American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-10-16
Death of Franklin Pierce.

sixty five Years of age. His health q
had been int:rn for a long time past, !
and the pubic have been taught to !
expect his death at any time for
past.
He was the fourteenth President
of the United States. There are two
other ex- Presidents living: Willard
Fillmore, of New York, AMI Andrew
johnson, of Tennessee. But these
were elected as Vice Presidents, and
succeeded to Office on the deaths.
severally, of President Taylor and
President Lincoln. They are types
of the several eras to which they be-
longed: Mr.. Fillmore of the quiet
times of peace, when controverted
questions were settled by cOnceS-
sions of extremists for the sake OF
peace and Union and Mr.. johnson,
of the turbulent era when opinions
were put down or propagated by the
sword, in the hands of fierce majori-
ties, and the constitution was
wrenched from all its ancient moor
ings, and set ahoat on the seas OF
fratrcidal strife. Franklin Pierce
was the last survivor of the race of
Presidents, emanating from popular
election, with whom the pres&Tvt
ton of the Federal Union wss i'll
separately connected with the preser
walton imyiolate of the Federal con-
stitution. 1t is ore of the browning
virtues Of Il life which was passed in
the modest fultilllment of every pub
lie duty, as a citizen and as Chief
Magistrate, that throughout his en-
tire career, toreseeing and drea,iing
much that has happened to fulfill the
fears Of those who apprehended most
of the civil ,liScordS which evil pas
SionS were p' epafing for the pe0l lie,
he shaped his conduct aud his utter
ances, and used his influence, always
faithfully and earnest V, for thu
old constitution, and in support of
the rights everywhere which it was
intended to guarantee.
Franklin Pierce was of revolution
arr descent, the son of a continental
officer OF Massachusetts in the war
of 1872, who settled early at Hills
borough, i'll New Hampshire.
He was educated at Bowdoin Col
!ege, Me-, helping to defray the ex-
penses 10y teaching school during the
vacations. He read law, first with
Judge Levi Woodbury., and after
: warts with Judge Parker. He com
mehced pra,, lie in 1927, but became
very speedily deeply interested in
politics, as "a Democrat. about the
period of Gen. Jackson's first elec-
: lion. In 1879 he was elected to the
State Legislature, and continued
there four years, being twice chosen
!. Speaker. In 1888 he WAS elected to
the House OF Representatives as =
t Democrat, sustaining Gen. Jackson's
! admins tration, and at the expira-
ton Of two terms was, i'll 1887,
chosen Senator in Congress, comm 6
in with Mr.. Van Burens administra-
lion. He resigned the Senatnrship
;. i'll 1872, and retired to Concord, re-
l snming the practice of the law, in
which he WAS so successful az to
secure a mhdrTate competence which
r he enjoyed through life. He declined
I the offer by President Polk of the
E appointment It Attorney General OF
the United States, and refused nomi-
I nation for State offices. When the
+ war with Mexico broke out in 1917,
r he volunteered in one of the first
= companies, was chosen colonel of Il
), regiment, and, subsequently, receiv.
II ed IRON the new President the ap
E pointment of Brigadirr General OF
4" the army. He joined the main army
:. under Gen Scott, was engaged IL
t several sharp actions, received a
$ hurt from the falling of his h"rse at
ContreTas, but continued at the head
: Of his troops during the day; was
!, hart again at ChurubuScO, and Ell
e tered Mexico with the cOnquering
= army of Scott. In these military
e services he acquitted himself with
distinction; but Immediately on the
!; return of prare resigned. his commits
sion and returned to tie practice Of
. law. He had 10 other public EN-
: pIoyment except that of member ani
president of u o IvrntiOn for amend
= lag the State Constitution until, il
" 1852, the National ID .mocratic Con
: ycntion at Baltimore, nominated him
. for President of the United States
= they had balloted thirty five time
y and had been unable to make I
y choice, the candidates being Buchan
g an, CaSs, Marcy and Douglas. Pierre,
;. was then. named, and on the forty
al
!, umphantly elected, receiving tn,
" woes, 2Jl in number, d&all the
!, States but Massachusetts, Vermont
: Tennessee and Kentucky, 81, which
- were given to Gen. Winfield Scott
)" This election broke up the old Wing
:. party, which, under the lead Of 1t
: anti-slavery chiefs, diSbanded, ant
= was mainly reproduced in the Re
u publican party, which at last sue
:, ceetled in uverthrowing the old Con
!, stituti0n.
* The administration Of Mr.. Pierre
~ was full Of events which pori ende'
IL. the coming struggle between tn
IL spirit of anti-slavery propagandisI
IN and the constitutional element
which were invoked to resist it. i
all that period, he was firm TO hi
early faith and during the remain
Ie der OF his life, whenever he lite,
h. his voice in public, always pleaded
!. imploringly for a pause in the ma
career of faction, and Il return TO tn
IT, principles aud practices of The oil
n Union OF constitutional brotherhood
~ Mr. Pierce never had but one chic
Or. a son, VINO was killed by a rail-roa
~ catastrophe at the age Of Is, in 1S5;
= a few weeks before his father Wa
I'll inangurated President of the Unite
ok States. The calamity broke til
is heart of his wife, and darkened til
ri. whole of his subsequent life.
o. The ex-President was man {
pr courteous manners, ana lrreprOacl
l, LIE Il