The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-07-22

ehtls lICoHstIutHtui' Hc uhl OCSoHic u
law; and the widow received the poor pit
tance which Mr.. Pierce would have with .
held, and which was but slight token Of a
nations gratitude Tor the service Of one Of
her most illustrious sons.
Here il wes, too, that he took part against
the bill for the relief Of the heirs Of Robert
Fulton; bill that was afterwards passed by
aDemocratic Congress, and was aPproved'
without hesitation by President Polk.
Here il was. too; that he voted in mi
bority Of four Senators against the Fortifca-
ton bill. ......
Nor should We omit to mention, that du-
ring his Congressional career he made
speech GgaiaSt the West Point Academy,
though It is true that after the Mexican war
he rctracted his opinions, and testified to
the great importafceo Of that institution in
enabling US to achieve our Mexican victO-
ries.
Subsequently to all this he resigned his seat
in the Senate. We do not seek to deprive
him of all the negative strength" he can
derive from this circumstance.
Still subsequently, he declined to serve
his country again in the capacity of Senator
on the invitation of Gov. Steele.
Still subsequently, he added to his mega
tive stfehgih" by declining to serve hi'
country in the capacity Of Attorney General
on his appointment to that Office by Prcsi
dent Polk.
Afterwards, as member Of the New
Hampshire convention for the amendment
Of the S ate constitution, he took an active
part in favor of abolshing the religious tes
which had SO long disgraced his State
Singularly enough bis friends claim grea
distinction for him because lie was in favo
of religious toleration. AS il every on
was not in favor Of religious liberation j
these days, except few bigotS in ben'gh'
ed State like New Hampshire. We shou
e as soon think Of claiming merit for ma
= because lie was not an habitual violator
81 the decalogue. But here again, the gene
&c ally iIicohsequential character Of Mr.. 7
IS votes and speeches is singularly illustrate'
7, TRe constitution bt which religious test
- were abolished, was not adopted by the PEI
J. pie. 1t indeed odd to see how unifOrml
l. -unavailing all Mr. Pierce's efforts have bee
IS in the way of legislative, military, and col
Is stitutional Improvement. We doubt If thel
d. is public man of any note in the countr
n, who has spoken, voted and fought to 50 lit
1t practical purpose.
ie In thus reviewing the career Of Gener
ie Pierce, we do him no Intentional injustic
DC We are merely developing and illhstratil
Dy the idea of his negative strength
an philosophy Of which is that the man who b
hu done the least for his country is the mi
V eminently entitled to her honors andrewar'
IT We are not of this opinion. We think Ii
little affirmative strength will be useful
se not absolutely necessary, in commendinI
lot general or statesman to the confidence a
oil consideration of his country. Therefore
w. is; thai in another paragraph we have Civ
re- brief record of the affirmative claims
ew General Scott. To our mind it is rec,
re- of more interest than can be made up of
thy most emphatic negations; and as it tcarries
own story with tive have not thought
Ita- worth while to cmbarrass the plain sta
he mcntwit any commentary. The best c'
ap- mentary upon it is written on the hearts
ter, the American people, and will be publ
OBJ some time the next fall"
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