propriations by the general government lead "to wide-spread, general corruption, tending directly to consolidation or disunion of the States, the destruction of democratic principles, and the extinction of liberty;" they also endorsed the re-nomination of Andrew Jackson as the Democratic candidate for the next Presidential term. In 1831, as we have said, the Democrats of New-Hampshire elected their candidates for the State, and for Congressional offices. The House of Representatives consisted of two hundred and twenty members. Franklin Pierce was put in nomination by the Democrats for the Speakership, and he was elected as follows: for Frank Pierce 155: all other votes 58. The following year, 1832, he was again elected to the Speakership. Thus, in a very few years, Frank Pierce had raised himself to a commanding position in his native State. In his own party, among his own adherents, his position was most amiable and indeed, he was beloved and admired by his political enemies. Although young, yet he continued to conduct himself in so modest yet able a manner as to raise the admiration of the older leaders among the Granite Democracy of New-Hampshire. A political critic, in noticing his career at this portion of his life, remarks: 66 Thus, in five years, he attained an enviable position among his associates; and won it, not by undermining rivals, or by adroitness in political intrigue, but by a firm adherence to political prin ciple, eloquence in debate, unquestioned capacity for public business, unvarying courtesy and exhibition of frankness and manliness of character. So honorable was his ambition, that, while he was ranking his associates, he retained their love and commanded their respect." CHAPTER III. Elected to Congress-Character as an Orator-Speech on Revolu tionary Claims. IN the summer of 1833, Mr. Pierce was elected from his native district to the lower House of Congress for the term of two years, and took his seat in that body in December of the same year. He was at this time a graceful orator and gentleman, but twenty-nine years of age, popular at home among his constituents, and as may well be supposed, soon became a favorite in the best circles of Washington society. Young, fond of society, and of a genial nature, it would not have been strange, had the temptations which were scattered thickly about him, seduced him, to a degree, from a rigid attention upon the transactions of the House. But such was not the case. At all times, he was to be seen in his seat. When any important vote was taken, the name of Franklin Pierce, of New-Hampshire, is invariably to be found on the records of Congress. He never interrupted the proceedings of either House with what are vulgarly denominated "speeches made for Buncombe." We have been indeed surprised, in our search among the Congressional records for his speeches, to discover the prac In tical nature of every speech ever delivered by him in Congress, either in the House of Representatives or the Senate. Scarcely another man is living who has spent as many years in Congress, without speaking, occasionally to say the least, for the sake of political capital at home. There are several reasons why Mr. Pierce never pursued such a course. the first place, his modesty of character, and his love of the practical, extinguished in his heart all desire for popular displays; and in the second place, he has always been so popular among the people of New-Hampshire, that there was never at any time any need of his resorting to the ordinary methods of keeping alive a half-expiring reputation, viz.: by franking thousands of his speeches to his constituents-by making a violent ado about nothing, in Congress, for the purpose of preserving his name fresh in the memories of his political supporters and friends. The Democratic party has generally a very handsome majority in New-Hampshire, and Frank Pierce was always sure of a heavy majority, whenever nominated for any office. The first speech of any importance and length made by Mr. Pierce in the House of Representatives, was delivered February 27, 1834, and was upon the subject of Revolutionary Claims. We present it here, not because it is, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, a brilliant performance, but because it shows the excellent sense of the young orator, and his conscientious desire to oppose all ex travagance in the public expenditures. Through all his speeches there runs the same vein of economy. Though personally extremely liberal-far too much so for the good of his purse-he has always strongly opposed extravagance in the public expenditures. It is this fact, disclosed by the speeches of Mr. Pierce, which constitutes him a safe statesman and an exceedingly fit man for the Presidency of this nation. It is not every passionate orator, it is not every stump-speech-maker, who can properly fill the august Presidential chair. But a man who is opposed to extravagance and to corruption, and who is religiously honest and consistent in his character, though inferior to Daniel Webster in his intellectual acquirements, may be a far safer President than any mere orator, or intellectual personage of however magnificent talents. General Pierce is an honest man-a consistent man; and the people never will be deceived in him or by him. But we will proceed with his speech on a bill reported by a committee of the House, "To provide for the settlement of certain Revolutionary Claims :" ON SPEECH A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF CER- "Mr. Pierce, of New-Hampshire, thanked the House for having kindly deferred, on the suggestion of his indisposition, the consideration of the bill which had just been read; and he felt under par |