Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-10-20
DEMOCRATS And WINGS READt
Pierce and the Free iSo7ers-achy they Sup
91osT Him


ated John P Hale at Pittsburgh:
SIR. question no mans motives, and trust
none viii question mine. If | understand the
call for this convention, it was forthe Free De
mocracy, where an interchange of opinions
would be fully permitted.
As many gentlemen have expressed prefer
ence for Mr.. Hale, and some manifested pref
erence for Gen. Scott as against Gen. Pierce,
take the liberty of saying something in favor of
the ,atter-to present some of the reasons why
Franklin Pierce has some claims, at least, upon
the anti-savery vote of the country, presuming,
as do, that if slavery is ever abolished it must
be by the Democracy.
In the ranks of the Democracy the friends
of freedom have been found in greatest
numbers 1t is also true that many of the for
mer friends of freedom have now left us, a dis
tinct organization, and ranged themselves under
the banner of Pierce. Can we impeach their
motives? Many of them profess to be as firm
friends of freedom now as in any past time
Many newspapers opposed to the fugitive slave
law have Also given their support to Pierce
Now, can we suppose that all these men and
papers, who now advocate Pierce, have entirely
abandoned their former principles and profes-
sions of fidelity to the cause of freedom?
l cannot believe that so many men are now
recreant to the principles they strongly advoca-
ted in l848l Have not these men stated that
they are even now, as strongly attached to the
principles of freedom as in 1913, and that they
intend to bring all the influence they can to bear
on the administration of Gen. Pierce, if he is
elected las he is pretty sure to be, by the great
Protestant Democratic party Of this Union) for
a repeal of the fugitive slave law the abolition
of slavery wherever the Federal Government can
reach it, and the greater furtherance our cause
Don't we find the strongest men IN 1913, our
Presidential candidate of that election, amongst
them-ranged under the banner of Franklin
Pierce, the favorite son of free State-a Free
Soil State-a protestant State--in which pope
ry has no power, and a Roman Catholic cannot
hold Office? Our old friends, assure you, know
their man, and have no kind of doubts on my
mind but these men viii exert an influence on
his mind, after his election if any such infiu-
ence be needed, as to bring about repeal of
this abominable law. 1t is certain Mr.. Pierce
cannot be elected any more than Gen. Cass, in
1913, if all the Freesoilers are to forsake the
good old democratic Platform of Equal Rights
i don't mean the late platform, adopted at
Baltimore; | don't respect that platform, nor is
it possible that such men as the following can
respect it:
Ex-President Martin Van Buren,, John Van
Buren,, Hon. Ben. Z. Butler, Hon. John A. Dix,
VIM. C. Bryant of the Evening Post, editors of
Buffalo Republic, Rochester Advertiser, Albany
Atlas. Hon. Preston King, Hon. Martin Grover,
Hon. John G. Floyd, Hon. Gilbert Dean, Henry
B. Stanton, Hon. Levi S. Chatfeld, Hon. Il. H.
Van Dyke, Hon. Horace Wheaton, Hon. limo
thy Jenkins, and Hon. Thos. Y. Howe jr., all of
New York In Ohio, l will merely point to J.
W. Gray, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hon.
ID. X Carter, Hon. Jos. Gable, Judge Beldin,
Hon Brinkerhofi, Judge Potter, Walker of the
editorial corps Judge Kennon, ard Gen. Walter
NJ Blake, among thousands. Ben. f. Hallett of
Massachusetts,. Hon. John Wentworth and DR..
Maloney, of Illinois; Hon. ThOs. Hart Benton
of Missouri; John Atwood of New Hampshire;
Hon. Chauncy f. Cleveland of Connecticut;
Hon B. II. Thurston of Rhode Island; Hon.
Hannibal Hamlin of Maine; Hon. A. II. Buell.
Of Michigan; Henry Dodge, Isaac 2. Walker,
and Ex-Governor j. D. Doty of Wisconsin; with
HaRSe rpaia nE% i joni 'd derhseS 81 PG66svr
vania; and DR.. Edward D. Gazzan and Major
David Lynch of this very ethyl
This list of the friends of freedom zealously
support Mr. Pierce, and think you, sir, that these
men can be induced to pander to slavery? New
er They are freemen, the sons of freemen born
in free States, and thoroughly attached to the
principals of freedom; and aiding in the cleo
ton Of Gen. Pierce in fact electing him if he
shall be elected they will take their full share of
the officers of the Government, and set their in
fuenee against slavery to make it effectual!-
(Applause.) Now my idea, and the idea of the
majority of the community from which l came,
Is that Gen. Pierce is entitled to support as the
best anti-slavery man Of the two candidates NOM
mated at Baltimore.
Gen. Scott is a southern born man, and if re-
l. :. :. II .
which (if sol is, to the mind of the great major
ity Of the Americans, decidedly Objectionable;
while Gen. Rerces New Hampshire friends, as
was fully shown by their votes against abolish
ing the Anti-Catholic provision in their State
Convention, are determined supporters of Prot
estantiSm and opponents of Popery. And so,
beyond question, is Gen. Pierce himself-as his
good old father was before him, who assisted in
the framing and adopting the Constitution by
which Paptists are excluded from office in that
State.
As additional proof that Gen. Pierce is at
heart strongly anti-Papst in his sympathies and
connections take the fact that the Democratic
party in New Hampshire, of which he has long
been a leader have long had the control of the
government of that State, and managed matters
as they pleased; and, instead of amending the
Constitution 50 as to do away with the exclusion
of Catholics from Office, always maintained it as
it island Catholics can now no more hold offices
there than slaves at the South and Indians
VIII they stand any better chance to obtain Fed
eral Offices from Gen. Fierce when lie Shall have
been elected President?s And still further proof
on this subject, take the fact that all the Prot
estant associations the "Orangenen," ss0rder
of United Americans., ands"Sons of America, = j
are supporting Gen. Pieree on the ground ofhis
4Aes;. i,r in respset4o Ponsry. Ihsis Prot
estant country, airu /, sir, tx tn;r Sseu 11erce
is entitled to thesupport, So Tar at least Is any
such question is Concerned, of all Protestant
Americans. - I
Again, sir, it is in good measure owing to
the Democratic partythat the barbarous practice
of fogging in the navy has been abolished, and
if the names Ihave given you Of aIti-slavery
men whonow support Gen. Pierce and the other
facts havestated arr. not conclusive proof that
the Democratic party and its candidate are the
party and candidate of progress and Protestant
ism, of human freedom and human rights and
The party and candidate from whom we must
look for the abolition of slavery, do not know
what constitute such proof think nothing
more is necessary to show that the claims Of
Gen. Pierce to the anti-slavery men and protes-
tants are far superior 6sthose of the Wing can
A dissoutionsef the Union has been spoken !
Of lam alp emocrat, in favor of all laws and |
systems comforting the greatest amount of good