Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 16.djvu/19

* PIENZA. PIERCE. these are the cathedral, with an ecclesiastical museum attached, the Palazzo Publico, and the Palazzo Piccolomini. Population (commune), ia 1901, 3804. PIEPOWDER, CoiBTS OF (also yUinudre, piedijoiiilii, fniiii (_)F. picpoudrciix, i)eddler, dusty foot, from pird. foot + poUdre, powder, dust). Inferior courts in Enj;land, which formerly had special jurisdiction for the speedy trial contro- versies arisini^ at fairs, markets, etc. The French name was probaI)ly applied to the court because most of the litigants were peddlers and trades- men who traveled from one fair to another — persons with 'dusty feet.' Its jurisdiction was extended in some counties to include whole vil- lages. This court has fallen into disuse, though it seems it has not been expressly abolished in some countries, PIER, See Bridge ; Fouxd.'Vtion" ; Dock ; Wharf : HarboI!. PIERCE, pers, Franklix (1804-69), The fourteenth President of the United States, He was the son of Gen. Benjamin Pierce, a soldier of the Revolution and twice Governor of Xew Hamp- shire, and was liorn at Hillsborough, N. H., on Novenil)er 23. 1S04. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1824. having among his college mates >fatlianiel Hawthorne. .John P. Hale, S. S. Pren- tiss, and Longfellow, After leaving college he studied law in the law office of United States Senator Levi Woodburv, and also in offices at Northampton, llass., and at Amherst, X, H., and was admitted to the bar in 1827. Two years later he was elected to a seat in the State Legislature as a Democrat. He was thrice reelected and for two terms served as Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1832 he was elected to a seat in the Lower House of Congress, and was reelected in 1834. In 1837 he was elected to the United States Senate, and when he took his seat enjo.ved the distinction of being the youngest member of that body. As a member of Congress he sup- ported bv his speeches and votes the policy of President .Jackson. He opposed appropriations for the Military Academy at West Point, the renewal of the L'nited States Bank charter, and the policy of internal improvements, and was averse to the spoils system. Among his colleagues in the Senate were Benton, Cla.y, Calhoun, Webster, Woodbury, and Wright, in comparison with whom Pierce was not a distinguished figure, although his service was marked bv industry and faith- fulness to duty. In 1842, I)efore the expira- tion of his term as Senator, he resigned and re- sumed his law practice, settling in Concord, X. H, He successively declined an appointment to fill a vacancy in the Senate, refused the nomina- tion for Governor of Xew Hampshire, and would not accept the office of Attorney-General of the United States tendered bv President Polk, and announced it as his fixed purpose never again to accept public office. He did not, however, cease to take interest in public affairs, and during his retirement took an active part in the councils of his party, openly advocated the annexation of Texas, and took the stump against his former college mate, .lohn P. Hale (q.v. ), the successful anti-slavery candidate for the United States Senate. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War, Pierce promptly volunteered as a private soldier. He wa.s soon appointed colonel, and in March, 1847, received a commission from the President as brigadier-general of volunteers. He at once sailed for Vera Cruz and joined General Scott in time lo participate in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. In the former engagement lie was thrown from his horse, but, although painfully injured, refused to leave the field. Upon the conclusion of peace he re- sumed his law practice, which was again inter- rupted in 18.50 by his election as a delegate to the Xew Hampshire Constitutional Convention, over whose deliberations he was chosen to preside by an almost unanimous vote. At the Democratic X'ational Convention, held at Baltimore in .lune, 18.52, he was brought forward, after thirty-flve ballotings, as a compromise candidate for the Presidency, and was nominated on the forty-ninth ballot, defeating Buchanan, Douglas, Cass, and Marcy. On account of his pergonal popularitv, and his conservative position with regard to the slaverv question. General Pierce was able to draw to his support a large number of voters in the Xorth, among them many Whigs, and con- sequently defeated General Scott, the Whig can- didate, by a vote of 254 to 42, He carried every State except Massachusetts, Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and received a larger electoral vote than had ever before been cast for a Presi- dential candidate. He chose a Cabinet of able and distinguished men to aid him. This Cabinet was the only one in the history of the country that did not suffer a break during the Presiden- tial term. The chief events of Pierce's ad- ministration were the Gadsden Purchase (q.v, ), the Koszta affair (q.v.), the conclusion of com- mercial treaties with Great Britain and Japan, the bombardment of Grevtown, Xiearasiia, the reorganization of the diplomatic and consular service, and the creaticm of a United States court of claims. As regards the slaverv question, the policy of President Pierce caused much discon- tent in the Xorth. The chief events under this • head were the promulgation of the Ostend Mani- festo (q.v.) and the enactment of the Kansas- Xebraska Bill (q.v.), which brought on strife between the pro-slavery and free-State settlers in Kansas. From 1855 to the end of Pierce's term the sole problem of importance was that of gov- erning Kansas and maintaining peacs therein — a problem in the management of which the Presi- dent did not add to his distinction. L'pon the ex- piration of his term Pierce traveled for several .vears in Europe, taking no further part in politics. As an advocate at the bar. Pierce was excelled bv few. Two 'campaign' biographies of Pierce were published in 1852, written b.v Xathaniel Hawthorne (Boston) and D. W. Bartlett (.ulnirn). Consult, al.so. Carroll. Re- vieir of Pirrcr's Administratiun (Boston, 18,56) ; and Rhodes, A flistory of the United Ktntes from the Compromise of ISoO (Xew York, 1901), See United St.vtes. PIERCE, Geokge Foster (1811-84), A bish- op of the Methodist Episcopal Church, .South. He was born in Green Count.v. Ga.. the son of Lovick Pierce (q.v.). He studied law. but en- tered the Georgia Conference (1831). He was president of Georgia Female College, Macon, 1839-42: president of Emurv College, O.xford, Ga.. 1849-54: elected bishop, 1854. His ser- mons and addresses were edited and published by Bishop A. G. Haygood (1886). He was con- sidered one of the ablest preachers of his Church. Consult his Life by George G. Smith ( 1888).