They saw that from his record in Congress he would be entirely acceptable to the South, and at the opportune moment their plans were perfected and Pierce was nominated with a great show of enthusiasm.

William R.King of Alabama was selected to run as Vice-President.
General Pierce had many qualities that rendered him a strong candidate.

He had served with credit if not distinction both in the House and the Senate.

He was elected to the House in 1832, when he was but twenty-eight years of age, and resigned his seat in the Senate in 1842.

In the ten years which intervened before his nomination for the Presidency, he had devoted himself to the law with brilliant success, leaving it only for his short service in the Mexican war.