ABSTRACT
Lucki ly for Pierce, the D e m o c r a t s were more united than in 1848 . Party brethren who had jo ined the Free Soilers in 1848 returned to the fold; indeed, even the 1848 Free Soil candidate , M a r t i n Van Buren, supported Pierce. New Irish and G e r m a n voters also bolstered the party 's strength, and the D e m o c r a t s published pamphlets in foreign languages to appeal to immigrants . T h e D e m o c r a t s also formed local " G r a n i t e C l u b s " and held mass meetings to rally support for Pierce, whom they cal led "Young Hickory of the Grani te H i l l s , " to evoke the s t i l l -popular J a c k s o n i a n imagery. Al though the Whigs also tried to woo the immigrant vote and held local meet ings, the D e m o c r a t s were more organized and effective in these tact ics .
