Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-24
PRIvATE1LETTER TO GINERAL PIERCE.
powslsosvlL1E. STATE OF MAINE,

Dear Gineral: guess you little thought when
we was having that scrntch in Mexico that it was
going to make a President of you. But time and
chance happens to all men, and why shouldn't
luck come to you rs well as any body else. didn't
expect, when lost dear old Gineral Jackson, that
should ever have chance to write to another
Glneral in the Presidents chair. President Polk
was only a Colonel, and somehow it didn't seem
half natural TO me TO say f'dear Colonel, as 1t
was to say "dear General" had been so used to
1t in old Hickory'S time. And can't help think
ing that nobody lower than Ginernl ever ought TO
be President. But that's neither here nor there;
you aTe President and have got togo ahead and
make the best of it. And as had good deal of
experience in Gineral Jackson's time, and you are
kind of young in Government matters, felt 1t my
duty to write to you and try to encourage you along
forI don't expect you know what darksome and
trying times there is in going through the Presiden-
cy. The first thing that is necessary IS to keep
stiff upper lip. 1t was keepin stiff upper lip that
carried Gineral Jackson through great many hard
trials. There was so many hands to the bellows
that blowed you into the Presidency that Pm afraid
when they come to settle up accounts there'n be
n squabble that will make more trouble for you
than ever old Hickory had. When the old line
Democrats, North and South, and the Hunkers,
and The BarnburneTs and the FreeSOers, and States
Rights Democrats, and the Union Wings, and the
Secessionists, and the Carolina NullitLEs and the
Old FogieS and Young America, all getyLu by the
throat, and every one crying out, "pay me that
thou on eSf." l almost tIemble to think what will
become of YOU, unless you have good deal Of tie
true old Hickory grit You must put on the StlteSt
kind of upper lip and take the responsibility ortl
be gone goose with you. You had better shake
them / of, and advertise that you won't pay any
debts of their contracting.
You must remember that the Wing party is dead
and buried, SO you haven't get to fight agin that
more. And you must remember, too. that the Wing
party has left considerable valuable property and
that the Democratic party is the natural heir to it.
So you can take up the bank, and the tariff, and
internal improvements, and such kind of notions,
and use 'em quietly, for the benefit Of the great
Democratic party, and say nothn about it. Only,
you must take care to fix 'em over into Democratic
bank, and Democratic tariff, and Democratic in
ternal Improvements, and then nobody won't say
word agin ZEN. r 5r y u
Well now, about the Cabinet. This is a ticklish
kind of business and l feel uneasy to know how
you'll get along with it. Uncle Joshua thinks
you'd better take one out of each party that went
for you and give 'em fair chance. But you can't
Lave but seven members in the Cabinet, unless you
conclude TO have kitchen Cabinet, too; and
don't suppose YOU do that for they amt apt to
work very well. Old Hickory himself got rather
tired OF his before twas over. So, if you haven't
but seven members, there won't be enough to give
one to each party, and them that's left to suck
their fingers will always be biting their thumbs at
you. And then, you know the rule is that the Ca
binet should always be unit. But Pm afraid, if
you get one in from each party, it will be very
duaIrelson e kind of unit and you will have no
comfort of your life. And then, if you was to give
the whole to one or two parties you would, of
course. have about a dozen parties up In arms agln
you, and squalls and HURRICANES blowing from all
quarters. Just see how it would work. If yon
should pick out sound, wise Old Foggy to take
hold with you to help cook matters up, the Dem
ocratic Review would be down upon you like
thousand of brick, and blackGuard you like pick
pocket for trying to hobble along on the "mere
beaten horse.'' And then, if you was to look
'tother way and sent Young America to the helm,
the Old Foggies would be afraid some of the mad
caps would run us on to the breakers and send us
ali to the bottom In that case. pretty likely thergd
be greater unit put of the Cabinet than therew
in it, and there would be danger of mutiny an
round. So there! you are. You seem to be in a
snarl, any way you can fxit.
Now, if you will take my advice. General, you
viii shet your eyes, and stop your ears, and take
and hauling ABOUND you. jest say to the Democrats,
and the Old Fogges, and Young America, and the
Hunkers, and heBarnburners, and theFree- Sellers,
and the Abolitionists and Secesioniss, and the
Nullifes, that you don't know none fem and
thatyou amt their President but that you the
President of these thirty United States and you
mean s'to go for the whole or none." That's,