WRITINGS OF SAIV[ HousTO~, 1855
228
I believe that I assured Mr. Pierce of this necessity before he came to Washington. Then, I supposed that he was a good Jack- son democrat, and as such, I urged his claims before the American people. I made nineteen speeches in that canvass. I wish I could make such a speech today as I did then. I said a good many things in all good faith. My faith is as strong now as it ever was, but in political matters it is not as strong now as it was then. I took the pledge of the Democratic Convention. I will never take another. I labored like a drayman to secure Pierce's elec- tion. I told my fellow-citizens that he was the people's man; that he was a gentleman; that he did not faint in Mexico. I still hope he did not faint. But, well, there was not more than half of all of it that was true, and that's the amount of it. (Laughter.) What did he do when he came to office? In the selection of men to make his Cabinet, did he choose those who had stood up with integrity to the Constitution and the Union? No! He selected Mr. Marcy as his Secretary of State, whom his enemies say is a great rascal. He next appointed Mr. Dobbins-l Secretary of the Navy, who is a very good Democrat in all, except that he is a very rich man and in full favor with the United States bank. But he is a very clever man, I think. Next in order is Caleb Cushing, who started his political career in the Massachusetts Legislature, and who has always bee·n an anti-slavery man. When in Congress what did he do? He voted for every abolition meas- ure that was introduced by Mr. Giddings of Ohio, during a term of four years in that body. He was for a time a Tyler Democrat, and then an amalgamationist. He was the man, who being charged with writing a history eulogistic of his own political career, induced his wife to swear that she was the author of the work herself. He now stands confronted with this infamy, and is honored with a place in the council of the American people. Mr. McClelland 6 was next in order. In him Mr. Pierce took an~ other abolitionist, who also voted with Caleb Cushing on all ques- tions relating to the institution of slavery. Mr. Campbell 0 was selected for the Postoffice Department. He had been cast aside and ignored by his own State. He had been a candidate for the office of Supreme Judge and was beaten by a vote of 15,000 majority. Mr. Pierce selected him as a compliment to the state of Pennsylvania, or rather to Bishop Hughes,7 I don't know which. But, this is not all; Jefferson Davis was to be honored with a place in Mr. Pierce's cabinet. Davis was opposed to the Compromise
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