Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/229

FRANKLIN PIERCE 179 cause of Gen. Jackson with ardor, and in 1829 was elected to represent his native town in the legisla ture, where, by three subsequent elections, he served four years, the last two as speaker, for which office he received three fourths of all the votes of the house. In 1833 he was elected to represent his native district in the lower house of congress, where he remained four years. He served on the judi ciary and other important committees, but did not participate largely in the debates. That could not be expected of so young a man in a body contain ing so many veteran politicians and statesmen who had already acquired a national reputation. But in February, 1834, he made a vigorous and sensible speech against the Revolutionary claims bill, con demning it as opening the door to fraud. In De cember, 1835, he spoke and voted against receiving petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. In June, 1836, he spoke against a bill making appropriations for the military acad emy at West Point. He contended that that insti tution was aristocratic in its tendencies, that a pro fessional soldiery and standing armies are always dangerous to the liberties of the people, and that in war the republic must rely upon her citizen mili tia. His experience in the Mexican war after ward convinced him that such an institution is necessary, and he frankly acknowledged his error. It is hardly necessary to add that while in congress