March 6, 2024
President Franklin Pierce
Dear President Pierce:
As I once said to President Taylor in a previous letter, you are a President who I thought I would never be writing to so, I would like to start with a bit of your background. You were the 14th president of the United States and prior to your election to that office you served in both the House of Representatives and Senate representing New Hampshire. In addition, before that you served as a Brigadier General in the Mexican – American War. You opposed the abolitionist movement which you thought threatened the unity of the country and you were also considered an expansionist and authorized the Gadsden purchase with Mexico. This was the purchase of territory which became parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico. You also made a failed attempt to purchase Cuba from Spain and your expansionist views led you to this quote:
“While men inhabiting different parts of this vast continent cannot be expected to hold the same opinions, they can unite in a common objective and sustain common principles.”
Well President Pierce you would think that it would be simple to unite for a common cause for the benefit of all but unfortunately it is not. You see these days it seems neither party can agree on anything, nor do they know the word compromise. This got me thinking that we need to remind our legislators of some common objectives and principles. President Pierce, I think you might agree with me that a good place to look at these requirements might be in the Preamble of our Constitution.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
We The People gave our leaders six guidelines to follow. The first is to form a more perfect union, our Founders realized that perfection is almost impossible at any time due to the changing context of time. That is why our Constitution is adaptable through the amendment process. Second, establish justice, one that works the same for all regardless of race, religion or our political affiliation, Third, insure domestic tranquility. However, maybe this needs to begin with our leaders to be more tranquil with themselves. Fourth, provide for the common defense keeping us safe from all enemies foreign and domestic. Fifth, promote the general welfare while keeping in mind the freedoms and liberties we are entitled to enjoy. Sixth, to ensure these liberties for all future generations of Americans which I will say is entirely up to we the people through fair and just elections.. President Pierce, if all our leaders were to keep this in mind when legislating and enacting laws, It is up to We the People to make sure that they follow these guidelines. If they follow these guidelines, it will make their jobs much easier and compromise for the benefit of all attainable
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Andrew DeMarco
Somers, NY
Pen Pals from the Past 