Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-09-18


ments, They have never adduced any. His
civil career is quite as barren of usefulness as
his martial has been ofglory.
writer in the Providence Journal enters
upon a mercilcss scrutiny of his staiesmanike
prctensions II falls but little short. if any. of
Prentce's narrowing review Of his military
feats:
From tie Proril,7,ce Daiiy .Iop3aai.
FRANKLIN PrERcE's CVL QUALIrIcATroHs
AND sERyIcEs.-Since the Democratic press
have pretty much abandoned all hope of max
ing anything out of Frank pierce's military
services-for they might as well have attempt
ed to manufacturer military hero out of the
Falstan of Shakespeare. as out of Franklin
Picrce--they are driven To the empty account,
the iorlorn hope, Of his equally blank civil ser.
vices.
Well, what ciua services has Frank Pierce
rendered his country, that he should be made
Prcsidenti WY, his friends vociferatc and
repeat over and over again, that he has, to be
sure, bern to COngrcSSi Well suppose he has.
and has not risen above the de0d ferei Of the
common herd of Gongressmen, is the fact thet
he has been in Congress. enough 10 satisfy the
American people that he Is a suitable man for
the President Of the United States Tho fact,
that he has been To Congress- the fact that he
nus Hdd ilil hppbliuHlIy y II, HtNtlhpf una OK
hbt his ability and statcsmnnshp, # he pos
sessed either, and failed To do il, IS pretty con
elusive evidence that he possesses neither abil-
ty nor craftsmanship.
Franklin Pierce and james x. Polk were
four years in the House Of Representatives to-
gethcr Mr. Polk was generally considered
rather a small pattern for President Of the
United States. Let us see, then, how these
I" o men We're measured by their own Demo
cratic party as Representatives in Congress.
The two first years. 1893 and 4. Mr.. Polk was
chairman Of theimportant Committee of Ways
and Means, and Franklin Pierce was not ap.
pointed by Democratic Speaker, as chair
man of any committee, but being lawyer
was slowed away as fourth upon the Judicia-
ry Commiteel In December. 1885, James
X. Polk was elected by the Democratic ma
lorty, Speaker OF the House; and when Mr.
Polk came TO look over the ShOng of the
House for chairinen of committees, did he
appoint Mr.. Franklin Pierce as one of
theml Not at all, but left him away down
fourth upon the Judiciary Committee, from
which he never rose during the four years that
be was in the u. $. House of Representatives..
The fact that no Democratic Speaker, during
the whole four years that Frank Pierce was in
the House of Representatives ever thought Of
selecting him for The Chairman of even the
most unimportant of the standing committees
ofthe House, shows very clearly the eslima
tion in which he was held hy his own party,
who controlled the organization OF the House
and the committees. These facts, too, Indicate
the " dely different and higher appreciation in
which The talents and craftsmanship of james
x. Polk was held BY the common party Of
both of these men, since Mr.. Polk was, the
frsttwo years, chairman Of the most important,
committee of the House, and the last two years
the Speaker of the House Of Representatives,
while Mr.. Frank Pierce did not rise abore Me
dead ierei 0f mcdi0crHy
Mr. Franklin Pierce was afterwards from
= 1887 TO l841 inclusive, period Of five years,
a member oftheU S Senate. During allthcse
FIVE years. the committees Of the Senate were
appointed hy the Democratic Vice President.
During three Of the five years, Franklin Pierce
was not made chairman ofany committee Of
the u 5 Senate, and the two last years he was
chairman OF the comparatively unlmportant
Committee of Pcnsions.-Now, If Franklin
Pierce was, while in Congress nine years, con.
sdercd to be a man Of decided talents and
craftsmanship, how did it happen that under
the Democratic organizations Of both houses,
he should, for seven years out of nine, he APP
pOlhted 10 no Guardianship ol any coHHlttee
and the other two years was chairman Of the
fourth or fifth rate Committee on Pensions,
" bile James Buchanan was chairman Of the
important Committee Of Foreign Relations
Silas WrigSt OF New York, was Chairman of
Finance King Of Alabama, was Chairman of
Commerce. Wall of New Jersey, Chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, and other able men
charmen of other important committees. Such
was the measure as applied by his own party
Of Franklin Pierce while in the Congress of
the United States.
Now Mr. Franklin Pierce was in Congress
nine years, and had fine field for the display
of his ability and craftsmanship, ifhe possessed
either. Did he display ether' Where is the
evidence of itl Where are the monuments of
his statesmanshipl Can his trends point to
single public act which he introduced for the
public beneft-a single public measure " hich
he originated? If he delivered even speech
which would lift him above mcdiocrity, why
do his friends not publish il2 His Congress