Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-09-18


and the extinction OF liberty" and they thu
early endorsed the denomination of Gen. Jackso
as the democratic candidate for the next presider
tial term. This was the convention that resolve
that Hon. Samuel Bell, then senator, had cease
10 represent the sentiments of majority of hi
constituents.
The New Hampshire democrats the succeed
ing year (ls3l) nobly maintained their ground
the election resulting in the full success Of thei
ticket for governor and Congress, while they re
tanned their majority in the legislature. 9TH
American system of Henry Clay" say the Jour
mails, sis dead and buried in the State of New
! Hafnbshre." Ii was the year that Mr.. Pierce
was elected Speaker of the House, which conss
| ted of two hundred and twenty members and i
shows the estimation in which he was held, tha
he received l55 votes against 5s for all others
| He was also elected Speaker in 1882. He dis
charged the duties of this office with great tac
and ability, proving himself to be firm, cour-
teous, and impartial presiding officer. Thus, in
five years he attainedtand enviable position a
mong his associates, and won It, not by under,
mining rivals, or by adroitness in political in>
trigue, but by firm adherence TO political prin-
ciple, eloquence in debate, unquestioned capacity
for public business, unvarying courtesy, and the
exhibition of frankness and manlness of chars
acter. So honorable was his ambition, that
while he was ranking his associates, he retained
their love and commanded their respect.
In 1888 Mr. Pierce was promoted TO a wider
sphere of action, being elected a member OF
Congress from his district He entered on this
field of duty in period of intense excitement
indeed, in one of the hero ages of the American
10 n. Il IL
in the arena, making its most desperate struggle
to overcome the government and to perpetuate its
monopoly, and this by subsidizing the press, and
not unirequenty tampering with the integrity OF
public msn. In opposition TO such corruption,
the indomtable Hero of New Orleans was giving
fresh proofs Of the force of his character and the
frmness of his patriotism. In these trying times,
when not few faltered, Mr.. Pierce proved him
self, in Congress, one of the most able and re
liable supporters Of the administration. He was
not a frequent debater, but rather a most ntelli-
gent working member, giving prompt attention TO
the business on hand; still, when occasion de-
mandpd it, he was ready and willing to throw
himself into the breach, repel the attacks that
we're made BY the able men in opposition, and
boldly defend the Old Hero in those patriotic and
soul stirring speeches for which he is so cele.
brated. To go over for four years, his votes, and
recall his speeches, would be only adducng un-
necessary proof that he gave an unialtering sup.
port TO the policy which has met the approving
voice Of vast majority of the American people.
So true was he to the democratic cause, and so
agreeable he in his personal address, that the
President became warmly attached to him, and
often invited him to his freside and bospitable
board. Mr.. Pierce also continued TO make warm
friends among his associates in Congress, while
he steadily advanced in the respect and good will
of the citizens of his native stale. He entered
with them heart and soul into their local political
contests, and the longer they tried him the more
did they feel in the purity of his char
lctPr and the soundness Of his principles
With such reputation. MIR. Pierce was clec>
ed by large majority of the Legislature to the
j. S. Senate, and took his seat at the extra ses-
'ion summoned 10 convene on the 4th of March.
1887, the day of the Inauguration Of Martin Van
Buren, as President. The country was then e1>
the effects of severe commercial re-
,usion. the necessary consequence of an extra
ordinary initiation of credit, and wild and wide |
peculatiye mania. To prevent the government,
n future, from unwisely stimulating trade by
Ise of lis deposiles as basis of discount, and 10
tCuIt IL UOul dShih iuerco H'ih a
allure of banks the democratic party were bold
y taking ground in favor of separating the mons
ys Of the government from the concerns Of the
anks. Thus, the same journal that contains the
ccounts of the extra session of the Senate, con-
aimed letters from the ex President at the Her.
litage, rejoicing 'that the democracy are uniting
pom the plan of separating the government from
of all kinds; - and the New Hsmp.
hire democracy, ever true 10 the republican
ause, ever conservative TO preserve the good Of
ur polity, and ever Progressive to adopt WELL
ased experiment, in convention promptly put
nth p voice in favor of this policy. IL was under
Ich auspices that MIR. Pierce, afer having given
le last administration so constant and ehectual
support, took bis seat in the Senate. During
il service in il. the array Of brilliant names
lat graced il, such as had never before been
zen and will not be seen again, made il indeed
n illustrious body. Calhoun and Webster,
uchanan and Clay, Woodbury. and Choate,
iundy and Crittenden, Wright and Southard,
lalker and Preston, Riyes and Benton--to say |
1thing of olhers-were Of il and the encoun-
RS on questions as deep and solemn as can arise !
lder Il constitution, were between the INTEL
ctual giants Of the land. To serve for five (
,ars in such a school constitutes no small train. .
Q in civil affairs, and was quite enough TO rem
Il mind like Mr.. Pierce's familiar with mat 2
RS Of government iu all their varied and wide Q
lationship.
Mr.. Pierce served in this ho6y from 1887 to n
'42, always doing bis share Of Its business, and v
times bearing distinguished part In its delib- Il
atoms, and during the whole period he gave u
fdial and unshnnking support to democratic Il
sasures. In is nof necessary 10 20 over hrs q
les in this body. As an illustration, however, a
re the action on the independent treasury bill, il
e of the test questions of the day. a, lime
ven others faered as to one Of the most impor- r'
II and salu'ary measures ever adopted, which p
y viBdicaies its soBndness, and which has the
proving voice of the country, Mr.. Piercs's b
ce was fearlessly raised in its support. and bis
es were uniformly given with the friends OF the b
u L..