk’s Visit to Baltimore in 1847

President James K. Polk's visit to Baltimore in 1847 is a little-known event, but one that holds an important place in history. Read this article to learn more about the President's journey and the reception he received upon his arrival in Baltimore.
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President James K. Polk
President James K. Polk

James K. Polk isn’t exactly the most memorable president. That said, this is an article that we dug up in the Baltimore Sun from June 21st, 1847. Polk was en route to visit Baltimore by train from Washington.

Visit of the President to Baltimore — It will be seen by the following article from Saturday evening’s Washington Union that our information with regard to the visit of the President was correct, and that he may be expected here to-morrow afternoon without fail. The committee having in charge the arrangements for extending to the President a most cordial welcome are acting promptly and efficiently in the performance of the duty assigned them, in which they will be joined with a hearty good will by our citizens generally, without distinction of party:–

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The President’s Tour — We understand that the President of the United States will leave this city on Tuesday next, on a short tour to the north. He will, we learn, be accompanied by Mr. Clifford, the Attorney General; and should the state of public business permit it, Mr. Buchanan, the Secretary of State, may join him at New York, at which latter city it is expected the President will arrive on Friday next the 25th inst. Mr. Burke, of New Hampshire, Mr. Appleton, of Maine, and possibly one or two other personal friends, will be of his suite. The other members of the cabinet will remain at Washington. It would, we have no doubt, have been highly gratifying to the President, if they could, with propriety, have accompanied him. The Secretary of War, who has been confined to his office–without intermission of a single day–for nearly two years, would, we doubt not, have been pleased to accompany him throughout his tour, and especially as far as New York. The existence of the Mexican war, however, renders it prudent, in the opinion of that officer, that he should remain at his post.

We understand that Mrs. Polk will attend the President as far as Baltimore, at which city she and her niece Miss R—, will separate from him on a visit to Tennessee, where they will remain five or six weeks.

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