battle, selecting their champions for the coming day, assigning to each
man his proper duty, and looking carefully to the popular judgment for a
final victory. In these consultations, no man's voice was heard with
more profound respect than that of Franklin Pierce. His counsels were
characterized by so thorough a knowledge of human nature, by so much
solid common sense, by such devotion to democratic principles, that,
although among the youngest of the senators, it was deemed important that
all their conclusions should be submitted to his sanction.

"Although known to be ardent in his temperament, he was also known to act
with prudence and caution. His impetuosity in debate was only the result
of the deep convictions which controlled his mind. He enjoyed the
unbounded confidence of Calhoun, Buchanan, Wright, Woodbury, Walker,
King, Benton, and indeed of the entire democratic portion of the Senate.
When he rose in the Senate or in the committee room, he was heard with
the profoundest attention; and again and again was he greeted by these
veteran Democrats as one of our ablest champions. His speeches, during
this session, will compare with those of any other senator. If it be
asked why he did not receive higher distinction, I answer, that such men
as Calhoun, Wright, Buchanan, and Woodbury were the acknowledged leaders
of the Democracy. The eyes of the nation were on them. The hopes of
their party were reposed in them. The brightness of these luminaries was
too great to allow the brilliancy of so young a man to attract especial
attention. But ask any one of these veterans how Franklin Pierce ranked
in the Senate, and he will tell you, that, to stand in the front rank for
talents, eloquence, and statesmanship, he only lacked a few more years."

In the course of this session he made a very powerful speech in favor of
Mr. Buchanan's resolution, calling on the President to furnish the names
of persons removed from office since the 4th of March, 1841. The Whigs,