R CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. GENERAL PIERCE AT HOME-SLAVERY VIEWS-CANDI- DATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY-CONVENTIONS OF 1852- (5) PAGE. THE MESSAGE-MORE VETOES-GATHERING DIFFICUL- TIES-WALKER, THE FILIBUSTER-CENTRAL AMERICA "BLEEDING KANSAS"-THE WAR-ROBINSON, LANE, WOODSON, COLONEL SUMNER, GOVERNOR SHANNON- LAWRENCE AND ITS FREE PRESS-THE NEW Gov- PRESIDENT PIERCE IN RETIREMENT LETTERS AND SENTI- MENTS JUDGE MINOT'S DEFENSE - THE SEWARD CORRESPONDENCE - PIERCE AND HAWTHORNE - A FRANKLIN PIERCE-THE MAN HIS QUALITIES AND CAREER - HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER - A SOLITARY LIFE, ADMINISTRATION, AND TIMES OF FRANKLIN PIERCE, FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. March 4, 1853, to March 4, 1857. CHAPTER I. THE PIERCES-GENERAL BENJAMIN PIERCE. RANKLIN PIERCE came before the country as FRA a candidate for the Presidency, comparatively an unknown man, and this very fact, it was supposed by the party managers and leaders, would add an unusual element of strength to him in the race, as had been the case with James K. Polk. In this they were not mistaken, although there was a marked difference in the public record of the two men. Mr. Polk had acquired somewhat of a national reputation by his services in Congress, and as Governor of his State; while Pierce's Mexican War experiences were greatly overshadowed by the brilliant deeds of others, and were, besides, unfortunately liable to misconstruction. But the "unpopularity" of his opponent. the last of the Whigs, the peculiar irritability and complications of the great slavery issue, and all the 9 |