The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-06-12

be cast upOL him. His life had been devoted e
CIVIL pursuits. As ] have already shown, he haC
from early manhood occupied prominent pabli,
positions Ia the state and na,Ion. In lsi2 ht
resigned lis seat in the L ) Sena,e, to resume
the practice OF that profession which he has since
SO sgnsly adorned with his learning gealas and
forensic power.
! Subsequently, We behold him declining . lccess
siSely nh appointment 10 the same exalted sta
ton from which he rstired in lSi2-a n"mins
ton for Governor oi the State-and the appoint
ment Of Attorney General Of the Cui;ed States
J But when the honor Of his country and the safe
~ Of the army, halting at Putbla for reinforce
ren.s, called f'r pramp, support even from the
walks Of private life, he Instantly obryed tie
summons
|, lie worthy Of remark that soon after he de.
elned the Office Of Attorney General ian office
so congenial 10 his pursuits and tasts,) he nc.
csptsi without hesitatIVn Cuoueley Of lnf,G.
Try, and Immediately proceeded 10 rsise TIA, no
Die New England regiment substq uen;l So much
distinguished. lie was soon after promoted to
the officer Of Bricadirr General
Con'ideriug Gen. pirrce's posi,ion-the de
lghiful and prosperous circumstance. by which
ne was in al. pect surrounded-the well known
fict tina; he must lind wi b hs command q: Vera
Cruz and pursue lis march IN terra caiier:e, NJ =
SESSION of the year when the fatal disease Of the
climate, (vnmito) would add i;s horrors to the
dangers and trial Of the cnmpagn-w- hardly
know anything more striking in the history Il
seifsacriticing patriotism thsn this prompt and
uncalculaiing response to the call of The country
Al Vera Cruz the QGartsrmasters and Comms
snrys DEPARTING were very much crippled ~
the rnervating etlec.s Of the climate and the
ra'ages Of disease. The requisite prerarsti5n-
for the mach necessarily occupied three or four
weeks. The posts a, Jalapa and eseN here on
the route having been abandoned, the communi.
cation between the cnss, and Pueha. was entirely
Gu, of, AMI the whole line in possession Of he
enemy. Under these circumstances the safety Of
the command and success Of the march depended,
Of course 10 great extcnt, rpon tho vigilance,
energy and patient endurance Of the commading
officer. From, M doubtful source, bat fr,m the
lips Of the ofi;ers and soldiers who have returned
from the war, we know the admirable Mariner in
which that march va. conducted. Notwilhstand
ing the harrassng attacks Of tie guerrilla forces
and the obstacles TO the advance In,erposed At
various points, the command pushed steadily for.
ward with dispatch and with but slight loss. The
lntrepidlty DISPLAYED By the commanding general
AT the Natural Bridge where lis hat WAS shot
from his head, WAS not more striking than the
slerprss energy and ygilant forecast which pre-.
cluied the possibility Of surprise, surtnouHted
every obstacle, Inspired universal couhd,nre-
That portion of the army g; the disposal Of Gen.
Scott, it is well known, was regarded as wholly
inadequate to the great achievements before II.
Every man became important The arrival Of
the force under Gen Pierce could alone warrant
the advance upon the city Of Mexico; and hen
the appearance OF that body, Of twenty four hun.
bred strong, IN fine condition. was hailsd with joy
By Gen. Scott, and drew from him the highest
compensation.
The best common, upon Gen. Pierce's service,
and conduct on The march md IN the battle field
Is 10 be derived from repTts OF lis supsrinrs IN
athoriy and from the united testimony of the
brave officers and soldiers who constituted he
brigade and survived the campaign. After lead.
ing lis command through the fiery hall.storm
over the pedrgl at COnircras and after the expo.
sure and sCtlrrugS even n"ye severe Md terrible
at Chrrubusco, truly grateful mus. it have tecn
TO the worn md wcaIied soldier To receive, On the
second day af or these bloody field, were wun, the
pleasant and cheering e,iltnce ui remembrance
and appreciation on the part Of hs commander
IN the form Of a notice to join Gen. Qunman and
Smith a. Commissioners to arrange vi,h the
Mex can Commissioners the term Of the armis'ice
proposed by Santa Anna with . view 70 Rrgoiia
ton f1r peace.
The honor II sgci \ career and The merit q;
such services, appreciated and Acknowledged q;
tac time IL reflected more or less upon us all and
none 0nt men lost to all sense Of patriotism ruth
and ju.tcc-nr,hrg but the most ai.n,nt and
md debasrd partisan spirit would attempt to
taru..h lhc fame 81 ealan'y earned
have thus briefly referred 10 Gen. Pierce.
active services in Tie wax with Mexico. These
rebound to hs honur, but perhaps rot mo:e thin
those kindly proupiiugS Of his heart which were
mlniietcd IN ohces OF henevoence and trulherly
kindness Ia the sick the wounded md the diving
soldiers whom he yisileC IN the hospitals ard
whose wants he relieved according TO HI, utmost
ability with lis own hand and his own purse.
These ltd. net, NJ Kindness are the hri.he.,
pots that shine through the smoke clouds of bat.
tie relieving by their beauty thue horror. of war
whlyh turn the soul OF humanity to sickness and
shuItrrirg.
Allow me to advert to are moro claim which
New ii,mrShire has to IN. consideration Of The
Union in behalf Of her distinguished son. lie
early life OF Gen, Pierce WAS peculiarly favorable
70 the formation IN hs mind of habits Of strong
attachment To the Union Of the States The lee.
sor. leaned from the lirs rf an honorrd father
could not fail to leave their lasting impression m
toe son. That father who had never left The hat
tle'fi"ld, ri his country till her Ind, pcnierce WA
established soon saw. with trembling hoping.
fearing, all the hard Rbors of the revolutionary
soldier. threatened and imrer,d hy the fierce
STRIFE for constitutional freedom that followed.
In the ane hall where in 1919 wns formed and
signed the gloriors Declaration of Independence.
there was assembled in 1877, the highest wisdom.
strength and ratriotism Of the nation. convened
for the mighty task of fcrmiug Constitution
which should be adequate for those purpose Of n
republican government which could not he at.
tanned and exercised under the Articles Of Con.
federation. But dsrord and strife sectional hit.
,erness and the jealousy Of state rights came in
! the midst Of their deliberations with danger and
threat enings Of destruction 20 the hard earned
freedom Of the country. AL hope of harmony
seemed a, al end, and earnest men were almost
ready TO sink down in despair, and Franklin, Al
he looked st the painted picture of the sun behind
the Presidents chair often declared that he knew
not whether it was q rising or a setting sun Nor
did the sunlight Of Gods blessing rise and shine
upon their toll, until the spirit Of mutual for
bearance. and concession invoked BY earnest
prayers, came down and settled on the minds that
knew no harmony while passion agita,ed anu
divided them.
WILLIAM R KING is uncxceptionable to all sec
tons OF tie country. He has been a valuable Sena
tor Of the people for a great many years He tool
bic seat in tho U. 8 Senate, October IS. 1919
when Alabama was admitted into the Union, ant
held the Office until April %. lsi+, when lie wa
appointed Minister to France. Mr. Dpgby from
his State, having been appointed Miai,ter to Rus