The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-29
From lie Providence j((iRsoY,D; Journal:
Ihe Candidate OF, Certific ates.

man who brings q hat full of letters of recon-
mendation 10 generally regarded with suspicion; a
character that needs much fertilization is at best
doubtful. This is the misfortune Of General Pierce.
He is backed up with certificates from clergymen,
lawyers, and doctors, testifyng that he has not
done things that nobody ever accused him of do.
ing, and that he has done things which every man
of sense and honor does
All the dispute about General Pierce has arisen
upon topics started by his friends, and has come
directly from the attempts that have been made to
inveot him with excelencies to which he has no
more claim than he has 10 an acquaintance with
Hebrew or Sanscrit. When he was nominated,
people of both parties asked who be was; and the
answer that he was one of Mr.. Folks lawyer gen ,
erals, and lived up in New Hampshire, was gene
rally satisfactory. The Democrats were too glad
to get any body to question the man who had re-
ceived the nomination. The Wings, calculating
pretty generally upon the nomination Of Scott,
paid very little attention to the Democratic candi-
date until they were aroused by very solemn deni-
ais of charges that had never been brought against
him. Mr.. Dallas denied that General Pierce was
in any way responsible for the religious test of
New Hampshire; aud not content with that,
charged this intolerance-whch distinguishes
New Hampshire from every other State in the
Union-upon the Wings who had been struggling
tempt to repeal it. An investigation followed,
and it was found that General Pierce's own coun-
ty the strongest Democratic county in the State,
and his own town, the strongest Democratic town
in that county had given q great ma ority for
tanning the test, and generally that the Wing
towns had voted, Mt every trial, for religious free
dom, and the Democratic towns for the bigoted
and intolerant clause which the Democrats Of that
State make the corner stone of their faith.
A certificate, purporting to be signed by thirty
six Irshmen, was next published, tCstfying to the
tolerant spirit and temper Of General Pierce, but it
was found that nearly all of them were in the
General Pierce and his friends; and this hardly
balanced the fact that General Pierce was the
leader of the Democracy, that, in the language of
the Journal Of Commerce, he chad the command
of the States" and yet, not only was the religious
test retained, but the stronger the Democratic ma
jorty the nearer the influence of General Pierce,
the greater was the vote for the odious provision.
Every step which the friends Of General Pierce
have taken in their attempt to extrcate themselves
from the difficulty has led them deeper into it.
Then we have had certificates from clergymen
| testifying to General Pierce's religious habits,
which never heard questioned, but unfortu-
nately making him out saint, which he ID not ex-
actly. The certificates to this point have been 30
very strong, and the foundation of them 30 very
tlnsy, that the writers have deemed it expedient
to furnish few on their own account; and accord
ingy next have certificates to the effect that
the certifers men to be believed!
Then have had certificates to General Pierce's
| courage Now the idea of a coward in epaulettes
| in the American army Is prePo5terous. We should
think OF certificate that an officer had two
legs and nose as'that he was a man of courage.
10 all the army OF Mexico We never heard of but
officer accused of shirking, and he was one OF
| DORIS indomitables, and had been accustomed
| to shirking that it might have been habit rather
| than cowardce. We have no doubt that General
| Pierce is man of that courage which belongs tc
the American character, and that he made az good
| a general as most lawyers would have made who
knew nothing about military affairs; but that he
| owed his appointment to anything but his Locofo
coism. or that he ever distinguished himself in the
field is not true, and all the certificates that be
printed will not make it appear SO General Pierce
| ia man of fair character and moderate Abilities
and il is only when merits claimed for him tina
he never possessed, when he lie put in comparison
with the great men of the country, that his prctcn
| sions become ridiculous.