Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/232

 182 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS than not have it at all. When John P. Hale, in 1845, accepted a Democratic renomination to con gress, in a letter denouncing annexation, the Demo cratic leaders called another convention, which repudiated him and nominated another candidate. Through the long struggle that followed, Pierce led the Democrats of his state with great skill and unfaltering courage, though not always to success. He found in Hale a rival worthy of his steel. A debate between the two champions, in the old North church at Concord, aroused the keenest interest throughout the state. Each party was satisfied with its own advocate; but to contend against the rising anti-slavery sentiment of the north was a hopeless struggle. The stars in their courses fought against slavery. Hale was elected to the U. S. senate in 1846 by a coalition of Whigs and Freesoilers, and several advocates of free-soil principles were elected to congress from New Hampshire before 1850. In 1846 the war with Mexico began, and New Hampshire was called on for a battalion of troops. Pierce s military ardor was rekindled. He im mediately enrolled himself as a private in a volun teer company that was organized at Concord, en thusiastically began studying tactics and drilling in the ranks, and was soon appointed colonel of the 9th regiment of infantry. On March 3, 1847, he received from President Polk the commission of