The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-15
HAS PRESIDENT PIERCE BEEN TRUE TO HIS
PLEDGES


HAS PRESIDENT PIERCE BEEN TRUE TO HIS
PLEDGES
The southern wing and know-nohing papers are quot
ing with undissembled exuAtion the personal assaults
upon President Pierce Of two New York politicians
Judge Beardsey of masculine Miss Fribble who de-
lights scodDg to himself has
scented quite feast to the old enemies Of the democracy in
the southern States in the following mendssious quotation
from his speech at the "hard" meeting lately held at New
York theatre Xantppe herself had truer repre-
sentative in the person of than the querulous and
complaining Mr.. Beardsley. Hear him
Well fellow citizens-for shall be very brief in what
have General Pierce chosen President upon the
principles of the national democracy he believed to be
sound those principles and had he proved to be
all well know that to-day the democratic party of the Union
would have been in the ascendant should not have been
ramped down by any OF the parties that have grown
In the night and faded away in the morning could have
resisted the whole of them lCheers But from the very
first Of the administration of General Pierce in de-
iance of all his pledges and perfect contempt OF his for
mer life he has to work. not to elevate and strengthen
and uphold the national party and the who
devoted to but PROSTATE and put down that class OF
everywhere zeaousy could have done had he
been aboonist from the beginning Cbeers Indeed,
the great things that will be noticed in history marking
and giving character to this administration that in its
domestic policy it in direct violation of all the former
life ofhe President and in its foreign pocy-why it has
succeeded in blowing up Greytown. Laughter. Those
win be the marked features of this administration"
There is that in this which shows the character
and the degree of the maigny Of the opposition to Frank
lin Pierce, frequently manifested by Daniel s. Dick
inson in New York. and the few who follow his re-
vengefu example and his fading fortunes Judge Boards
ley obedient imitator of Mr.. Dickinson, and
carefully elaboreies and retas the bitter feelings and
angry expressions of his leader and his friend We
propose few remarks upon the paragraph quoted not
much expose the baseness of those who riot in such
mendacity exhibit to countrymen the wicked
groundlessness of these accusations against the President
and if speak plainly it viii be because believe the
subject deserves candid and out-spoken treatment
In the first place, to know-nothingsm--which, If
General Pierce had been true to the democratic party,
according Judge Beardsy, he could have ressteds it
not remarkable that the only portions of the democracy Of
New York and of the whole country which have given
way to that peslent heresy those who echo the
timents and feelings of Daniel S. Dickinson Is it not
true that Bnghamton, where Mr.. Dickinson lives voted
in favor Of these fanatics and against Greene G. Bronson
and that it is the headquarters and rendezvous Of that
dangerous faction where its next State convention has
been called And finally has not the Buffalo Courier
journal Of conceded authority and ability in western New
York, and heretofore in the confidence of the hards
pointed in almost direct terms to the detection which has
taken its rise under the omnous auspices Of just such
Mr. Dickinson and his colaborers? On the other hand
it is nnguestonable that the epidemic of knownothng
ism dehed all the experience of politicians until il
reached that quarter of the Union which rallies most
enthusiastically around the administration of Franklin
Pierce While this epidemic had the abolitioniss and
Mr. Dickinson to help it in the North, and while the
ustous triumvirate united in supporting knownothng
ism and in opposing the President at the time
not wonderful the OF intolerance should first
be startling nor is it at all surprising that when vir-
ginia rolled back of fanacsm there equal
grief the part Of Greeley Dickinson Burke Beardsey
and their allies Each took his way to show his sor-
row. and Mr. Beardsey and his master greved most be-
cause the South had been also swept away in the
pest of intolerance rebuke to democratic President
Burke did not hesitate openly labor for the defeat
the heroic Wise; and assert and defy contradiction
that nothing would have given Dickinson greater pleasure
than to have seen the gallant State that offered make
him President in 1852 humbled the feet of intolerance
that this result could have been quoted against the admin
straon of Franklin Perce Nay, go further and say
that his peculiar friends expected and prayed for the defeat
of Mr. Wise; and after the great of that bold
champion right they deliberately refused in their State
hailed with gratitude and praise by the democracy
every State in the Union.
But Franklin Pierce, are. told By Judge Beardsey,
has been false his pledges constitutional democrat
and has acted in contempt Of his life this sub
iect But what does record tell 1t says and proves
that of ali public there one and there
has been one who in every crisis which has involved the
rights Of the States has been prompt and self
sacrificing his patriotism than Franklin Pierce False
TO his pledges and his former life If he voted against
ticism Congress he has acted against it in the pres
dental chair II he aided to hur democrat from nom
nation at home daring make terms with aboli.ionsm
be has been powerful check the advances of rebeiou
treason against the laws in the discharge Of his duty il
the executive chair. If he supported the Compromise o.
1850 he supported the Nebraska bill Of 1854 II h,
was branded by ngrates and by fanatics while priva
citizen because he would not yield to the domination
stand as the Of political equality under the fed
era compact he is the object of contumely and as
saut from the quarters because in his elevated sta
ton as Chief Magistrate of the Union be has large
field, carried into practice the noble example of hi
former life in New Hampshire. Thus perishes the reck
ess calumny OF Judge aeardsley II is no less true
than any other public man. to consolidate public opinion
pon the compromises Of the constitution II is true tina
IL cnnferrinu amendments upon some Of those VIII,