The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-24
EDMUND BURKE AND THE NOMINATION OF
GENERAL PIERCE.

Edmund Burke, owing, we presume, to some
personal grievance, has become dissatisfied with
the Administration Of Gen. Pierce, and may be
considered among it's opponents. But for this,
the country would hardly have been favored
with the following disclosure of the means used
10 bring about the nomination of Gen Pierce.
That event was hailed by the Democratic party
~ unexpected and unpIemcdtated politicians
wished the People to regard it as Proyiden-
ual-somethlng not effected by human wis.
dom. The idea of proyidcntal nomination
in such al assemblage of calculating politicians
az the Baltimore Convention was simply lud-
crous and we said at the time that the nomi
nation OF Gen. Pierce had all been predeter-
mined and preconcerted Mr.. Burke's testi
mony shows that We were not mistaken. The 0
lsa mlnuteness and naturalness about it. which
leave no room for doubt 30 far as tho ma u
statements are concerned Apart from the in
trinslc interest Of this disclosure it must prove
highly instructive, AZ showing the tricks of poll
t'clans the manner in which public opinion is
manufactured the devices by which Conyen-
tons and Parties are led by the nose
No credit is due to MIR. Burke for this reyc.
lAtion. He has turned States evidence not to
promote the public good, but so far rs we can
sec to crafty his own resentment The state.
ments he makes, whatever else they may prove,
show him to be cunning, unscrupulous, dis
ingenious, sinister politician.
Mr.. Burke gays, that for months before the
Democratic National Convention met he be-
came Convinced that neither Cass. Buchanan.
nor Douglas, could get the nomination, and
that the Convention would agree upon a com
riomlse candidate; and he was satisfied that
Pierce stood u better chance than any other
man. ." but his only chance, says Mr.. Burke.
was to keep him out of tho ring of com, Ell.
tors, who were sure to destroy each other" lie
then goes on TO expose the wires which he set
III operation tn REQUIRE the nomination After
nludng to his extensive acquaintance with the
Democratic politicians throughout the country
aud OF the opportunities which his residence nj
Washington gave him to see many of them he
says:
For months before the Baltimore Convcn
ton, we took especial pains to see and converse
WIN those gentlemen upon the subject of til,
PRESIDENTIAL nomination. We took pains. on
all occasions, to suggest the name of Genera
Pierce ~ compromise candidate, in the even
that the Convention should not agree on eithcI
of the three prominent gentlemen above name,
IN connection with that Office We saw an,
oonyersed with from fifty to one hundred of Tn
leading politicians of the Union, upon the sub
jcct on all occasions introducing the name O
Gen Pierce. After satisfying our own min
that Gen Pierce could be nominated, we wro,
- Con. Pierce our views and opinions at length
expressing our belief that he could be nomlna
ted. He answered our letters.
We also communicated the project Of tn
friends of General Pierce to the shrewdcst an
abIe't lctter-writer at Washington, and pr
cdred him to throw out in tho papers to whic
he correSponded, the idea that, in tho event
failure by the Convention to nominate eth,
Cas- Buchanan, or Douglas, General Pert
would be brought forward by his friends a.
compromise candidate That gentleman did {
wo requested, IN several adroit and ngeniou
letters, published in tho Philadelphia Ledg,
and Baltimore san, which were neutral paper
and therefore the best mediums through whic
% communicate such designs
Mr. Burke goes on to say, that about 70,
weeks before the Convention, he came hon
aud corresponded with Gen Pierce in relatio
10 his nomination The latter desired that Il
delegation from New Hampshire should me