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Franklin Pierce: Hillsborough

Mr. Pierce espoused the doctrines of the Democratic party. In the second year of his practice, when only twenty five years old, he was elected to represent the town of Hillsborough in the State Legislature. The three successive years he was also elected to that body; and in 1831 and '32, he was made Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. Pierce was, like his father, an active and zealous supporter of General Jackson during this period. In the summer of 1833, Mr. Pierce was elected from his native district to the lower house of Congress. At Washington he was punctual and earnest in attending to his duties, seldom speaking, but always voting. His speeches on the revolutionary claims, the deposit question, and the West Point Academy, are remarkable for their practical cast, and the earnest desire they express for economy in the national expenditure. Mr. Pierce continued in the House until 1837, when he was elected to a seat in the United States Senate. There he was known as a working member, and a thoroughgoing supporter of the financial measures of President Van Buren. In 1838, Mr. Pierce removed from Hillsborough to Concord. His friends of Hillsborough tendered him a public dinner as a mark of their esteem, but the honor was declined. In 1842, Mr. Pierce was led by the ill health of his wife to resign his seat in the Senate, and retire to Concord, where he devoted himself to his profession with such success, as to rise to the foremost rank at the bar. For three years he had but little visible connection with politics. In 1845, the governor of New Hampshire appointed him to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate occasioned by the resignation of Judge Woodbury. This honor was respectfully declined. About this time President Polk appointed Mr. Pierce District Attorney of New Hampshire. This office he accepted and held until 1847. In 1845, the Democracy of the State nominated him for governor, but this high office he declined. In the next year, President Polk offered him the post of Attorney-General of the United States, but this also he declined. Few men have declined to accept so many high appointments.

Mr. Pierce was now to appear upon a new scene. On the breaking out of the Mexican war, he enlisted as a private in the Concord company. Soon after he was appointed Colonel of the Ninth Regiment, and then Brigadier-General. Both these appointments he accepted, and on the 28th of June, 1847, he reached Vera Cruz, with his brigade of 2,400 men. There he was taken ill, but soon recovered, and set out at the head of his command to join General Scott. The march was exceedingly difficult. Fifteen miles from Vera Cruz, the brigade, was attacked by guerrillas, but they were repulsed. At the National Bridge the guerrillas again at tacked the brigade, and were again gallantly repulsed. After a very harassing march, Gen. Pierce joined General Scott at Puebla, on the 6th of August. In the battles in the valley of Mexico, Gen. Pierce was not permitted to participate as fully as he desired on account of sickness and accident, but displayed courage and activity. When it was ascertained that there would be no more fighting, Gen. Pierce returned to the United States, resigned his commission, and retired to Concord, where he was warmly welcomed, the Legislature presenting him with a splendid sword as a token of esteem. Gen. Pierce now devoted himself to his profession. In November, 1850, he was elected president of the convention assembled to revise the constitution of New Hampshire. In January, 1852, the Democracy of New Hampshire presented Gen. Pierce as their candidate for the presidency of the United States. The General declined the honor; but the National Convention of the Democratic party sanctioned the choice of New Hampshire, nominating Franklin Pierce for the presidency, on the 49th ballot, with singular unanimity. He accepted this unexpected honor with modest diffidence. William R. King, of Alabama was nominated upon the same ticket as the Democratic candidate for the vice-presidency. Throughout the exciting canvass, Gen. Pierce conducted himself with dignity and modesty. At the election in November, he received a tremendous majority over his opponent, Gen. Winfield Scott. Vermont, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Tennessee, were the only states in which the Pierce and King electoral tickets did not succeed. On the 4th of March, 1853, the President elect was inaugurated under brighter auspices than had been known for many years in the United States.

In November, 1834, Gen. Pierce married Jane Means, the youngest child of the Rev. Dr. Appleton, late president of Bowdoin College. They have had three children. The first died in infancy, the second at the age of five years, and the third, Benjamin Pierce, eleven years old, was killed by an accident on the railroad, a short time after the father's election to the presidency. General Pierce is therefore childless.