Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-09-10
A Magnanimous Vote.

~ xfldR vOG6.
In looking over the civil career of Gen.
PIERCE, We cannot but be struck with the
Paucity of his acts of any kind. and more
particularly with the political narrowness
which has invariably characterized the very
few public acts, with which his friends are
able TO associate his name. Among other
or his narrow acts, we may notice his vote
on the proposition to give TO the widow of
the lamented HARRIsoy the balance of her
husbands salary for the year in which he
died. We are aware that good deal of
political capital has been attempted out of
this act of Congress; but, judging for our.
selves, as We shall ever do, we propose to
examine into that vote, and see if the spirit
which characterized that vote is Of that
liberal and enlarged character. which should
characterize one, who aspires to rule con-
tinent. Gen. HARRIsoN was elected. in
1910, to the Presidency of the United States
at an advanced age, having spent his life in
the service of his country. He had served
his country in every capacity, civil and Mill
tary;glittering thousands had passed through
hishand, and nought remained, save his own
poor pittance, to show that he had ever hanl.
led dollar ofthe public funds. In the wi..icl
oflifa. he reiired to his humble homo, at ill.,.
North Bend; there to pass in retirement the
remnant of life exhausted in the service OF
his country. No glittering hard shone a
round him, nothing TO mark the Hero and
the Patriot, save his majestic and silvered
brow, and the contented poverty which
marked his probi,y. There. amid the calm
pleasures of retirement, dependant upon
the work Of his hands for the daily bread
which supplied the few wants of himself
and his venerable partner, unsurrounded by
the pomp and show, which too often distin-
cuisines retired public servants, contented
in the possession Of bare competence, SO.
laced by the consoling whisperngs of a
conscience pure, lived the Hero of the North
West Was he suffered to close his days
as he had elected? No. The abuses and
reckless extravaganza of the VAN buren,
Administration caused all classes OF the
people to cast about them for the man of
honesty and integrity. All eyes were bent
towards him, who had lived and acted the
example which they sought. Few incidents
of history are more grand and instructing
than that then enacted. The spectacle of
a free people, rising in the majesty of out
ragged integrity, and calling from his retire.
ment, the poor servant of other days, to
place him at the head Of the greatest Nation
of the age, is one well worthy the attention
ofthose, who would we'll mark the progress
of free principles and popular government.
That call was heard everywhere, the Nation
rose and echoed and prolonged from eve.
hill and vale, city and hamlet, rose the uni
ted voice of freemen, calling for the honest
and economical administration of their CO.
verninent The venerable Cincinnntus OF
our Western Republic heard their call
Ready as he had ever been, to follow when
his country babe him, as in the days of his
youth, he again resolved, like the old war
horse, hearing again, after the lapse ofyears,
the trumpet tones which had so often rous-
ed him to. action; to surrender his ease, his
quiet. and his enjoyment, to the service of
his country, and to take the helm of his
Peoples vessel, which had been so long
tossed on the waves of corruption and mis-.
rule. He obeyed that call, he cleft his
plough and again took the harness of pub,
lie service upon him, and after short time,
spent in the arduous and laborous duties Of
imperative reform, the old Patriot bowed his
head and died, broken and crushed by his
arduous effort. Poor had he lived, poor
did he die. .,-.,-. -. ..,E,,
The expense of preparing for the performanceof
the high duties which the people had cast upon him.
had well nigh exhausted the poor remnant OF his
esa.eand when he died. he left the poor relict and
partner of his fortunes, almost houseless, well nigh
penniIess Could the nation stand and see the
reict of their chosen ruler, ruined and impoyer-
ished by the nations actae Had they no gratitudef
Gould they display no magnanimtyi Were they
tosuGer the eternal infamy of republics, ingrat-
.tnde to their public sayantsi No. The nation
resolved, and the resolve was worthy Of the ma
tom not to create pension; not to provide q
fund be set apart out Of the public treasury, but
shatli Simply to pay TO the destitute widow, to
- ,,bo had heen dragped frnm her nuiet home.