Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/87

 won praise for what he did. When our side won, and the war was at an end, Pierce had made new friends who were of much use to him in years to come. His own state made him a gift of a fine sword when he got home from the South.

Frank-lin Pierce was made Pres-i-dent and took his seat March 4, 1853.

At that time there still was strife as to slaves when each new state came in. When Kan-sas and Ne-bras-ka were to be made ter-ri-to-ries, Con-gress made a law which it was thought would clinch the point. It said that they might be free or slave just as the folks there might vote.

On the day the votes were cast in the new land much blood was shed from the fights and broils. To burn a town was a small thing. It was thought the war there might spread through the land.

Pres-i-dent Pierce sent strong words to Con-gress on this theme in 1856; and said that if there was not a change in the state of things out there, troops would be sent to stop them.

Kan-sas at last was free and then peace came there, but it was not till the next Pres-i-dent was near the end of his term.

Ere the great war came Pierce did his best to keep the peace, at times in ways in which he may have been at fault. He was a man who had no greed for self. He was true to his land and did what he thought was for its good. His kith and kin had done the same, and their views on this theme were as his own.

Frank-lin Pierce died in Con-cord, N. H. 1869.