ticipate in the National festival in Philadelphia, because I should meet numerous friends whose cquaintance I enjoyed at Washington, many years ago, and more, perhaps, for whom I formed ties of unalterable attachment, in that different field of service, to which so many of your citizens were called, in 1847.

"With these strong inducements for compliance, you will readily appreciate the deep regret I feel, in being compelled to deny myself the pleasure of meeting the sterling Democracy of your city and county, as proposed.

"I have made arrangements to attend the anniversary of the Society of the Cincinnati, instituted. by the officers of the American army, at the close of the Revolution, of which my father was an original member. There is no longer hope of meeting the patriarchs, whose names appear with that of the Father of his country, upon the old constitution of the Society, but I feel a strong desire to be with their descendants on that day.

"Accept, gentlemen, for yourselves, and present to the Democracy for whom you speak, my grateful acknowledgments. With the highest respect, "Your fellow-citizen,

"FRANK. PIERCE.

"Committee-ANDREW HAGUE, W. F. SMALL, JACOB LEWIS, O. F. FOGUERAY, W. ENGLISH, J. O. TOBIAS."

CHAPTER XII.

Reception of the News of the Nomination of General Pierce in NewHampshire -- Meeting of the State Legislature -- Mr. Sargent's

Speech Mr. Wells' Speech -- Mass Meeting of the People at
Concord Meeting at Boston, at Washington, at New-York,
Hartford, etc. etc.-- Letters of Mr. Buchanan, Ex-President Van
Buren, Messrs. Cass, Houston, Douglass, etc. etc.--
-- Concluding
Remarks.

THE nomination of General Pierce, as we have already remarked in a previous chapter, has been ratified by the people in all parts of the Union with great enthusiasm. Old feuds have been healed by it, old differences adjusted, and a larger vote will, in November, be polled for Franklin Pierce, than could have been polled for any other man whose. name was before the Convention. This is not merely our individual opinion, but that of some of the ablest men in the nation.

We have not room for a detailed account of the many great ratification meetings which have been held over the country, but will give a few extracts from some of the best speeches made at such assemblages.

As soon as the news of General Pierce's nomination reached New-Hampshire, the whole State was alive with excitement. Bells were rung; cannons

were fired, and joy was pictured upon almost every face. The State Legislature was in session at Concord, and a meeting of the Democratic members composing it was soon gathered, in response to the nomination. Governor Martin took the chair, supported by a large number of vice-presidents. Among the many excellent speeches made on the occasion, we quote those of Mr. Sargent, of Wentworth, and Mr. Wells, the President of the Senate:

Mr. Sargent spoke as follows:

"Mr. President and Gentlemen: I do not rise to make a speech. I am no speech maker, and if I were, am in no state of preparation at the present time to make one. But there is no Democrat who cannot say something, if need be, on an occasion like this. And if he is not called upon to speak, every true man must feel an interest in the subject which calls us together at the present time. (Cheers.) We meet as members of the Legislature of New-Hampshire, as Democrats of the Granite State, to respond to the nomination of General Franklin Pierce, of our State, as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. (Cheers.)

"I had the honor, Mr. President, at the Democratic State Convention, held in this Hall, on the 8th day of January last, to introduce the resolution recommending General Pierce to the Baltimore Convention, as a candidate for the Presidency, which resolution was then unanimously adopted. In intro

ducing that resolution, I only obeyed the impulse, and embodied the deep and all-pervading sentiment of the people of Grafton county, and of the State. There is but one feeling on the part of the Democrats of New-Hampshire in relation to General Pierce, and that is a strong and abiding affection, and an unbounded desire to honor him who is so universally known to be the friend of the people, the advocate of popular rights, the known supporter of the Union, and of our glorious Constitution. (Loud cheers.)

"The Baltimore Convention have seen fit to honor the Democracy of New-Hampshire by nominating her favorite as a candidate for the Presidency of the nation—a station higher, more responsible, more honorable, and more important than any other place or office in the world. This nomination will be responded to by the Democracy of this State, and of the nation, with a unanimity and an enthusiasm which will secure his triumphant election by an overwhelming majority. (Applause.) I set the State of New-Hampshire down as good for 20,000 majority for General Pierce. (Some one here suggested 10,000.) 'No,' said Mr. S., 'I will not take off a single vote from the number I have stated. (Immense applause.)

"Allusion has been made to the other candidates who were before the Baltimore Convention. The Democracy of New-Hampshire have been through

one contest under Hon. Lewis Cass, as their and standard-bearer, and nobly did they the duct themselves, and honorably and trium did they come out of the contest, the banne of the Union. (Cheers.) There is perhaps i next to General Pierce, under whom our Den would sooner and more cheerfully rally, in contest, than General Cass. No man stand in the estimation of the nation than he. (Ap The Democracy of our State would be equall to rally under the standard of Buchanan, D Marcy, or either of the other distinguished men who were before the Convention as can for this high office. (Cheers were here g these eminent men.) But when it was fou neither of these could get the nomination asked, 'Where is the man whose talents, experience, patriotism and attachment to th and the Constitution, will make him the ma nation, and raise him above all sectional ces and local prejudices?' In looking over i of the nation, General Pierce was at once all to be the man who possessed all the q necessary for the station, together with the cl of an unbounded popularity that would ins triumphant election.

"Mr. S. then spoke of the compliment th been paid to the New-Hampshire Democracy nomination. They had always proved true