Background
Charles Gordon Atherton was born on July 4, 1804 in Amherst, New Hampshire, United States to Joshua and Abigail (Goss) Atherton.
Both his father and grandfather were prominent and successful New Hampshire lawyers.
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An Oration: Delivered on the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Battle of New-Orleans, at Goffstown, January 8, 1829 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from An Oration: Delivered on the Fourteenth Anni...)
Excerpt from An Oration: Delivered on the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Battle of New-Orleans, at Goffstown, January 8, 1829 Before the battle, as General Jackson was on his march through the city to meet the enemy, he was interrupted by the cries and lamentationsofinnumerable females who dreaded the impending danger. Feeling for their distresses, and anxious to quiet them, he directed Mr. Livingston, one of his aids,to address them in the French language. Tell them said he, not to be alarmed. The enemy shall not enter their city. And most gloriously did he keep his word. Nor is his fame limited to a single enterprise. This, though the most im portant, is only one of many that have adorned his career. In every thing which he has undertaken, he has shewn a mind equal to every emergency, and patriotism which nothing could repress or chill. And you well remember the modesty which he exhibited on receiving the congratulations of admir ing thousands on his return to the city he had protected from the outrages of' a brutal soldiery, attributing his success not to himself, but to the kindness of an overruling Providence. You well know the moderation which be displayed. Though a conqueror flushed with victory, though receiving the thanks and almost the adoration of the people, who would have shed their blood for him, he submitted, in quiet magnanimity, to the decision of Judge Hall, he stilled the indignant murmur ings of the assembly, 'and taught by example what has never been so forcibly taught by Words, that submission to the civil authority 18 the first duty of a citizen. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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Charles Gordon Atherton
Edit ProfileEducation
He graduated from Harvard University in 1822, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and began practise at Dunstable (later Nashua), N. H.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1825, and began practise at Dunstable (later Nashua), N. H. In 1828 he was married to Ann Barnard Clark. He represented Dunstable in the legislature in 1830, was clerk of the Senate 1831-1832, and again served in the lower house 1833-36, being speaker during the last three terms.
He was elected to Congress in 1836, serving three terms as representative, afterward entering the Senate in 1843 for the full term. His political career began contemporaneously with a new alignment in New Hampshire parties, and he became a Jacksonian Democrat of the straitest sect. He opposed internal improvements, denounced the tariff as a method of "taxing the many for the benefit of the few, " and was an ardent supporter of the independent treasury scheme as against a national bank. His strict constructionist view of the Constitution was well expressed in the famous "gag resolutions" which he introduced in the House on December 11, 1838.
These resolutions, which made his name anathema to the abolitionists, provided for laying on the table without consideration all memorials relating to slavery, declaring that on the constitutional basis of state equality the national government even in territory subject to its jurisdiction could take no action against slavery which might tend toward the destruction of that institution in the states.
Throughout his service in the House he was a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and during his last two years in the Senate, chairman of the Finance Committee, when the vigor with which he resisted riders to appropriation bills excited the approval of Senator Benton.
On his retirement in 1849 he resumed professional work in Nashua and built up what was reputed to be the most extensive and lucrative practise in the state. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1850, serving as chairman of the committee on the legislature and exercising great influence throughout the proceedings.
The many democratic innovations submitted by this convention were, however, rejected at the polls. In November 1852 he was again elected to the Senate for the six-year term beginning March 4, 1853.
Because of his close personal and political association with President Pierce he was expected to be an influential figure in the Thirty-third Congress, an expectation disappointed by his sudden death three weeks before the session began.
Achievements
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Atherton spoke frequently in Congress and among his notable addresses were those on the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill of 1840, a savage arraignment of Whig policies; against the apportionment bill of 1842; on the tariff; and on the financial policy of the government during the Mexican War.
Works
book
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An Oration: Delivered on the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Battle of New-Orleans, at Goffstown, January 8, 1829 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from An Oration: Delivered on the Fourteenth Anni...)
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An Oration: Delivered on the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Battle of New-Orleans, at Goffstown, January 8, 1829 (Classic Reprint)
Politics
He was a States-rights Democrat from a northern State of New England.
Connections
In 1828 he married Ann Barnard Clark, they had one son.
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Born
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Died
January 15, 1853 (aged 48) -
Nationality
American -
Political Party
Democratic