The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-21
Prom the Richmond EuQ4llc,.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.

frlm the Richmond Enquirer.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
the prerogatiye of the best aud greatest men IN
take appeal from the unjust OF contemporary
times to the impartial judgment Of postere II history
did not furnish innumerabe instances Of such poshumou,
appreciation of virtues and services which neglected
and despsed in the day Of their benehcent existence
would be hard for the sernes viii to bear up under
the load of present oblOquy and persecution.
Whether President Pierce is sustained in his heroic ca
reer by any such anticipation Of applause from postery
Is ndisputable that other found the path Of
duty INSTRUCTED by the prosecutions Of personal and
political anagonism His administration fell upon evil
times. Apprehension of collision with foreign powers and
fierce sectional struggles at home nhamed the passion,
OF the people, that the nation incapable Of any An
proach TO impartial estimate Of public character When
unanmiy of opinion prevails and the feelings of the coup
try run in single channel il difficult thing for Pres
dent to swim smoothly with the current and TO conca
universal confidence and regard Very different has been
the fate Of Mr. Pierce At the threshold of his admnist
ton, he assaed by the deaieuing caor OF halim
lion hunters after SPOIL ofwhom sx-seyenths were baied
in their eager expectations Instantly they began 10 bite the
hand which just they savered with whnng po
esaons Of personal devotion Then bust forth the eee
and most angry sectional struggle that disturbed t
stranquy of the Uniona struggle which in its progres
absorbed all tbs passions energies of the counry
Without criminal neglect of duty, the President could
not refuse to participate In the controversy The strugue
directly involved the defeat of the essent
principle of the constitution and, in remote but nevitae
consequence the very existence of the Union. Spurnig
the suggestions of mid and selfish policy and animat
by exclusive love of country President Pierce unhd
atingy committed the influence of his administration I'd
the authority of his personal character to the cause of 10
constitution and the Union AS he foresaw this step D.
Voked the hatred of the aboitionss which they sougho
crafty by every of denunciation and persecub
Nevertheless he steadily and earessy pursued the pabf
duty without regard TO any personal peril he might
counter If is harassed by vexatons and persecu,s
which other public in this country has endured,e
may console himself with the consciousness that the vem
and violence of his foes just in proportion to 10
efficiency of his resistance to their criminal designs
Secretly but bitterly assaled by the of his on
party whose rapaciy he did not crafty and warred un
by the exasperated faction of aboltoniss President Pee
provoked still another element of hostility by hie stern aa
Incorporating resistance 10 the policy of ,ne oppostn
Sung already by the shame OF inglorious defeat al
repused in all their overtures of reconciliation the g.
persed members of the wing party took counsel Of an en-
conquerabe hate and resolved to avenge their oyerthw
upon the instrument of their ruin
With all these angry passions and mighty inerts
reused and arrayed against him in active and nermnae
hostility 1t not surprising that President Pierce is g.
sailed with such unexamped acrmony in his private as e
as his public character 1t obvious that anything kan
impartial appreciation of his administration is impossible
in this crisis of popular agitation and sectional strife mt
he may console himself with the reflection that the corrp
verdict of present passion and prejudice never standso
the judgment OF postery and he may confidently apral
to history to indemnify his reputation for all the obloay
he now endures because of his fidelity to- the consuon
and She dearest interests of his country To ouch persns
as are capable of rising above present resenents andx
tending their vision beyond the narrow horizon ofthe
passing moment the administration of Franklin Pirce
appears in all the brightness with which purity of persma
motive and exalted love of country invest it 10 dose
scrutiny ii may dis6gured by superficial bemiaes
but the proper distance before US in gand
proportions and aultess beauty. Contemporary criticism
may discover trivial errors and minute defects but history
which strikes the balance between good and evil and
which deducts nothing from the praise high purpose and
great achievements because of the inevitable impeecons
of humanity viii the unjust of the present
time and record the name of Franklin Pierce the most
lustrious roll of American patriots and Statesmen Ia
in those words of glowing euogy that the foremost
Of the country Gen Cass) thus anticipates the judg
ment Of posterity:
"While hang the bright dawn Of the rising SUM- let US
not neglect the steady light of the departing Let US
do justice to the performance of General Pierce while
do justice 10 the promise of Mr.. Buchanan The retiring
administration has been truly democratic and American
II will live and honorably in the pages Of
political history Its great Of external policy
my warm appreciation
"They have been just firm national. And in relation
to its internal policy applied TO the affairs of Kansas and
TO their kindred questions which have been great
of embarrassment it commends itself also 10 my judgment
and support May the retiring Chief Magistrate find when
he returns to private life in the consciousness Of faithful
discharge of his duties and in the respect and regard Of
his counrymen, the reward Of his abors anxetes and
trials And bis noble address the other evening 10 the
democracy Of Washingtonin fact 10 the democracy of
the Unionat mass meeting Of ratification which called
upon him; and the sincerity and earnesness with which
he acquiesced in the selection Of his competitor and
nounced bis continued adhesion to the party and its prnc
pies entitled to universal commendauon. listened
with deep interest to his eloquent words and trust they
will be conveyed by the press and the post every
Of the Unionto the remoest log cabin upon the very
verge Of civilization They will show to the American peo
pie that disappointment in high places Ia not always fol-
lowed by ngrattude, and that there Presidents who
uuder no circumstances forget what they the demo
cratic party May and happiness attend him in his
retirement