Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-23
THE GRANITE DEMOCRACY.

1:ro mn of "a. G,reo Mas Meeting, held at Concord
~ II. on tie lOh instant
& On the 9Th OF January last the oemocH'o
conv.nt;op IF New Hampshire unanimously PIeso"'
"A ,ha n.me of Gen. franklin Pierce 10 the peoP!e
S ,he na,ion as candidate for the highest once 10
-. n;I, T'hey did thus because they knew ms D!'
;ens,;,. his fervent patriotism, his trled aOilty'
i; -. eTnerence in public affairs. his eminent ma
,;onaI Services and his undoubed devotion TO demo-
cratic principles and the democratic cause all com
bined 10 render him most proper anu ~ -
TOR the sufrages of free people. The democracy OF
New Hampshire knew him, and they Ene" nun wei I
He was one Of and from and among the people tbs
name was as familiar TO them as househoiu "o'"'
He was their pride and their boast. They hao see"
Win pleasure the Of his bright future
when, as ore of the youngest members ne IeftesT".
ed his native town in the State ieg'siatule' WI"
two wears after he elected speaker OF '"e house
of representatives, the duties OF whic" ounce NC
formed with elegance and ability never sufPasseu:
They had Immediately after elected hin a the"oe' u
CONGRESS- and had seen his dgnlhed bearing anu
prominent position and influence In CohsIe ""
herring among s members the most able ana t"'G"'eu
and experienced men of the country. lhey hau To-
elected him to again represent them; ana "nc',
with honor to himself and the State, he hao seI'eu
his second term in the popular branch OF Con!res'
they Immediately elected him, then but thlr'y-oui
years old, 10 the United States Senate lhey had
seen him win fresh laures III his new Posiuon' 90
among the ablest and most ready dehaterS' anu t"e
most far-seeing and statesnenlike ieSsido' ~
august body, performing the duties OF chairman VI
mos, Important committees, and defending the meas
ures Of the democratic party with power ""'om
drew forth the highest admiration. lhey hsu seen
him with his popularity unahated resign MS my" Po
;,;oD and enter upon the arduous duties OF profess
aional life with the resolution never 10 accept again
political Office They had seen him occupying 'ne
highest professional postoR-as an dVocale, logical
eloo uenI, and imprisoned as counseor' learned
sage and discriminating practitioner, Just' cour
teous, and true to the interests OF MS CLIENT
They had seen him decline the tempting opportunity
of return TO the United States Senate; yet al the
-. nldI
responsibility, but the acknowledged leader OF the
party, meeting every emergency boldly and manuly'
stopping neither TO Iime-serVing policy nor ABANDON
ment OF principle. They had seen him throw MIN
self into The breach a time when the bold were
heeita ting and the timd WaVeTlng-When the tTeache-
~ of John P. Hale ntended to distract and ruin
the democracy of New Hampshire. They had seen
him from the first the firm, unwaVeTIng advocate OF
that great democratic measure the annexation OF lex
az, and the unyeIdng opponent OF all attempts 10 an
olitioniZe the democratic party. They had seen MIN
decline the profered Office OF Attorney General oil me
United States. the duties OF which were so congehal
to his Tastes and feelings They had seen him upon
The declaration of with Mexico volunteer as
private soldier, and relnquis the most extensive ana
lucrative practice enjoyed by any individual In
the State. They had seen him appointed to The COL
onelcy of the brave New England regiment, his en-
ergy and perseverance in procuring its enlistment
his subsequent promotion TO the office OF brIgadier
general his gallant bearing on the march and on the
battlefield, his kindness 10 the sick aid wounded,
his resignation of his Office the lighting was
over, and his graceful return to private llfe They
had the State present him with magnificent
sword in testimony Of its appreciation Of his patriotic
services. They had seen him decline the highest
Office in the State; but they had seen no dlmnution
Of his zeal in the democratic cause, no withdrawal
of his energy and talent from the defence of demo-
cratic principles. They had seen him, when John
Atwood attempted to renew the abolition agitation
and to place the party in false position upon the
compromise measures, extrcaIe it from the difficult
ties which surrounded it, with energy unfal-
tsring and patriotism as ennobling as the conse-
quencss of his have been glorious and decisive.
They had seen New Hampshire, under his guidance,
maintain the high ground OF the Union and the con-
stution, nntainted with sectionalism-the Gibralter
of American democracy-our party the pride of their
brethren the country
All this New Hampshire had seen, and she pre-
scented the name of Gen. Pierce the people Of the
nation as her choice for the presdency and most go
riously has New Hampshire's choice commended il
self to the people of the country. New Hampshre's
choice has become the nations choice.
Immediately after the action OF the last State
vention, Gen. Pierce his letter Mr.. Anterior
declining TO be candidate for the presidency, and
declaring that the of his in any before
the Democratic National Convention would be utter
ly rePugnant to his tastes and wishes. The strong
est personal importantly of his friends could not dis
suade him from the publication Of this letter. The
most earnest appeals 10 his Stale pride made
vain. His invariabe reply was - No man can feel
more grateful than do for the high honor New Hamp-
shire has conferred upon me-her noble democracy
have stood by ME always; but must decline being
considered candidate for the presidency eau sup
port most cheeruly either of the distinguished men
who are mentioned in connection with the office. Let
the Baltimore Convention designate the man, and the
democracy of the whole country will rally in his
support
From the time the letter of Mr. Anterior was writ
ten to the day the news Of his nomination by the
Baltimore Convention was received Gen. Pierce had
been almost necessarily occupied with important pro-
tssslonal engagements. Probably no prominent man
IN the country observed with less care the chances
OF the presidential nomination than Gen. Pierce.
The letters he was daily receiving from all sections
OF the country, predicting The necessity of his nomi-
nation as compromise candidate, were regarded
rather as the evidences Of strong personal predec
iIons and private friendship than as the prophetic
predictions Of result So soon to be ACCOMPLISHED
1t Is most beautiful example of the office seeking
the man, rather than the The Office
There can be no better illustration of Gen. Perces
unwIlllngness To accept high political Office and of
The honorable and chivairc motives BY which he was
aciuated than the following letter, written in reply 10
one from President Polk, rendering TO him the Office
OF Attorney General Of the United States and strong
~ urging his accePtance which l am sure the con-
Venslon will pardon me for reading
CoNcoRD. IN. H.,) Sept. 6, 1876.
MY DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 9th was re-
celved week since. Nothing could have been IN ore
unexpected and considering the importance of The
proposition In great variety of aspects, trust you
will not think there has been an unreasonable deIay
last lew wears, and my present tastes 10 position if
were In situation the whole to desire public
employment could be so acceptable as the one which
your Pariiaty has profiered.
ought not, Perhaps in justice to the high motives
oy which know you governed, to attribute vour