The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-04
THE new ArMi NISTRATlON.
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S X H. r. G. III f S
OF THE
PRESIDENT AND CABINET,
VICE PRESIDENT AND SENATORS.
FORMING TIE
= z = g U = I v z = r a N g II
THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

We have on former OCCASIONS informed the readers
OF the NEW YORK HERALD o the chara ter and pub
lie career of the President and Vice President elect
also of some Of the members Of the new cabinet TO
be formed by President Pierce. We now present
for the convenience of future reference as well as q
matter Of present interest connected series OF brief
sketches of the same distinguished individuals 10
which we add short notices OF the Senators compOs-
ing that executive and legislative body ON and after
this date.
THE Observation-Disclosures PIERCE,
Was born at IIillsborongh New Hampshire, in the
year 1904. He is a OF the late Governor Benja-
min Pierce, and is now forty-nine years OF age,
being the youngest man who has yet been elected to
the Presidency. After completing his academical
studies, he entered Bowdoip College, Maine Hav-
ing graduated at that Institution, he studied law,
was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in
his native town. Within two years he was elected
to the Legislature, and during his second years
service he was chosen Speaker Of the House
Of Representatives Of New Hampshire. In 1882
he was elected to Congress, and took his seat az a
member of the House in 1888. During the four
years he remained in that body he was a steady sup
porter of the democratic administration of Gen. Jack
son, but being modest and unassuming, seldom dis
tingushed himself in debate In 1887 he was trans
ferred to the Senate of the United States but resign
ed his seat in 1872 at the close Of the fifth year OF
his term and returned t. hi profession at Concord.
At the bar of New Hampshire he rose to high dis
tnction as an advocate, and was considered one OF
the abest lawyers in the State. After resuming his
practice, he declined Office, refusing seat In the
cabinet of President Polk and offers of nomination
for Governor, or United States Senator. When
the war with Mexico occurred, Mr.. Pierce en-
rolled himself as private soldier in the New Eng
land regiment; but tie President sent him coloners
commission, and afterwards advanced him to the
rank of brigader general, in March, 1917. He
landed at Vera Cruz the 18th of June Of
that year, with command of $500 men, and
distinguished himself in several Of the battles
which were fought between Vera Cruz and the city
of Mexico. On the return Of peace, he resigned
his commission and returned home, where he met
with cordial and brilliant reception from HIS fellow
citizens He was elected member Of the State
Convention called to revise the constitution Of New
Hampshire, and was chosen President of that BODY
In 1S4S, he was often mentioned as q candidate for
the Vice Presidency Of the United States but ear.
nesty resisted all suggestions tending to n0mins-
ton. In January 1852, the Democratic State Con-
vention at Concord unanimously presented his name
as o candidate for President Of the United States;
but in letter to his friend, Mr.. Atherton, on the
18th January, General Pierce thus expressed him.
self in declining the intended honor: The same
motives which induced me, several years ago, to
retire from private life, impel me to say that
the use Of my name, in any event, before the Demo
cratic National Convention at Baltimore, to which
you are delegate, would be utterly repugnant to
my tastes and wishes.n We deem i unnecessary
to repeat here the well-known circumstances which
led to the nomination and subsequent triumphant
election Of General Pierce to the high Office he did
not SEEK but which the people have, notwithstand-
ng, conferred upon him, and tho responsibilities
of which now devolve upon him.
THE VICE MISREPRESENTATION RUFUS KING,
Is native of North Carolina, where he was born
in 1885, He is, consequently, ca years Of age; and
such is the precaiious state of his health that is
doubtful-if he should return to the United States
from his present visit to the West ndieswhether he
will be able to perform the duties of Vice President
These are limited to presiding in the Senate; and in
his absence the President pro tenn of that body who
is elected by the Senators, takes his place. Mr..
Atchison, of Missouri, is at present President pro
tenn. In Of the death of the Vice President Mr.
Atchison would remain in the same position "a at
present, without assuming the title, as the Office
would then be vacant; but in case Of the death OF
both President and Vice President, the President Of
the Senate pro tenn, becomes President of the United
States, until an election can be held This is accord
ing to the provisions of the act of Congress Of March
1902. We not acquainted with the early life Of
Mr.. King, with regard to his pursuits and studies but
we find that he entered public life before he had at
tanned his twentyfrst year, when he was chosen by
the people of Sampson county to represent them IN
the Legislature of his native State. At the age Of
twentyour in 1870 he was elected by the people of
the district of his residence to the Twelfth Congress-
which held its first session in the autumn of 1871
It was that Congress which declared war with Great
Britain; and for that measure of the democratic OF
republican party, Mr.. King voted, well az for the
various acts for carrying on the war with yigor He
was reelected to Congress in 1913 and 1885, remain
ing member until year after peace was restored
In lSl6 he resigned his seat in Congress- in conss-
quence of receiving the appointment of Secretary Of
Legation to Mr.. William Pinkney, Minister to both
Naples and ST. Petersburg. During his two yeara
residence in Europe Mr. King became well acquaint-
ed with the affairs Of the continental governments
and the condition and character of the people.
Returning from Europe, Mr.. King soon after re-
moved from North Carolina to the territory Of Ala
bama, in 1878, and assisted in the framing Of the
constitution of the same, previous to its admission
into the Union as a State. He was chosen by the
Legislature one of the first Senators from Alabama,
(John W. Walker beng his coeague,) and took his
seat in the United States Senate in 1919. He con-
tinued member Of that body for over twenty-four
consecutive years, having been reelected in 1873,
1929, 1885, and l54l. lie resigned his seat in tho
spring of 1874, in consequence of being offered the
mission to France by President Tyler; which APP
pointment he accepted mainly with view Of pre-
venting the Joint protest OF France and England
against the then pending annexation Of Texas. He
was the early and decided friend Of that great stroke
of policy which secured to the people Of this coun