Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-10-20

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grace lhe legislative halle ofthc nation
by thclr monthings and clap.tfAp die.
play Of monntebnnks BY tho adop.
tion of this line Of conduct he was not
long in winning the confidence Of tho
political parties Of the day and partic.
ularly the prominent men Of tho Sem
ate. Calhoun, Benton, Wright, Walk
er, Buchanan, and, indeed, almost all
The Democratic members of both hous-
es, honoled HIM with their friendship.
In ls42 he Sgnifcd his intention of
retiring from The Senate, and, return
ing homo, entered again npon the
practice OF his profession.
Mr. Pierce now pursued with a well
determined vigor the practice of his
profession. Whether his fame in Con-
gress and more recently in the Senate
had any effect in securing him prac-
tice we do not pretend to determine,
but certain it is that he started with
very respectable practice. lie was
careful, vigilant, painstaking lawyer,
and did everything in his power to
satisfy his clients. Though frequent
ly importuned to accept political place
at this time he positively refused to
bc separated from his family, unless
the imperative necessities Of his coun-
try in case of war demanded the sac
rifice.
HIS MILITARY RECORD DURING THE
MEXICAN WAR.
The time shortly after approached
that the pledge would have to be re-
deemed The Mexican war came on,
and Franklin Pierce, who had already
distinguished himself in the forum and
at the bar, volunteered for the service
of his country in the field. lie receiv-
cd the appointment of colonel of the
Ninth infantry in February, l8i7, and
the following month was promoted
to be brigadier general His atten-
ton to the men under his command
has been frequently alluded TO in
terms of no mean praise. He contri-
buted Whatever lay in his power 10
alleviate the snfferings of his wearied
soldiers, who, broken down with the
fatigues of the campaign, considered
the most trifling help boon TINT could
scarcely be over-ostimated.
On the arrival of the reinforcerhents
which General Pierce commanded, Gen.
Scott broke up camp and commenced
the march upon the capitol Of Mexico.
On the 10Th of August the sanguina-
ry conflict Of Contrcras occurred. The
engagement proved more severe than
vas first expected. Pierce led his
brigade ,and bravely foughta all through
that terrible conflict. While leading
his troops and encouraging them by
their love of country and the renown
of her arms to carry the day, his horse
slipped under him and both horse and
rider came to the ground. The fall
broke his leg and otherwise bruised
him. Notwithstanding this he still
continued on, and even followed in
pursuit Of the routed Mexicans, who
were flying towards Chorubusco. 1t
was at this last engagement that Gen.
Scott, observing his suffering condi-
tion, ordered him back 10 st. Angus
tine; but he pleaded to be left with
his brigade, and the General consen-
ted. At this battle he appeared TO
forget his injuries and became appa-
rently reckless in the face of the enc
my. The American army was here
victorious.
After the victory Santa Anna pro-
posed an armistice. Gen. Scott grant
cd it, but proved afterwards only 20
be ruse Of the willy old Mexican TO
prevent the American army from i'm
mediately taking possession of the
capital. General Pierce was ono Of
tho commissioners appointed 10 ar
range the terms Of peace. His asso-
fisfsHeT r&eBer"fn 9RiisGiin RRieroiinatisopSds spd
failed. and again the battle cry was
sounded. The next battle was that
of Molino del Rey, and at This fierce
and obstlnately contested engagement
General Pierce acted with his usual
bravery. He was ordered 10 support
Gen. Worth, who, with 5000 men,
had attacked $4,000 Mexicans. The
intrepidity displayed by Gen. Pierce
when he arrived with his reinforce
ments, and the determined front his
men presented, had the effect Of draw
ing the fire from Chapultepec upon
his forces. They stood it like rock,
and the field was won. His physical
strength, so severely overtaxed for
the last thirty-six hours, then gave
way, and he had 10 take his bed, from
which he rose to find the Mexican war
brought TO a close, and the Stars and
Stripes waving above the Halls of
the Montezumas.
Gen. Pierce returned homo in De-
cember, and again applied himself to
the practice OF law. In 1850 he was
elected President Of tho Convention
drawn together to revise the consti-
tuition Of his native State. Here he
labored for the repeal Of the illiboral
Catholic test, so long a stain upon the
statute book of that State. and sue
ceeded in accomplishing all that the
Convention could do in the matter.
THIS, at the time, gaze rise 10 a good
deal Of dispute, and when Mr.. Pierce
entered upon his Presidential cam
paign the question eamo largely into
play, and afforded the political parti-
sans pro and con an opportunity Of ven
tilating the supposed or known views
Of the candidate for the Presidency
on this important subject.
ELECTION TO THE PRESIDENCY.
In Jure, 1852, he succeeded in OBJ
tanning the democratic nomination for
the Presidency. Those who sought
the nomination in the convention were
James Buchanan, William l.. Marcy,
Stephen A Douglas and Lewis Cass,
all able statesmen and men of far more
political prominence than Pierce.
Yet he was the man selected, and he
was elected President over General
Scott by an overwhelming vote. Pre-
vious TO his installation he received
greyious afiiiction in the loss Of his