The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-08-18

road IN the states OF ono, IndtdHd and
Illinois," This vote, too, was of as lit
tie consequence as any thing that ever
happened to Mr.. TooTs. The bill re.
ceived a majority of votes in both bran
ches Of the legislature. and received the
signature of General JACKSON
These are the prominent points of his
career in the House. As far as the
country is concerned, it was certainly Of
no consequence" We do not think
that these votes call very loudly on
the American people to make him
President
We next find him in the Senate; In
the session of ls37-'3S, he voted against
Harbor and River bill that was voted
for by Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Buchanan
But in this case, also, his vote was of no
sort of consequence" At the same
session he voted, in a minority Of Sir a.
gainSt bill for the benefit of the Ala
bama, Florida and Georgia Railroad
Company which was a measure of such
a charcter that even Mr.. Calhoun and
Mr.. Grundy voted for it in such mi.
nority, of course, his vote was of as lit
tie consequence as usual.
At the same session bill was before
the Senate for the " benefit of the Mount
Carmel and New Albany Railroad Com.
pany, in the State of Indiana" providing
for grant of alternate sections along
the road, the company contracting 10
carry the mail for taceaty gears acithout
chargeto tic Government; which would
pay the Government at the rate of one
dollar and six cents for each acre gran
ted Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Webster voted
for this bill Mr.. Pierce, true to bis
anti-improvement interests, voted with
the minority against it.
Whilst in the Senate, he voted and
made speech against the bill for the
relief of the widow of the lamented Gen
eral Harrison. But here too, the vote
of Mr.. Pierce was entirely inconsquental.
The bill became a law; and the widow
received the poor pittance which Mr..
Pierce would have withheld, and which
was but a slight token of nations graf
itude for the services of one of her most
illustrious sons.
Here it was, too, that he took part a
gainst the bill for the relief of the heirs
of Robert Fulton; bill that was after
wards passed by Democratic Congress,
and was approved without hesitation by
President Polk.
Here it was, too, that he voted in a
minority of .fouy Senator's against the
Fortifcation bill
Nor should we omit to mention, that
during his Congressional career he made
q speech against the West Point Acad-
envy, though it is true that after the
Mexican 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 cir
cumstance.
Still subsequently, he declined to
serve his country again in the capacity
of Senator, ON the invitation of Governor
Steele.
Still subsequently, he added to his
negative strength " by declining to
serve his country in the capacity of At
torney General, on his appointment to
that Office by President Polk.
Afterwards, as q member of the New
Hampshire convention for the amend
ment Of the State constitution, he took
an active part in favor of abolishing the
religious test which had so long disgra-
ced his State Singularly enough, his
friends claim great distinction for him
because he was in favor Of religious toll
Grafton. As if every one were not in
favor of religious liberation in these days
except few bigots in a benighted State
like New HAM shire. We should as
soon think of claiming merit for man
because he was not an labitual violator
of the decalogue But here, again, the
generally inconscquential character Of
Mr. Pierce's votes and speeches is singu-
larly 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.. Pierce's efforts have been in the
way of legislative, military, and consti
tutional improvement We doubt il
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 Gene
raj Pierce, we do him no intentional in
justice. We are merely developing and
illustrating the idea of his negative
strength the philosophy of which i.
that the man who has done the least fol
bis country is the most eminently enti
tied to her honors and rewards. We
are not of this opinion. We think that
little affirmative strength will be use
full, if not absolutely necessary, in com
mending a general or a statesman to the
confidence and consideration of his coun
try,-THe Signal.
| Tho Tomato