The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-07-22
Friday Evening, July IG. 1852

GEN. PIERCE's NEGATIVE QUALITIEs.-
Il is well known that the Locofoco candidate
for the Presidency, received the honor be-
cause he was not n prominent man. This
strength" of his, is so beautifully
illustrated by the "Signai," that We can do
10 better than publish the entire article,
however that, if our Loeoioco
contemporaries should find any error or
omission in the interesting history, we shall
be happy to rectiiy it in Subsequent chap
tes l
I'VE have been somewhat amused, "says
the Signal, "by the parade muking in the
LocoiOco journals in regard to what they
calIvery humorously the "negative strength"
Of their Presidential candidate. This seems
TO us very much as if we should praise wo-
man for her "negative beauty" or a trodes-
man for his "ncgative hoiesty." And yet
there is curious felicity in this phrase as
applied to General Pierce. His whole ca
reer, civil and political, is made up Of mega
tives Of the most extraordinary character;
and its strength, thcreioro,if il is not mega
tive, is nothing. .......l
Mr.. Pierce is very clever gentleman;
but what he has done in this world to occupy
eight mortal columns Of the newspapers,
with broad columns and small type, his best
friends will be the most puzzled to answer.-
We have read the whole eight columns, as
they appeared originally in the Boston Post,
and have been copied into the Washington
Union. We. have read them with amaze
ment. Ills worst enemies could not have
wished for more nopportune or fatal Publi-
cation.
Three columns of the eight are devoted
to the connection of General Pierce with the
Mexican war. This is simply ludicrous. -
We had hoped for the sake Of al amiable
! man that his friends would not seek to make
hero or soldier ott OF him. Gen. Pierce
> knows as well as any one how little he Pc
serves such reputation. From the frs
J., moment he landed in Mexico, Gen. Pierce
: relied entirely on the advice and direction
= of the young officers of the regular army
# who were in his staff or within his reach
He never hesitated TO avOw his entire igno
ia rance ormilitary affairs, and his absolute un
'e fitness for his new employment, and in thi'
|" he showed more good sense than his friends
n do in claiming military character for him
d We have no doubt that he is brave man
IS but he possesses no military aptitude; and h
= resigned his commission the first moment h
10 could DO twith propriety, avowing that h
+ had mistaken his vocation. 1t may well b
I'd that he would have distinguished himself b
a his galIantry, if he had been favored with a
y occasion: but succession of accidents an
f. misfortunes drew him from the field on se'
n eral critical moinehts, just as the time a
IS rived for winning Iaurels.
Butthc difficulty in General Pierce's cas-
is more deeply seated than this. 1t is nj
Q. merely that his military character is one
mt mt exclusively"negative strength" ".but his ci'
no. no. il career is equally remarkable in this r
Oft gard. He was some years in the Ne
lily Hampshire Legislature, and it is not pr
res -tendedt that he accomplished anything wort
DT ,n1 Of mention in that interesting assembly.
nv. Asamember of the House of Represent
Iu- tivos of the United States in June, 1885,
iial voted uaataJ the bill "making additional I
up preparations for the Delaware breakwa,
and for certain harbors, and removing
structions in and at the mouth CT certain
otn " ers, and for other purposes for the year .
bev It cannot be claimed that he rendered q
ght particular service by this vote, for the
nd was passed, and few days afterwards
ceiyed the signature Of General Andr
en- Jackson.
cln- At the same session Mr.; Pierce tdte'
.a;i .o' qaina the bill "making appropriations
,Cul the improvement of certain harbors ther
car mentioned" This was "negative,"
s at not very effective one; for this bill in 81
Tue of Mr.. Pierce's negation, passed both he
mem es of Conetess, and was signed by GEN
ened Jackson.
the At the same session he voted against
Il ar bill to continue tile Cumberland road in
rain, a.. ,,.-,, 1y;r.a:,.;; i
ven "taOeS VI O''o' 60.
from vote, too, wrs Of as little eonsrqdehce as
'nse- thing that c f. er happened to Mr.. Toots'
{ the hiII roce;vad , majority of votes in
'"" branches ofthe Legislature, and received
signature of Gen. Jackson,
huon These are the prominent points Of his
r. NJ w. reer in the House, As far us the countr
# the concerned, it was certainly of no eco
lnior- ouence." Wedo not think that these
were cali very loudly upon the American pc
uhu nh to make him President.
. tbe We next find him inthe Senate. In
Hill. session of lSSf-3s, he voted agdtnsfa
: fact Dor and River bill that was voted for by
inoer Wright and Mr.. Buchanan. But in
.ra' case, also; his vote was of no sort of "cc
The qaence." At tic same session he vote
d Mr.. minority Of sir aqailIyt a bill for the be
Geo. of tho Alabama, Florida, and Georgia
Mr.. -, ,chioh ,,,os meosurn NJ
lboiy 'o"u 00"'t'0"! ~, 80 ". r,.,,~..
nsand characler tnat even mr' o"inoun di''
sband Grundy voted for it; in sucha minorit,
This course, his vote was of as little consequ
yenty .-,,,,aI --..
If Ed. no G,"|', !,', IN h,e,s!
Senate for the ''bene6t of the Mount
Iniai' rla mel and New Albany Railroad Compar