The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-27
Firth Ward Democratic Association Mass
Meeting

Capitol Hill as the time for defeating their hickory pole
All the preparations elegant and appropriate. The
stand was highly decorated and up TO O'Clock, p. m
everything seemed 10 be poptous but about thai time
II became evident that thunder shower was gathering
Between and o'clock the Jackson Democratic.
Pierce and King and several ward associations arrived.
with music. banners and transparencies Rockets went
up, announcing TO the city that the democracy were on
hand AT o'clock Isl street f. in front OF the Capitol
park and East Capitol street, for distance down It's
ample width. were filled with moving mass OF demo-
Gratis.
By special request Jonah d. Hoover, esq, called the
meeting TO ORDER and nominated b. b. French, esq, as
president and he was unanimously elected.
Major French then stepped forward and nominated the
following named gentlemen officers. who were unan-
mousy elected viz Jonah ID. Hoover, A. f. Tucker.
Beverly Tucker. John F. Ennis. +. M. Chaplin, W. w.
Cunan, Aaron w. Miller, and NJ Pearson. esqs. vice
presidents and NJ M. lardella, F. McNerhany, and 0.
). K Peck. esqs, secretaries
Major French proceeded TO address the meeting briefly
As his remarks considered somewhat important by
those who heard them, we have obtained sketch Of
them from him.l
Mr.. French said that he was rejoiced TO see such
large gathering OF the democracy on Capitol Hill and
although he depored the inauspicious state Of the
weather. lit had then commenced raining he had seen
enough OF the democratic spirit OF the city know that
the democracy OF Washington not to be frightened
by bad weather.
Eight years ago, said Mr. French, had the honor OF
addressing the democrats of Washington from almost
this very spot,he pole and stand that occasion
erected only few rods from where | now am AT our
mast head then foated the of "Polk and Dallas =
and fellow citizens, those tTiumphanty elected
Above at this moment float the breeze the OF
+" Pierce and King" and all the indications are that
with like triumphant election, they shall the
offices for which they have been designated. From that
time TO this have not addressed the democracy OF WASH
ingon on Capitol Hill, and feel if the precedent and
the indeed proptious and that certain triumph
awaited US.
had the honor to be present at the Baltimore Con-
veniion when Franklin Pierce was nominated for the
presidency; and having known him well from his boy
hood up, then remarked that he was man against
whom the tongue of Islander could find nothing feed
upon. Honorable, brave. chivalrous, and modest, it
seemed to that he must be unassailable But fellow
citizens, soon found how much better the great dra-
matte moralist understood human nature than did,
when he said:
/" Be thou chaste as ice as pure snow, thou
Shalt not escape calumny;"
for no was the Of General Pierce announced
than the hyenas and boodhounds Of federalism
the scent 10 find something against him. and failing TO do
so, they had invented the most alsehoods that
dsgaced party and spread them broadcast through
the length and breadth Of this great Union They had
denounced as brave lived coward they
slavery in the North; they had undertaken to make
him-as tolerant man in his religious views as he (Mr
French) had known-an inolerant bgot, and IN ia
vor OF retaining in the constitution OF his native State the
odous religious test least answeabe for its still being
there, when be had done his utmost to have it expnnged
But these fasehoods would in the end do them harm
than benefit.
would be out of place for him TO do then but he had
purpose and he begged his audience bear with him
moment longer, and give their attention while he stated
single fact.
Twenty years ago, in the year 1892. franklin Pierce
and were members OF the New Hampshire house Of rep
esenatives together He then presided over its debera
tons, The question up before that body Of calling
convention TO revise the constitution. was fully dis
cusseJ, and of conversed upon freely, and
Franklin Pierce then said to me, could uo.e for calling
convention, for other than to srpxge from
constitution the dgroced religious test tohiet contains
Twenty years ago, fellow-cizens, those words were
addressed 10 by franklin Pierce, and from that day
this he has been constant and ardent in his efforts TO
bring about the end then emphacally desired and
yet forsooth, is irumped through this broad land that
he is inolerant bgot and answerabe for the reten
ton OF that odous test
=" These lies like the father that begets them
Gross as mountain, opt~, paipabk"
Fellow citizens, when the great Napoleon was about
diers by abiding to their former victories Remember
the sun OF Austerz." Remember Wagram and the
bridge OF Lodi" Let us remember the campaigns OF
1928 and 1892 OF 1886 and 1884, and under the prestige
OF those glorious democratic victories zoe will be sure TO
conquer
Mr. French then introduced the Hon. Augustus C.
Dodge, of Wisconsin, who spoke in the most eloquent
manner for about half an hour during which he
often interrupted by tremendous cheering
The rain by that time pouring down in torrents,
and, by unanimous consent, the meeting adjourned.
Addresses would have been made by Senator Bradbury
Hon. d. Mace, and Others but for the state OF the
weather.
We observed upon the stand Messrs. Bradbury. OF
the Senate Venable, Orr, Ingerso and several other
members OF the House.
We understand the house OF Major French was thrown
open on the OCCASION where liberal cheer was provided
and paraken OF by such OF his friends as chose to CALL
and where many OF dooneity democrats repaired af
the close Of the meeting, and remained until the
had somewhat abated.
But for the un,oward state OF the weather we believe
the Fifth ward meeting would have been a most
splendid affair AS il was, it went of capitay, and did
great credit TO the democracy OF Capitol Hill.
For few days past the likeness OF General Franklin
Pierce the democratic candidate for the presidency has
been open TO public inspection in this city II taken
by Mr. John r Johnston, an artist OF Cincinnati, who
sent to Concord by the democracy for that pur-
Ii ia sald nv the