Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-14
From the Washington Chronicle.
The Death of Ex.President FAcrce.

We do not approach the subject of the
death of Franklin Pierce to comment I'M
favorably upon his political course. Bet
us all prescribe party animosities in the
presence of death. Let us rather think OF
him as one born, bred, and inspired OF
patriotic sires who drew the sword of rev.
olution, and hewed their way through
blood, to national independence-as one
who in sense Of patriotic ancestry, and in
love of his country, volunteered when he
was past middle age, as common soldier
in war where American valor contended
in the heart of an enemys country, at
odds almost equal to those which Spartan
valor opposed to the great Persian Kings,
or kings of kings-as one who shared
with the common soldier the extreme OF
peril and of hardship, cheered and aided
him in the weary march under tropical
suns and pestilential ATTITUDES, and gave
to the sick and wounded his attention
and his means. Let us think of Frank
lin Pierce as man of that greatness OF
heart which constitutes the true nobility
of character, and which constantly ex-
hibits itself in words, looks, tone and &C.
cents, and words of kindness Kindness OF
heart was his great quality. No exalta-
ton of station, no degree of prosperity,
no applause of men, no adventitious cir
cumstances whatever caused him at any
time to overlook, much less to neglect, an
appeal for aid by the lowly and suffering
Thought of others was his distinguishing
quality. Were any successful and hon
ored, he gave them the full-shall we not
say the more than full--expression of his
qualification ! Were any struggling, who
SO quick to come unasked to their relief
by words and acts of kindness I? Were
any in distress or Frustrated by disease,
who in aid SO soon as he with a sympathy
that took substantial form, and was not
confined to mere words alone !? Who in
private life or at the bar, or even in pub
lie position, was more ready to stand by
the neglected and the prosecuted
Who SO forward as he to see virtue in
the humblest guise and to recognize and
respect it as much or more than if the
subject of it were the highest in name
and of the loftiest lineage?
The peer in eloquence and oratory and
augmentation Of his contemporaries at
the bar and in public life, yet who so
prompt TO express encomium of the great
efforts Of others In fact, he had no dis
position for rivalry, and was a man with
out envy or jealousy.
OF human feeling the unbounded lore,
and therefore the charm Of the social
circle, who was 30 striker by public or
private misfortune Who 70 profoundly
awed by the dispenaationa Of Divine
Providence Who was 80 tenderly solicit
ous for tho young or the eyed 7 Who 10
fass a friend, though the clouds deeply
lowered and the storm Of assail waxed
strong
Sixteen years ago General Pierce pro-
nounced an eulogy on the occasion Of the
death Of Daniel Webster He used the
remarkable expression "The great heart
OF the country would beat heavily at the
portals of his tomb" So now, we do not
hesitate to say, so high were the personal
qualities of General Pierce, millions of
hearts will be saddened at the news of lis
death, and eyes will be suffused with
tears that are unused to such signs Of sor-
row.
In the respect Of attention to age Of
either sex, he seemed to have been taught
in the school of the Spartan. To expe-
rienced wisdom in craftsmanship and pa
triotisn, who was more respectful and
deferential? So feeling, be sat at the feet
of the Gamaliels Of the land in his Con-
gressional life. OF him, the highest
honors by the American people were pre-
dicted by John G. Calhoun. He had the
confidence and friendship of Silas Wright,
and ever had place in the affections and
at the hospitable board OF Daniel Webster
He was loved and confded in by Andrew
Jackson, who bespoke for him an exalted
political career.
Firm in bis convictions and modestly
urging thtHi III INC llAitAt C'ut4Ntls VI
his party and in running debate and not
by long speeches, he respected the views
OF others, and chccrfully ascribed honesty
of motive and honor where honor was
due. He not only respected the minister
and devotees Of religion, but was ever
constant in his tribute Of personal regard
for such. He was at heart a Christian
gentlemen.
4 writer who thoroughly knew his
character and deeply studied it, though
opposed to him in p2lirics, thus wrote of
him at the date OF bis narnin ton for the
Presidency:
During his ton years III Congress, in
spite of the earnestiiess OF his Hebtte, the
unloading sternn"ss of his political in
tercourse, his warm and earnest defense
of General jackson, his unwavcrinu adj
herence with regard to the feelings even
of his friends 10 the strietest construction
of the Constitution, yet he could hard Y
have made or had personal enemy III
Washington. But this can be easily ex-
planned. He always displayed spirit of
forbearance and moderation toward his
political enemies He showed respect TO
the feelings and opinions of men whom
he could not agree with. He is a man OF
such integrity that his most hostile an
tagonist never presumed to doubt it. 1t
is that magnetic integrity that is written
on his face, and speaks from every Inca
ment, that has all through life impressed
those that saw him. He is one of those
men whom you know to be honest the
moment you look at them, whether you
know them or not and although he is "a
man of great frmness Of purpose, never
waivers, always acts upon his decisions
firmly and stably, never backs out of any
thing, and conservative in his feelings,
yet he is always kind and conciliatory,
and accords to other men in spirit Of
charity chat liberty of thought and action
which he equally claims for himself. We
have heard many a DICTATOR whose words