The true Democrat., 1856-03-18
Letter from President Pierce.


 The following beautiful letter from President Pierce, in reply to an invitation to attend the Boston Mercantile Library Association celebra- tion of the anniversary of Washington's birth day, was received by the committee of arrange ments and read at the celebration:
 IVashigton Feb. IS, 1856. GENTLEMEN-I duly received your letter of the 3lst ult. inviting me- in the name of the members of the Mercantile Library Association of Boston, to join with them in celebrating the approaching birto-d day of Washington. It would be most grateful to me to listen to the instruc- tive thoughts and eloquent words which will on this occasion be addressed to the association, but this. of course, will not be in my power. 1 honor the purpose of rendering the tribute of your affecionate reverence to the memory of him, who was the hero of our independence, the statesman of the revolution, the foremost among the founders of the American Union. He lived the leader and the guide of our fathers; he died to become the type of great ness to us and to our posterity It is no fabu- lous glory which surrounds his name; his are no doubtful lineaments, delusivey magnifed to the eye in the dim obscurity of antiquity.- He stands before us in the clear light of history with all his fautless proportions of mind as of person distinctly visible.
 Whether in war at the head of armies, or in peace at that of cabinets; whether in the exer- else of public authority, or in the calm scenes of coveted retirement; his entire life, military and civil public and private, is one long lesson of wisdom and of instruction to his country.- His career possesses completeness, his charac- ter dignity of style his fame noble symme- try, which will cause him in all time to stand forth as the representative man of this republic, and the model patriot of the world.
 If the people of every State and territory of the confederation-fathers and mothers-sons and daughters-would assemble annually on the 22d of February in their respective cities, towns and hamlets, and listen to the Farewell Address of the father of his county it would, in my judgment, accomplish more in the way of awakening deep sense of constitutional duty-of settling questions of moral obligation in relation thercto-of eradicating sectional prejudice-of dissipating errors of sentiment and opinion, and of ensuring security and per petuity to the blessings which we enjoy, than any other instrumentality which mans wisdom can devise.
 In pausing for day. as you propose, to dwell upon the great life of Washington and to call to mind all the patriotism which by act and by speech 1f ]ncucated, you cannot fall to re- fresh the love of country in your breasts, and to feel your own hearts swell, as his, through life, never ceased to do, with devotion to the common veal, not narrowly confined to place or section, but coeytensve with the broad limit: of the Union.
 With my best wishes for the usefulness anc enjoyment of your gathering, 1 am, gentlemen your obliged friend and servant,
 FRANKLIN PIERCE.
 Messrs Charles G. Chase, Carols Pierce, W H. Learnard, jr., A. F. Sse, E. w. Foster, com mttee.