The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-06-24
Speech OF Gov. Bfgler.

Speech of Gov. Bis1er.
At the Ratification meeting held at Harris
burg, Governor Biger taking the chair made
the following neat and patriotic address:
Governor Bigler upon taking the chair, ad-
dressed the meeting briefly. He entered into a
powerful elucidation of the principles upon
which our government is founded, and upon
which the Democratic party invariably acts, and
pointed out the advantages that must always ac-
crue to the people by strict adherence TO those
principles. He next came to the object Of the
assemblage then before him, and said that with
them he most cordially approved of and ratified
the action of the Baltimore convention, in the
nomination of Franklin Pierce and Vim. r. King,
1t was true that many of US had other preferen-
ces-sorne being ardently attached to the distin-
guished son of Pennsylvania, some to the equal
ly distinguished statesman of Michigan, some
favorable to one great statesman, and some to
another; but he convention not being able to
agree upon any other candidate, and having
placed Gen. Pierce in nomination, by almost
unanimous vote, all Democrats now united upon
him, because he was the representative of the
great principles that they advocated. The De-
mocratic party was essentially the party of prin-
ciple, and it was ready always to surrender up
men, no matter how ardently it was attached to
them by ties of long standing, to secure the tri-
umph of principle, and effect perfect union of
the party.
The Governor desired here to be permitted to
invoke his fellow-ctizens to union and harmony
to secure success. To the American heart, the
word unton was one of peculiar significance
From the first dawning of liberty on our shores,
it has been the talismanic chord that has bound
us together and borne US through many trials
to our present high eminence as a nation. In
union there is strength safety and success: it
is just as important now to cultivate this spirit
as at any former period The Democratic party
he believed were now firmly united, and being
so united it must be successful.
Although Pennsylvania looked to the nomina-
ton of one of her own distinguished sons, she
will still perform her whole duty, and cast her
united Democratic vote for the nominee of the
Baltimore Convention.
The Governor next referred TO Gen Pierce as
a sound statesman, whose principles were well
known and well understood throughout the
whole country. For the last twenty wears he
has been the leader of the party in his own State
For several years he occupied seat in the
House of Representatives. He was then elected
TO the United States Senate, and continued there
until he resigned his seat to attend to his pro
fessional pursuits. He was next rendered the
Attorney Generalship by President Polk, and
declined it, remaining in private life until the
breaking out of the Mexican war, when he vol
unteered his services, was subsequently appoin-
ted to a high command, and rendered distin-
guished service during the continuance of the
war. Immediately after its close he resigned
his commission and retired to private life.
The whole character of Gen. Pierce is worthy
Of our warmest admiration. He is modest and
retiring, only accepting civil office when it has
been forced upon him by the partiality of his
fellow citizens. In his military career, his con-
duct is alike marked by pure patriotism He
never sought the army as a means for holiday
display. When, however, his country was en-
gEge5 IN q foreign war, he rendered his servi
ccs and at once repaired to the scene of active
duty, and the moment that peace was proclaim
ed, he returned 10 his home and resigned his
commission. In this respect he greatly resem-
bled the patriot jackson, who was ever ready
to fight the battles of his country in time of war
but who had no taste for the standing armv in
time of peace.