Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-30

with this view, removed his office to Concord, the
capital of the State. In the Senate, Gen. Pierce
ranked amongst the high-minded and honorable
men of that body.
In private life, seldom has political man been
more beloved, even by his opponents; and very
seldom, if ever has retired Senator been able to
look back with more satisfaction his career. In
tegrity business habits, industry, and magnanmty,
the great secrets of his success in all the var
Gus and high stations which he had occupied. His
speeches were generally short and to the point
he never rising unless he had something to say,
and leaving off when he had done. When he re-
sumed his practice at the bar, it was with firm
resolution to be withdrawn from public life, and the
offices of Governor of the State and Senator, which
were more than once offered to him, he declined
President Polk urged upon him the acceptance of
the Office of Attorney General of the United States
and afterwards that Of Secretary of War, both of
which he declined, with declaration that he had
no desire for public office, and would not consent
to leave his home again. unless in case of war, his
country should demand his services. If it be ask
ed " What is he speakers" it must be re
piled, General Pierce is orator. Reasoning
power and pathos the characteristics of his ad-
dresses to uries, in which he is known to have had
during his practice, such remarkable Those
brilliant fiji ghts of imagination for which Mr. Choate
the great orator of the Massachusetts, bar, is so
much distinguished, do not belong at all to Gen.
Pierce. He goes at once to convince the reason,
or to move the heart and where the admits of
combining the two, he yields mastery power.
His Clear good common sense and knowledge Of
the human heart, must have struck every one who
has had frequent opportunities to see him in the
management of trials before jury. These marked
features in his forensic efforts have made him
sought AFTER and his professional services to be in
demand, in all the counties of the State of New
Hampshire.
The breaking out of the Mexican war brought
about the contingency for which he made reser
walton when he rejected the overtures of President
Polk as honorable to him, and so fattering to his
professional PRIDE and he at enrolled him
self a volunteer, in the capacity CT a private
soldier. AS soon as the New England regiment
was raised, he was elected colonel and his military
services from that time till the American army en-
tered the Halls of the Montezumus in triumph,
have already been given in detail. His treatment
of the brave and lamented Ransom was magnani-
nous in the extreme. Ransom a military
bv profession. He was educated at Norwich VT,
under Capt Alden Partridge who for many years
kept military school there, for the education of
Young men. Ransom was one Of his pupils; and
after Captain Partridge retired, continued to form
classes and give instructions in military tactics. He
was every inch soldier. Brave, and knowing
mselfcompetent he naturally desired position in
which he might show his military talents. Pierce
felt this, and generously urged upon President
Polk the appointment of Ransom to the command
of the New England Regiment. But President
Polk having been associated with Pierce in Con-
gress, knew his man, sent him commission as
colonel, accompanied with one for Ransom as major
of the same regiment. Ransom was shot through
the head while rushing upon the enemy in one
of the most bloody fights in the whole war. Poor,
gallant Ransom-the very soul of honor and valor
even now we seem to see his erect and elegant,
but slender form, driven on by spirit seemingly
too mighty for the flesh in which it encased,
leading up, up the fatal hill, in the face of that
deadly fire to which, in the very pride and exulta-
ton Of his daring, he fell victim.
Gen. Pierce was made brigadier general by a
commission dated March, 8, 1s47, and his brigade
consisted of the Ninth reg ment New England
men; the Twelfth, men from Texas, Missouri, Ar
kansas, northern Mississippi and Louisiana and
the Fifteenth, raised in Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin,
Michigan, the eastern part of Missouri and the
western part of Indiana. Thus Gen. Pierce saw
ranged under his banner 2, 500 men assembled from
all sections of the Union and at the head of this
command he landed at Vera Cruz, from the bark
Kepler, on the 2Sth of June, 1S47. His career
from that time till the American army entered
the city of Mexico in triumph, has all become mat
ter of history. In general it may be remarked that
he was lavish of personal sacrifices, and magnani-
nous towards others, when laurels were to be bes-
towed AS as the restoration of peace between
the two repubncS became tmng SeJtled fierce re-
signed his commission left the city of Mexico, and
returned home, leaving others to settle prelimna-
ries and quarrel over the distribution of honors
His personal courage and his ability to command
had both been repeatedly displayed. He had rem
dered all the service required of him by the ext
gencies of the country he had won the good will,
nay, the enthusiastic love, of the troops under his
command. The men looked upon him as a friend
and father. There no hardship which he
was not willing to share with them no allowance
of food water in his possession, however small,
which he was not willing to divide with sick
and wounded soldier, although few suffered more
than himself from the diseases of that deadly climate
He now stands before the world, with health
and strength renewed, and honors thick upon him,
a candidate for President of the United States
and should he be elected, there's one immense
advantage which he possesses over General Scott,
viz: experience in public affairs. AS representa-
tive in the Legislature Speaker of the House in
New Hampshire, representative to Congress, Sena-
tor and lastly Commissioner in Mexico, he has
seen, and been through the whole routine of pub
lie business. He has passed nine years at least at
Washington as a legislator, and has, therefore,
thoroughly seen the working of the machinery of
our government. He has also seen the working.
of that other machinery-the distribution of patro
nage-and this will be of immense service to him
in the bestowing of appointments and the distribu-
ton of government patronage-points in which
some of our best Presidents have signally failed,
and have involved themselves thereby in nextricable
difficulties with their personal friends and their party