The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-15
Death of an Ex-President.

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his life at Marshield he left no enemies
and none who did not mourn for states
man gone who had left his impress for
good upon the records Of his country, and
one who was always foremost in its de-
fence. When Lincoln fell we were all
children grieving for the great and good
man. weeping like Rachel for her chill
dren and would not be comfortcd, sorow-
ing that We should sec his face no more.
Human nature is never traitor. IL
may be overborno by likes and dislikes,
covered with false clothing and surround
ell by mean jealousies; but its loyalty to
the good and the great there is in man,
is never uprooted. Because of this It
mourned when Lincoln's soul leit It's body
awaiting burial. and sorrows still for
Washington, for the services they render
ed 10 their country.
But no one grieves thus for the death OF
the Ex-President. There are No deeds OF
public goodness associated with his name /;
the public call to mind no act Of his which
links his memory with the public hap
piness. Mr.. Pierce in his early manhood
was not distinguished for his private vir-
tues. As a lawyer he was only of ordina-
ry ability. but he was an agreeable COM
panion and bore an irresistible charm in
conversation which won for him the ap-
plication OFFS downright good fellow"
and which in later years wasa valuable
auxiliary in drawing around him warm
friends for the gcniality Of his company.
But this accomplishment was not all. He
was n man weak rather than wicked, but
Of q friendly heart that could not let him.
ofitself, do injustice, and his friendships
were life long. nor was his hate persis-
tent.
Mr.. Pierce was n great man in no
sense in which the term is used; neither
great in intellect, nor great in moral pur-
pose. But he was quick witted. and pos
sessed a ready power to adapt himself to
circumstances, cunning to great degree,
and ready to serve others If such course
gave him position. To those Of us then
New Hampshire men who knew him, his
selection rs n candidate for the Prcsiden-
CIV was like thunder from clear sky. or
all the men whom one would guess rs
likely to be chosen Franklin Pierce was
the last. In his own State he was never
q very prominent man; at least there
were dozen men better and more widely
known. But If his reputation was nothick-
err in one small State, how thin did 1t be-
come when spread across the land!
He was "made" by circumstances. Al
no other time, and by no other party. could
nc nave Dcen nominated Ior the fresiden-
CIV than in 1852 by the Democratic party.
A long series of successes had made the
party reckless and devilish. II committed
the mistake, which subsequently proved
its ruin. of thinking that tho king could
do no wrong and would live forever. The
vigor with which the slayeocracy pushed
their oligarchical power gave signs in the
North Of breeding discomfort; and
man must bc chosen from that section.
whose character or past services would
not fctter his course in the downward
road to the contemplated evil. They
must have u negative man, not q positive
one. and so they chose Pierce. Thirty
four ballots were had before the success
ful man received n vote. Cass led, Blu |
clanan next, for twenty-nine ballots, with |
Douglass next seven times. when Marcy |
sprung next to the lead. But it was
forcgone conclusion that CaSS could not
be nominated. lie had too much TO lose.
and SO had Buchanan and Marcy. while
Douglass was premature. But Pierce had
nothing to lose and every thing to gain;
he could do the bidding of southern blood
hounds with nothing Of that troublesome
thing called conscience, and he was NOM
mated upon the forty-ninth ballot, hav-
ing all but six votes.
How well he served the few who man.
aged him. history has written with an
iron pen in blood. Like those who en-
tered Dantc's portals Of hell with hope
abandoned. so Pierce abandoned all con-
science. all character and all the inspira-
tons of liberty which he ever drew from
the frcedom-loving hills of his grand old
home. Weak. shiftless, and Facilitating,
he was only true to the cause Of the south
ern task-mastcrs, and so true. that to-day
JEFF Davis mourns him for great and
good man gone 10 heaven, by all his
wishes blest!
His Administration was continued
conspiracy, as the revelations Of 'the lost
cause" confess and prove. Davis was
Secretary Of War and the power behind
the throne. 1t outraged public justice
and northern sentiment. 1t omitted no
to crush with high hand
every inspiration Of freedom. 1t prated
OF the Constitution and in its name tortured
1t into an enemy Of national liberty, and
sought by fire and sword with all its pow
or to spread the institution of slavery over
all the States, making 1t national and free
dom sectional.
In 1856 he was again n candidate but
failed Of q nomination. not tina, he had
not served the conspirators faithfully, but
because there were other men to reward
for their servitude. He then retired TO
private life, and but little was heard from
him until his notorious letter to Jeir. Da-
Wis came to light, aiding and encouraging
the traitors rebellion, in which was the
famous prediction in 1861 based upon his
knowledge OF the Democratic character, |