The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-25
From the N. Y. Journal Of Commerce.
GENERAL PIERCE,

From the N. Y. Journal Of Commerce. !
GENERAL PIERCE.
All who have. with an impartial eye, OBJ |
served the conduct OF the Democratic can
didate for the office Of President, must have
been struck with his unobtrusve and mod.
est course, and not less with the high and
manly spirits he has eyinced, whenever
called upon to act or speak These traits
of character are rare in public men, and
especially among those who, bred to other
pursuits. quit them in time Of war for SER
vice in the field. They are ever associa
ted with the highest qualities Of mind and
heart, and win for their possessor the re.
spect and esteem which General Pierce's
neighbors and friends so generally and SO
warmly felt toward him. We were lately
near to his residence in the Granite Hills,
and should personally have paid our re-
spects 10 him, but that it might have been
misrepresented. We heard, however, not
only from his political friends, but also
from his political opponents, his neighbors
and acquaintances, the most friendly and
respectful and often the most enthusiastic
testimony as to his high and noble quail
ties. Even in the time of Judge Wood.
bury, it is conceded that General Pierce
had command Of the State. but that he
never used his power and influence for
himself, as he preferred ever to live among
his neighbors as private citizen, enjoy
ing the honers awarded him on all hands
as the head of the bar of New Hampshire.
His resignation ss senator in Congress,
as an officer in the army, when service
could no longer be rendered, and his re.
iusal to accept the Office of Attorney Gen.
eral, and the Gubernatorial chair OF his
State, are acts in harmony with the uni
versal opinion held toward him by his
neghbors and friends.
General Pierce, however, by no act or
procurement of his, and from the sponta.
neous action of the Democratic Conven.
tion-such it unquestionably was, for we
were present and witnessed it-has be.
come the nominee of the great party which
it represented, for the Presidential Office
and instantly his whole career is exam.
ined for some spot or blemish, on which
calumny may expatiate, until the elections
have decided the question now before the
country. A career which was opened un.
der the teachings of an ancestry which
had fought and b!ed in the country's SER
vice, in the great battles of the Revolu-
tion, an ancestry famous for its high and
patriotic tone and bearng-was begin.
ming which could by no possibility termi.
nate in the dishonor which party maligni-
ty would now attach to the name Of Cen
eral Pierce. Throughout the war in Mex
leo he acted with courage; and if he erred
at ali it was on the side of imprudence
and unnecessary exposure. The sponta.
neous tribute Of General Scott, paid 10
General Pierce, when the nominal of
the former was first announced at Wash.
ington, by an assembled crowd proves in
contestably that the sentiment Of the army
toward General Pierce was such as ever
attends a soldier who has courageously
performed his duty in battle. The name
and fame of those who have rendered pa
triotic services are dear to the American
people, and should be protected from un-
Just attack Our attention has been call
ed TO statsment made by Major Winship
of the army, of some of the services Of
General Pierce rendered in Mexico, and
we cheerfully publish some extracts from
it. Their author, says the Albany Argus,
was a Lieutenant at the commencement
of the Mexican War, and was promoted
to his present grade for gallant conduct.
He was Adjutant General in the staff of
General Pierce. as he is now in the staff
of General Wool, and is highly respected
as brave and competent officer, educa-
ted in the Military Academy.