the cadets who were ever there, only two hundred and sixty-five remained in the service at the end of 1830. Here are the expenses you have incurred, and the products you have realized.

I leave them to be balanced by the people. But, for myself, believing as I do, that the Academy stands forth as an anomaly among the institutions of this country; that it is at variance with the spirit, if not the letter, of the Constitution under which we live; so long as this House shall deny investigation into its principles and practical operation, I, as an individual member, will refuse to appropriate the first dollar for its support.

CHAPTER V.

Elected to the U. S. Senate-Correspondence-Speech on the Defences of the Country-Speech on the Armed Occupation of Florida— Speech on Removals from Office.

IN 1837, Mr. Pierce was elected by a large majority of the New-Hampshire Legislature to take his seat in the United States Senate. He took his seat in that body the 4th of March, 1837, the day on which Mr. Van Buren was inaugurated as President. The session was an extra one, called for the purpose of legislating for the commercial relief of the then prostrate country. During the terrible depression of that and following years, there was a strong disposition on the part of Congress to stimulate trade by vicious methods, and Mr. Pierce opposed all such schemes. Ranged against him in debate often were such men as Choate, and Clay, and Webster, but his speeches were of the kind which tell upon an audience of thinking men. He boldly opposed the plan of using Government funds as a basis for discount, and advocated with all his powers, the separation of all Government moneys from the concerns of the banks.

During his course in the Senate, the Independent Treasury Bill came up for discussion, and at that time many of its present warmest supporters were

doubtful of the expediency of adopting it. But Mr. Pierce, from the very first, spoke and voted for it, and experience proves the sagacity of his mind in thus discovering its excellencies before it had been put into operation.

While in the Senate, Mr. Pierce served on some of the most important of the Committees-on the Judiciary, on Military Affairs, on Pensions, etc., etc. He was emphatically a working member; he was not afraid to be called such. Indeed, his ambition was not to be known as a fine orator, but as a worker, and one who had served his constituents and the country at large, faithfully and with ability. And he won not only the reputation of being an orator, but the reputation of being a very honest and useful man.

In June 1838, one year after his election to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Pierce changed his residence from his native town of Hillsborough to Concord, his present place of residence. His large circle of friends in Hillsborough could not allow the occasion to pass without a testimonial of their affection for Mr. Pierce, and consequently invited him to a public dinner. The following is the correspondence which took place in reference to it :

Hon. FRANKLIN PIERCE :

HILLSBOROUGH, August 25, 1838.

Sir-The Democratic Republicans of Hillsborough embrace the opportunity your short stay furnishes, to tender to you an invitation to partake

with them of a public dinner, at such time as may be most convenient to you, before you take your leave of Hillsborough.

In discharging the duty imposed upon them, the committee beg leave to assure you that the tender they make is no unmeaning compliment.

Your childhood was with them, and so have been your riper years. Educated in their midst, one of themselves, the ties that have so long bound you to them cannot be easily sundered; and it would be doing violence to their feelings, to suffer the present occasion to pass without an opportunity of calling up those recollections that will ever be to them a source of the highest satisfaction.

You have stood by them at all times. You have been to them even as a son and a brother. Their interests have been your interests, their feelings your feelings. And it is with the sincerest pleasure that they offer you this testimonial, however small, of the estimate they place upon your character, public and private.

The committee cannot but express their regret at the necessity which is about to separate you from the republican citizens of Hillsborough. Long and intimately have you been known to them; and wherever you may go, they beg leave to assure you that you will carry with you their kindest wishes for your welfare.

With esteem and respect we have the honor to be yours, &c. TIMOTHY WYMAN, &c.

HILLSBOROUGH, Sept. 15, 1838. GENTLEMEN: Your letter in behalf of the Democratic Republicans of Hillsborough, inviting me to partake of a public dinner at such time as might suit my convenience, was duly received.

Sincerely desirous of exchanging salutations with all my friends, before those relations which have so long subsisted between us should be severed, I have delayed giving an answer, with the hope that my other engagements would allow me this pleasure. In this expectation I am sorry to say, I find myself disappointed. I have received too many substantial evidences of the kind regard and true friendship of the citizens of Hillsborough to need any new assurance of their partiality, and yet, I would not disguise the fact that your testimony in parting, as to the manner in which my duties in public and private life have been discharged, is flattering to my feelings, especially so, as coming from those who have known me longest and most intimately.

I shall leave Hillsborough with no ordinary regret. There are a thousand reasons why it can not be otherwise-I have hitherto known no other home.

Here may have passed away many of the happiest days and months of my life. With these streams and mountains are associated most of the delightful recollections of buoyant and happy boyhood-and in my early intercourse with the generous, independent and intelligent yeomanry of Hills