The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-15
PRESIDENT PIERCFS WIFE.
She Dissuaded Him from Entering the
Methodist Ministry.
secret of His Sudden Resignation from the
United States Senate-Rev. Mark
Trafton Tells How Pierce Chose the
Bad Rather than the Good Part.

United States Senate-Rev. MARX
Trafton Tells How Pierce Chose the
Bad Rather than the Good Part.
Transported by memory nearly forty years
into the past, every pleasant morning see
horseman astride coal black steed passing
my residence in ':Kendal Green" writes
Rev. DR.. Mark Traitor, in lions Herald.
He is q man evidently used to that healthy
mode of exercise, and sits his horse ike
knight of the golden time. He is rather
lightly built, with no flesh to spare, clear
blue eye and quick in motion. 1t is Frank
lin Pierce, of HillsboTo, n. H., born loU4,
and is now Hfty-one years of age. A gradu-
ate of Bowdoin College, he was elected to
Congress in 1888, was in the House four
years, and then, in 1887, was elected to the
Senate, and resigned his seat during the
last year of his term. He settled in Con-
cord and resumed his law practice. But he
now declined all political honors-the Gov
ernorship of his State, or to re-enter the U.
S. Senate; refused a seat in Folks cabinet
and the Office of Attorney General Thus
he continued until 1852, when the Baltimore
Democratic Convention nominated him for
President and he was elected, and 1nau-
gurated March 4, 1858. So completely $50
lated had he become, entirely forgotten
that it became a standing joke: VINO IN
creation is Frank Pierce?"
Now there was cause for this long re-
tirement from public life and the persist
emit refusal of lucrative offices. 1t was
ten years conflict. of the agony of when
only those know who have fought a similar
battle. know the cause, and OF that
propose to write.
1t happened that l spent few Sabbaths
in Concord, Manchest and Nashua, giving
addresses for the Sunday school Union.
was in Concord on the day of the Presl-
Dental election. Immediately on the an
nouncemet of the result. the successful Jan
didate left Concord quietly AID alone 1or
his birthplace, where he spent two days.
while the hungry buZzards were HOOKING IN
to town. He took room at the HasAo
Hotel, and there called upon MN AT
time when he would be likely to De aiohe'
AS had preached the previous Sabbath IN
the Orthodox church which he alIenueu' ne
received me cordially; but as my call was
not nolitical. but intended to be of a person
al, relig ious character, must go -paeA
day or two for the motive.
had spent some hours with Rev. >. M.
Vail. then pr ofessor in the Biblical In
stitute at Concord. One day he passed to
me book of autograph letters, saying,
There may be some of your old frienos.
NV eye fell upon one from Rev. u. e'ooK-
man, chaplain in Congress. to Rev. Merritt
Caldwell. who was principal of the Maine
Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. WIS
SO struck with that letter that at once
took copy of it, which lies before NE now
as write, Here it is, dated Washington
Feb. 8, 1888:
.sThis morning had an interesting and
unusually affecting interview with 1rleno
of yours Senator Pierce, OF New Hamp-
shire, who is at present the subject OF Deep
pungent convictions of the Spirit OF doo.
He has been attending my ministry reg
ula1ly ever since have been III the CITY,
and for the last three or four weeks MS
heart has been broken up indeed, anu
more sincere humble and penltent sinner
have seldom seen. He opened his nina, ne
said. for the first time to any human being
on the overwhelming subject or ms SOU
salvation; and whilst tears -courseo down
his cheeks and he paced the rooms ne con-
menced anew, the history OF his HE anu
the convictions of Gods Spirit upon MS
mind, Ny own mind was deeply aHecteo'
for he is gentleman to whom am very
much attached-an amiable, frank sincere
character. He expressed his intention of
attending
~ the Methodists on his return to Concord,
and also in this city if spared to seeanother
session of Congress. He requested me to
nray for him On the spot, in my parlor, and
appeared deeply affected and earnestly en-
oaeed for the salvation of his sui.
MIR. Goodman then requests Mr.. Caldwell,
asan old friend of Pierce, to write him
letter of advice and counsel.
so called upon the President-eleot with
this letter in my pocket. We talked some
little time of the preachers we had hearo.
"Mafjtt:" Yes, he had heard him, and ne
gave me a little specimen of Mahtts man
ner. showing good powers OF m1mlcry.
Joalled his attention to fJof. Caldwell.
He frightened up. "Oh. yes; he Is an ola
and dear friend of mine. He taught our
winters school one season and boarded IN
my fathers family"
/ said: "You knew Rev. George Cookman
have Just been reading letter from MIN
10 Professor Caldwell, in which he refers
to YOU"
he turned little pale. then looking at
ma with painful smile, he said: YES
heard him often; theIe was never his supe-
rior in the pulpit. was never SO much IN
terested in any man"
.,Yes, he speaks most kindly of you and
of your religious Impressions.
YES. but l am afraid he put it rather
strong; but was impressed, and confess
I attended class and prayer-meetings all
last winter in Washington. in DR.. sewalls
cellar-kitchen.
Ali how often few years later I walked
mast that old house on the corner Of g and
come other street and fancied could hear
the then occupant to the White House CIV
In hat rnxUQ
room- with DR.. SewaIl and that great
iurist, Judge sohn Mclean, whom SO
often saw in Methodist chapel in Washing
ton.
Well. visitors crowded me out. He shook
my hand heartily, saying; Should you
come to Washington while l am there, come
and see me-
little dreamed then of going to that
cftv. and though there two years with him.
never saw him to speak to him. What we
can easily do. is never done. If one had