Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-24
General Pierce. strong Points,

They who have read the ample quotations we
yesterday made from the Life of General Pierce
will be prepared to assent to the following sum
mary of his strong points 1t is made up, we
believe, by the Richmond Wing:
AS we understand it, the principal grounds re-
lied on in support of General Pierce's pretensions
to the Presidency may be summed up as follows:
l. On the score of medocrity in intellect.
This is the broad ground assumed by the Wash
ington Union and in defence of it, his whole
career may be adduced without fear of impeach-
mentor no one act has arisen above the dead
level of commonplace.
2. AS hero Of many hard d-fought-BAT-
TIE lin support Of which, his wonderful
achievements on horseback in the hattle-feds of
Mexico-are they not duly chronicled in the Off
cial accounts of those bloody days, and do they
not supply irrefragable proof of heroism which
dims the glory of an Alexander or a Caesar?
General Scott, the villifed and calumniated COM
mander-in- chief, struck with admiration at his
chivalrous somersets, in the absence of any spe-
cial military feat to commemorate, characterized
him as the "gallant Pierce"'
8. His precocious learning. This is illustrated
by narrative to the following effect: On his
return from college, his father, then governor of
New Hampshire, was writing his message. The
old gentleman, whose head was little wool
gathering was bothered about his spelling.
Frank, my son, (said hey tell me how to spell
sbut'-these little words poster me-but such big
words as constitution can spell as well as any
of you college larnt boys" Frank at once, with
out the slightest hesitation, and without having
recourse to his dictionary, like dutiful son and
accomplished scholar, gave the paternal governor
the desired assistance by pronouncing very slowly
and distinctly the letters. but!
4. His noble birth--being lineal descendant
of the Percys, dukes of Northumberland. The
pedigree is not entirely made out but both names
begin with P, which leaves no doubt of the fact
5. His charity and generosity Illustrious as
may be his descent, brilliant as may have been
his feats in arms, and wise his counsels in the
Senate, all pale before this most dazzling trait in
his character. We have heard fgenerous people,
but we confess that the authentic accounts given
of General Pierce place him in advance of all who
have gone before him. The following extract
from speech delivered by Ex Governor Steele,
of New Hampshire, before Democratic conven-
tion in favor of the nomination Of General PIERCE
tells the tale. 1t is worthy Of an attentive peru
sal, as illustrating the benefcent spirit of the
Democratic nominee, and the enlarged views of
bounty which distinguish the people of New
Hampshire. The tale would be incredible if it were
not vouched for by such high authority:
Sir" said Governor Steele, Il have known
the whole career of General Pierce from the day
he first took his seat in this hall. | have admired
his exploits III Congress and in Mexico. But
have an incident in my mind which will relate,
which, in my humble judgment, exhibits the
character of the man in more illustrious light
than all his efforts in the forum or the field
"lt was something more than twenty years
ago General Pierce was then somewhat younger
than he is now) he was travelling through one If
the western towns of this State, and he entered
the principal village he beheld three boys eating
candy. At brief distance he beheId another
boy sitting alone, and that boy was not eatiug,
but he was crying. General Pierce, feeling in
terested in so strange circumstance, inquired
into the case, and ascertained that he was crying
because he had no money to buy candy. No
sooner had he learned the facts in the case, Than,
with that noble generosity which has ever distin-
guished Pierce through his whole life, he put has
hand an his pochet, dreV forth cent, bought stick
IF candy, and gave ii 10 the boy, ALTHOUGH THE
BOY WAS A TOTAL STRANGER TO GEN PIERCE" |