The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-10-20
Death of Ex-President Pierce.

VI - 4QllAll1A ks%NASS3 ~'s~~ - -
the United States, which occurred
at Concord, New Hampshire, on the
morning of the 9th inst. Mr.: Pierce
was the last Of the Ex-Presidents
elected by the people, and with the
exception of Fillmore, Johnson and
Grant, the last survivor among those
who have held the Office.
I President Pierce was born on the
23d day of November, 1904, and was
in the sixty-ffth year
of his age. He graduated at Bow
dom College in the same class with
Nathaniel Hawthorne, who in after
years became his biographer. He
was admitted to the bar, and soon
attained distinction as an advocate.
He commenced his political career
in 1929 by an election to the New
Hampshire Legislature in which he
served four years, the last two Of
which he was it's Speaker. In 1888
he was elected to the House OF Rep
resentatives of the United States and
served until 1887 when he was trans
ferred to the Senate. In 1912 he
resigned his seat. He had high
reputation while in Congress for the
assiduity with which he applied him
self to business, and to the interests
of his constituents, but he seldom en-
gagged in debate. He never spoke,
however, without commanding the
attention of the House. In 1916
he was appointed by President Polk
Attorney General of the United
States but declined the Office. He
was nominated the same year for the
governorship of New Hampshire but
declined. He. went to Mexico as
Colonel of New Hampshire regi-
ment, and was soon afterwards made
a Brigadier General. He distin-
guished himself in most Of the en-
gagements on SCOTS line. In 1850
he was member of the Convention
which formed the new Constitution
of New Hampshire. Ass
The Democratic Convention which
met at Baltimore in 1852 found
great difficulty in deciding between
the rival claims of the distinguished
democrats who were put forward for
the nomination. The The s principal can
didates were, Cass, Buchanan and
Douglas. On the 36th ballot the
Virginia delegation, which voted on
every ballot for, Buchanan, became
satisfied that he could not be nomi-
mated and cast it's vote for Daniel s.
Dickinson. Mr.. Dickinson, who was
present as q delegate from New
York, instructed to vote for Cass,
declined in favor of General Glass;
His speech was a very happy one
and brought down the house, togeth-
er with a shower of bouquets from
the gallery. He would have received
the nomination but for his anxiety
on the subject. and the duplicity OF
his pretended disinterestedness
which disguised the Virginians and
drove them from his support. His
subsequent treachery to the party,
and his reward by Lincoln, are well
known % On the next ballot the
Virginia delegation brought in the
name of Franklin Pierce, whose vote
rapidly increased until the 49th,
when he was nominated. At the ell
ection be received the votes of all the
States except Vermont, Massachu-
sets, Kentucky and Tennessee,
which voted for Gen. Scott. There
had been no such victory since the
days of James Monroe. y9tefiS
Mr.. Pierce was iinaugurated in
1853 with q Cabinet Of great ability,
which remained entire throughout
his whole administration, the only
time such a thing has occurred since
the foundation of the government
It is we'll known that Jefferson Da-
Wis, Secretary of War, was its leading
spirit, and that his opinions moulded
the policy Of the administration
Gen, Pierce himself was a State
rights democrat Of the, strictest sect
having been trained in q school q
politicians of which Mr.. Calhoun was
the leader, and Judge Woodbury.
the representative in New Hamp.
shire. His whole administration
therefore, was conducted on State
rights principles, and was rs Demo.
cratic as any that has, ever had the
management of the government. In
1854 occurred the memorable repeal
of q the Missouri Compromise, to
which, Mr.. Pierce gave his hearty
support In 1856. at the Cincinnati