The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-05

against Dill Tor the Denept OF the Ala.
bama, Florida, and Georgia Railroad Com
pany which was measure of such
character that even MIR. CALHOUN and
Mr.. GRUMPY voted for it; in such mi
nority, of course, his vote was Of as little
consequence as usual.
AT the same session bill was before the
Senate for the benefit of the Mount Car
mel and New Albany Railroad Company, in
the State.of Indiana" providing for grant
of alternate sections along the road, the
company contracting to carry the mail for
i,renty gears aoithout charge the Govern
ment; which would pay the Government
at the rate of one dollar and six cents for
each acre granted. Mr.. CLAY and Mr..
WEBSTER voted for this bill. Mr. PIERCE,
true to his anti-improvement interests,
voted with the minority against it.
Whilst in the Senate, he voted and
made speech against the bill for the re-
lief of the widow of the lamented General
HARRsoN. But here, too, the vote of
Mr.. PIERCE was entirely inconsequential
The bill became a law; and the widow
received the poor pittance which Mr..
PIERCE would have withheld, and which
was but slight token of nations graf
itude for the services of one of her most
illustrious sons. ...
Here it was, too, that he took part
against the bill for the relief of the heirs
Of ROBERT FULroN; bill that was at
forwards passed by Democratic Congress,
and was approved without hesitation by
President Polk.
Here it was, too, that he. voted in a
minority of four Senators against the
Fertilization bill.
Nor should we omit to mention, that
during his Congressional career he made
a speech against the West Point Acade-
my, though it is true that after the Next
can war he retracted his opinions, and
testified to the great importance of that
institution in enabling us to achieve our
Mexican victories.
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 Sena-
tor, on the invitation of Governor STEELE.
Still subsequently, he added to his "ne-
gative strength" by declining to serve his
country in the capacity of Attorney Gen
eral, on his appointment to that Office by
President Polk.
Afterwards, as a member of the New
Hampshire convention for the amendment
of the State constitution, he took an active
part in favor of abolishing the religious
test which had SO long disgraced his State.
Singularly enough, his friends claim great
distinction for him because he was in
favor of religious federation. AS if every
one were not in favor of religious federation
in these days, except few bigots IN a
benighted State like New Hampshire.
We should as soon think of claiming
merit for a man because he was not an
habitual volator of the decalogue. But
here, again, the generally inconsequential
character Of MIR. PIERcE's votes and
speeches is singularly illustrated. The
constitution by which religious tests were
abolished, was not adopted by the People.
1t is indeed odd to see how uniformly
unavailing all Mr.. FIERcE's efforts have
been in the way of legislative, military,
and constitutional Improvement. We
doubt if there is public man of any
note in the country, who has spoken,
voted, and fought, to so little practical
purpose. ..
In thus reviewing the career of General
PIERCE, we do him no intentional injustice.
We are merely developing and illustrat-
ing the idea of his 'snegative strength
the philosophy of which is that the man
who has done the least for his country is
the most eminently entitled to her honors
and rewards. We are not Of this opinion.
We think that little affirmative strength
will be useful, if not absolutely necessary,
in commenting general or statesman
to the confidence and consideration Of his
country. Therefore, it is, that in another
paragraph we have given brief record OF
the affirmative claims of General SCOTT.
To our mind it is record of more interest
than can be made up of the most emphatic
negations and as it carries its own story
with it, we have not thought it worth
while to embarrass the PLAIN statement
with any commentary. The best conf
mentary upon it is written on the hearts
of the American pcople-and will be pub
Hshed some time the next fall.