Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-10-16
From thc Hartford tConn.) Cott''ant'
Pierce's Career.

Wv, ,,,;.,e that the advocates of Mr.. Pierce
have concluded to lay aside any attempt to uphold
his nomination on the grounds OF ms military glory.
ways in securing his nomination;; so far, indeed,
that had he not been in Mexico he never would
have been candidate, Yet his military cprowess
Is 20 questionable, that it is never made an ostens-
hle ground of support. 1t is therefore upon his
merits as a statesman alone upon which his claims
are rested.
What are these mtrits What has this great
Democratic idol done TO deserve the worship OF the
nation! He was nine years in Congress--four IN
the House and five in the Senate-and not one SIM
gle measure has he eft,behind him to mark hun rs
benefactor to the country an honor to the ma
ton. Therelisno possible way OF upholdihs MS
claims upon any thing he accomplished, or az
tempted to accomplish, in the councils oil the ma
ton. He was there with Democratic majority
uul originated nothing. He was there WIN
W mig majority and attempted nothing. There were
great men around him, but that did not make nm
great. His party leaders commenced man! hhPoi
tant things but Franklin Pierce was not their
mover. In the House, Mr. Folks powers OF pro
phecy had not commenced, for we md franklih
Pierce Mr. Folks beau ideal of future PRESIDENT
not placed at the head of any committee, though
James K Polk was Speaker, and the rank on the
Committee which was given him-that of fourth on
the Committee of the judic'ary-in 1919; ne re-
tanned until 1887, when he leltthe lower House.
What is the inference2 Either that James n.
Polk was blind to Mr. PieresS mef'S'
l
| What did he do in the House to marx HIM as an
| American stat. snlan fit to guide the destnies OF
| this great country? He favored the Anterior gag
law. He opposed the improvements OF rivers and
| barbors which his own President allowed 10 pass:
| He refused to make provision tor the widows ana
orphans of those who had risked their lives Tor their
country. u.
Well, let us follow him into the Senate. He was
there five years, with all the reputation and eSpe-
rence he could gather in four years service III the
House. What is done with him there! Nothng.
This very illuStriOus statesman, whose merits SO
entirely outweigh those of CasS, Buchanan, Marcy,
and many other Democratic wolthies, 'oas not
thought fit for the Guardianship OF aslnge commit
tee, until the last two years of his service, ne was
| chairma of the Committee on Pensions. During
| this period Silas Wright was chairman OF finance
James Buchanan of Foreign Relations, lng OF
| Alabama of Commerce, Walker OF Public Lands;
| but Pieree-the great Franklin Pierce, the only
man worthy to be the Democratic nominee Tor
| President in ls52-was nowhere! cog
What then, do we gather from tins neglect!-
| Simply that Franklin Pierce is not man whose
craftsmanship can qualify him for this great post,
his o,on friends being judges. He was thought by
his own political brethren to be woithy OF only the
! middling posts in the working and dehberahye
divisions of both Houses. Those who, governed by
1 knowledge of his fitness for any station, and who
vet had all the friendship that partisan zeal can in
spire made this decision against him. This IS the
low humble, obscure level of mcdiocrty IN which
i those who knew his talents and capacities left him.
How absurd, then, to claim that he possesses pow
erS or capabilities of governing this nation How
Ridiculous to attempt to manufacture great man
1 out of such material