Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-06-17
FRANKLlS PIERCE.

tits the prerogatlre of the oest auu Reo'e'' 'e"'
to take an appeal from the unjust sentence OF con-
temporary times to the impartial Judgment OF poster
ty. II history did not furnish innumerable Instances
OF ouch pos,hamcas appreciation ai Vift%es ana SER
vices which were neglected and despised IN the day
of ;heir beuecent existence, il would be hare foreveh
the sterue.t will bear up under the load oi present
ob!oquy and persecution.
Whether Presideu. Pierce is sustained IN his heroic
career by any such anticipation fapplause from pos
tery it is indisputabe that other uan ever found
the path of duty go obstructed by the prosecutions OF
personal aud political antagonlsm. His Administration
fell upon evil times. Apprehension OF collision win
foreign powers and fierce sectional struggles al hoIe
So uhamed the passions OF the re@: ie :nat the ma
toa was ne apaoie ot ANY approach 10 an impartial
estimate Of public character. When unah'nhy o'
opinion prevails and the feelings or the country run
in single channel, it is difficult thing fer Presi.
dent to swim sTocaY Win the current and 70 con-
c!late universal confidence and regard Very diher-
ant has been the fate of Mr.. Pierce AT the threso'
| hold of bis Administration he was assaed by the
dsafenng clamor Of hafmllion hunters alter SPOIL
of whom six seyepths were bailed in their eager e1
pec,ations. Instantly they began to bite the hand
which just now they slavered over with whining
protestations of personal devotion Then burst forth
the erc.st and angry sectional struggle that ev
er disturbed the tranquility Of the Cnon-a struggle
which in its progress has absorbed all the passions
and energies of the country. Without criminal neg
l.e of duty the President could not refuse to partl
cipae in the controversy The struggle directly IN
vo,ved the success o- etet ii the essential principle
f tina ooua,tutlou ard in remote but inevitable con-
sequence, the very existence OF the CnIon Spurhns
tbe suggestions ofs timid and selfish policy: and ANNA
ted BY an exclusive love Of country President Fierce
unhs,it.tingy committed the influence OF hs Admins
traon and the authority of bis personal character 10
the cause of the constitution and the Union. As ne
for saw this step provoked the hatred OF Inc ADOLF
toniss, which they sought to graiiy oy every sos'
of denuuciatiop and persecution. Nevertheless De
steadily aud iesesaly pursued the path OF duty with
out regard to any personal peril he might encounter
II he is harrassed by vexations and prosecutions
which no other public man in this country has er'
dursd he nay console himself with The CONSCIOUSNESS
that the venom and violence Of his foes are just ID
propor,on to the efficiency Of his resistance 10 'her
criminal designs.
Secretly but bitterly assailed by the men of his
own party whose rapacity he did not gratiiy' ana
warred upon by the e1asperaed faction OF Abolition
sts President Pierce prcvcsed s,, another element
of hostility, by his storm and uncompromlsng resist
ance to tie policy Of the Opposition Stung already
nv the shame Of an nglorious defeat, and repused III
all their overtures of reconciliation, tho asperSe'
members Of tho Whlg paity took counsel OF an 'un'
COM, uerabe hse" and resolved to avenge their over
throw upon the instrument of their ruin
With all these angry passions and mlghty Interests
reused and arrayed aganst him in active ana Interim
nabe hostility, it is not surprising that rreS'uen
Pierce ia s.saied with such une1amped acrlmony' III
his private as well as his public character. IL Is oo
vous that ANYTHING like an impartial appreciation oi
hi. Administration is impossible in this crisis o. popu
lar agitation and sectional 1rlfe but ne may cohSo'e
huassls with tho reflection that the corrupt 'eia''' u
present passion aud prejudice, never stahos 'oi 'ne
judgment Of posterityi and he may confidently appea
to history to indemnify bis reputation for athe ooo
guy he now endures because of his fidelity to the Con
stitution and the dearest interests of his country
To such persons capable Of rising above pre-
sent resentlnents and extending their vision beyond
the narrow horizon of the passing ncrreps, the Ad
miuisraton of Franklin Fierce appears in all the
brightness with which purity Of personal motive and
/
tiny it may seem disfgured by superficial blcmishes;
but seen at the proper distance it rises before us in
grand proportions and faultless beauty. Con.
temuorary criticism may discover trivial errors and
minute defects but history which strikes the balance
betwaen good and evil, and which deducts nothing
from the praise of high purpose 4nd great achieve,
,nsn,, because Of the inevitable mperfectons OF hu,
mspiy will reverse the unjust sentence OF the pre-
,en, time and record the name Of Franklin Pierce Oh
the most illus.iovs roll of American patriots and
statesmen. 1t 10 in those words OF glowing euiosy
tb., on. of the foremost men of the country thus an
ticip.,es the Judgment of posteri:y.
awhile hailing the bright dawn OF the rising sun
Let us nosueglect the steady light OF tne oePs[tn
one. Let US do Justice to the performance o. Ven
Pierce while We do justice to the prolalse OF M.,
Buchanan The retiring Administration mas 9een e,
truly Democratic and American one' WI" I:e
snd hoporsbY too in the pages OF our Poitloas nIs,
tory Its great measures Of external policy meet my
warm appreciation. ..s;,ro,
"They have been just, firm, national And IN re.
lation to its internal policy applied to the AFFAIRS OF
Kansas, and to their kindred questions. when nave
been great source of embarrassment, II commenus
itself also to my judgment and support May me re
tiring Chief Magistrate find, when be returns to Pr
yat. life, in the consciousness OF faithful discharge
of his dues and in the respect and regard OF on
couutrynen the reward Of his labors, an2ietes anc