Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-13
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 70. 1856


Mr.. Pierces Defeat.
We never believed it possible for Franklin
Pierce to secure the nomination at the Gin
cinnatti Convention, for the very reason for
which we would have been willing to have had
him get it, So utterly loathsomo had his
conduct in the Administration Of the govern
mcnt become, to all decent men in the free
states, not made absolutely blind by party
madness, that his nomination would have
been guaranty of his thorough defeat by
the people, and there would have been sort
of comfort i'll helping to drive out Of the
Prudential chair such an unworthy occupant
Of it. Since that privilege is lost to us, we
Will comfort ourselves 30 far as he is concern
ed, with the terrible rebuke he has got al
ready, and from those, too, who haze been
most vociferous in praise of his conduct.
Certainly no northern politician ever de-
graded himself more thoroughly to secure the
votes of the southern Shareholders than
Franklin Pierce has done, and no one was
more heartily despised by them than he has
been shown to be by their action With the
power in his hands Of filling every federal Of
flee in the nation where vacancy has occur
red, or where he could make one, by an ap-
pontee bound by the tenure of his office to
praise him, to lie for him, to work for him
and ospend money for him-a power which
he has used to the fullest extent,-with mil
lions upon millions of the public treasure
missapplied to strengthen his influence on
every side, and convention containing a
very large number of his own appointed sub
ordinates, he was not able to secure at any
one time even a plurality of votes, much less
q majority.
" Such (says the n. Y. Evening Post) is
the fate of Mr.. Pierce after nearly four years
OF uninterrupted and unquestioning subser-
viency to his southern masters. The suhmis-
sive creature has done all manner of dirty
work at their bidding, refusing not even the
meanest employment, plunging into the foul
est jobs with the greatest alacrity, and wa
ding through them with exemplary patience
and now as he looks up to them for an ac-
Acknowledgement of his usefulness, he is kicked
ort of doors. Virginia, uugrateful Virginia
takes the lead in the process Of expelling hin
by the sole Of her foot
1t is easy to understand by what mode of rca
soning those whom Mr.. Pierce has served :,
faithfully reconcile themselves to this course
Mr. Pierce they know, has neither the flcul
ties OF mind which fit HIM to make respect
able figure as President, nor the popularity
which attracts votes. This furnished then
with two bjections-they prefer an ablel
man, and a man less in discredit with the
people. 1t is true that be made himself un
popular by serving them, but for this he ha'
already received his reward, in having held
for four years, an Office to which his capacity
and personal merits gave him no claim. liz
has done just what was expected Of him by
those who intrigued for his nomination, and
by doing this has made himself wholly unfit
for another term Of serving. They want a
fresh man to spoil.
&" In Mr.. Pierce" say the Virginia plant
crs, or may be supposed to say, "you have
an old cigar, not of the first quality to begin
with, smoked to the stump What shall ",
do with the disgusting remnant It has
served the purpose for which it was made
and is only fit to be thrown into the street
and trampled under foot, With your leave
will help myself to a clean one from the
cigar case
Mr.. Pierce may console himself with tho
reflection that he has only Jared like Other
northern men who devoted themselves u the
service of the Shareholders Mr.. Fillmore put
himself under the direction and helped to fore,
through Congress the Compromises of $3.50
including the Fugitive Slave law. He expect
ed to be nominated for the Presidency, but
he was set aside without ceremony. Webster
after opposing the claims Of the South for a
1nn al. tad
support to the same measures. the Wash
lngton bn'on encouraging him, and telling
him that there was no public honor too high
Tor his desert,or whicha grateful country wal
not ready to bestow upon him. He too expect
ed nomination for the Presidency, and en-
dured a bitter disappointment in not receiv
ing 1t. Mr. Pierce, with these examples be
fore his eyes has made himself the passive
tool of the Shareholders and is turned of Will
a like reward
But Pierce does not stand alone in his dis
grace, Douglas Jared no better. Four year,
ago, and no western Democrat was more
spoken of as a probable candidate for the
Presidency at an early day. To ensure his
nomination he was ready to give the lie tc
his own public acts, and to become the ready
tool of the great conspirators against free
dom. Unless he would become their agent they
threatened him with their enmity would
he but begin the treachery, they would follow
it up and secure the work while he might be
sure of their gratitude, and achieve the great
object OF his wishes-an elevation to the pre-
sidency. Ambitious, corrupt and unprn
cipled he yielded easily, and soon showed
himself as bold and vile ruiIiin as any one o
the gang. lie too has got his fit reward. \
Senator from free State, his Southern mas
ters knew that if they hoped to blind tn,
people of any one of the free States and thu.
bring them to the support of a new admins
tration which was intended to uphold the
misdeeds OF its predecessor, they must usC
some other name to coniure with than that
of the traitor Stephen Arnold Douglas, the
author Of the Kansas Nebraska bill, and the
open supporter of all the enormities prac
tised under it. Some of them made ieint
Of transferring votes from Pierce, one enemy
of freedom TO Douglas, only more
coarse and foul mouthed one, but
that was ali. With Buchanan northern
man with southern principles-who had moi
been a direct actor in the repeal of the Mis-
rouri compromise prohibition and the conse
qucnt Kansas a yillainy, there would be on
chance for victory for their cause witt
Pierce or Douglas there would be mono what
ever.
As for Cass, the other doughfacod cand
date, he was too contemplate in every point
of view to merit show of respect. Fiy,
votes each balloting were enough as marx
of that contempt which the whole nation
feels for him, and he got them.
Is tho Cincinnati convention, when the dis