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UNH LIBRARY 3 MbDD DIM^E 7575 %L tUUEXti. Ityof -J-Linax y 33 ^ Governor JOHN H. LYNCH New State of Hampshire MANUAL for the General Court 2005 No. 59 PUBLISHED BYTHE DEPARTMENTOFSTATE William M. Gardner SecretaryofState Robert P.Ambrose SeniorDeputySecretaryofState David M. Scanlan DeputySecretaryofState Compiledby Karen H. Ladd New Hampshire Department of State June 16, 2005 To the Citizens ofNew Hampshire: Thepublicationofthe2005 Manual fortheGeneralCourtmarks the 59th volume published in odd-numbered years since 1889. It includes general information about state government and the 2004 January presidential primary, the September state primary and the Novembergeneral election results. On November 23, 2004, New Hampshire celebrated the 200th anniversary ofthe birth ofFranklin Pierce. He was elected the 14th Presidentofthe United States in 1852 andthe onlyperson fromour state to hold the country's highest office. This edition includes information about the life ofFranklin Pierce and how the state has honored his public service. During2004-2005 RepresentativesHall inthe StateHousewas refurbishedwith freshpaint, newcarpeting and repairs to the ornate walls and ceiling. It was the firstrenovation to the hall since 1975. Respectfully submitted, Secretary ofState THE HONORABLE FRANKLIN PIERCE (1804-1869) OnNovember23,2004,NewHampshirecelebratedthebicentennialofthebirth ofFranklinPierce. Hebecamethe 14thPresidentoftheUnitedStatesonMarch4, 1853andserveduntilMarch3, 1857.Duringhistermaspresident,theUnitedStates added the territories ofNew Mexico and Arizona as a result ofThe Gadsden Purchase and Navy Admiral Matthew Perry led an expedition that opened trade and commerce with Japan (1854). It was an era ofnational achievement and of significant controversy. Pierce and his administration became embroiled in the controversialKansas-NebraskaActandinthefailedattempttopurchaseorconquer CubaasaUnitedStatesterritoryasdirectedbytheOstendManifesto(1854). Piercewas48yearsoldwhenhereachedtheWhiteHouse.Bythen,hehadlong since achievedadegreefrom BowdoinCollege(1824),hadcompletedtrainingas alawyerandbeenadmittedtotheNewHampshireBar(1827),andhadestablished successful lawpractices in Hillsborough andConcord. In March 1828, at age 23, hewaselectedtownmoderatorofHillsborough.Thenextyear, 1829,atage24,he waselectedtothe New Hampshire House ofRepresentatives andservedaschair- manoftheeducationcommittee,andwasreelectedin 1830, 31,and32.Heserved as the youngest speakerofthe New Hampshire House at age 26 in the 1831 and 1832sessions.In 1833,attheageof28,hewaselectedtotheUnitedStatesHouse ofRepresentatives and served until 1837. That year, at age 32, he was elected to the United States Senate and serveduntilFebruary 28, 1842, whenhe resignedto returntoNew Hampshire to spendmoretime withhisfamily. From his position as speakerofthe New Hampshire House Pierce helped lead the effort to create the first national Democratic Party presidential nominating convention. In late June of 1831, Pierce was instrumental in proposing to the country a new process for nominating candidates for president. The New Hampshire idea was accepted by the other states and in May of 1832 the first national party convention was held in Baltimore at the time and place originally New proposedby Hampshire. Pierce revered his father, Benjamin Pierce who served twice as governor (1827-1828 and 1829-1830),especially admiringhis militaryprowessduringthe Revolutionary War. He is the only person in New Hampshire to serve in the legislatureatthesametimehisfatherservedasgovernor. In 1847herespondedto President James Polk's call to oppose Mexican intervention in Texas. He raised andledNew Hampshirementoparticipateinthe expedition underGen. Winfield ScotttodestroythearmyofMexicanGen.AntonioSantaAnna.Forthis,Congress commissionedPierce abrigadiergeneral. HereturnedtoNew Hampshire in 1848 and in 1850 was elected as a delegate to the New Hampshire constitutional convention, the first one in the nineteenth century. He was elected by fellow delegatestoserveaspresidentofthat 1850convention. Onlyinrecentyearshastheboundvolumeofthewrittenmanuscriptjournalof that convention been located among the state's archives. It has now been transcribed sothat inhonorofthebicentennialofthebirthofitspresiding officer itwillbeforthefirsttimeprinted.