Lawmakers reject proposal to move James K. Polk's remains from Capitol grounds

May he rest in peace.

Lawmakers’ effort to move the tomb of former President James K. Polk came to a halt Monday, after the House of Representatives rejected a resolution.

In one of the more unusual debates of the year, the chamber failed to vote in favor of a measure that sought to move Polk’s tomb, which currently lies on the Capitol grounds, to the James K. Polk Home and Museum in Columbia.

The chamber voted 49-37 on the measure — one shy of the amount needed to advance the resolution.

More: Tennessee Historical Commission opposes moving President James K. Polk's remains

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At issue is Polk’s intentions as laid out in his will.

When he died, Polk said he wanted to be buried at a family plot at his Nashville estate. The estate, however, was sold in 1893, resulting in Polk and his wife being buried on the east side of the Capitol.

Supporters of the resolution argued that Polk’s intended home in Nashville was sold, they should relocate him to Columbia, where he lived after graduating from law school and before he became governor.

The Senate previously approved the measure with a 20-6 vote.

Had the resolution passed, the issue would have had to appear before the state Historical Commission.

Last year, the commission’s executive director said he was against the proposed move.

The House’s rejection of the measure came hours after Gov. Bill Haslam said he opposed the idea.

“I guess if the vote was up to me I’d leave them buried there on the grounds,” the governor said at an event in Knoxville.

Lawmakers' rejection of the resolution closes out a multi-year effort to move Polk's tomb.

Tyler Whetstone contributed to this report.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.