Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-07-16

Rgurc Ei9rc ILGE ana Di Tue 9htC " ie
Union tiiat would cnsue, il the law resisted.
Finally can rsk stronger proof Of icrce's sound
ness and fidelity the constitutional rights Of IL: South
than his letter 10 Col Lay read the Virginia delegate
at Baltimore. and 10 The Ratification meeting IN Washing
ton? In that letter hr boldly refers The iacl Of 'ha'ine
fought The ha!tlc in New Hampshire upou tie (u;irc are
la and upon ehut bsicrsd 70 be the ground c coa
tutional right"
In that same letter, how noble and calinc is the spirit
conveyed in his question, paIt ftr:nc: make
yoa or 10 me- eter the outrage ION tho rights Of ~ States
shall seem 10 fall on So&h Carolina 11Ee Nec lamp
shire? ARE OF EACH Equally rs
ALL?'
Extract from Judge .joimsons speech c! Nacon (Ga
!, is uly rrlr. en review Of Grn PIT rec
on questions touching tie subject of slavery In The srs
sion Of Congress Of 1888 Sc rha abolition feeling gf the
North seemed 10 take ifes start an itself Ia Is work
Of discerd and mischief Congress t'otei With pctI.
TONS and The most intense c!ci' and apprct
vadcd The whole extent OF The county hu; with Gc
Pierce there was no aeling; he calmly laced The storm an!
he stood firmly by the Constitutional rights U tn Sugf
II cannot be embarrassing 10 refer briefly 70 IL" OF his
votes, OF the most important aspects in which the
subject was presented On The Ism January S3j Jackson
Of massachusetts, presented petition 10 abolish slavery in
the District of ColnnI Gcne!a Pierce voted lay
the table and during the te5ate thereon, lie said c woui
prefer TO meet the question IN :prm which coui by
possibility Dc considered either cquvocal or cSc>re
i During the same session. Mr. Geo. W. Ovens of our
own representatives, ot-Tci the following resolutions:
"Resolved That In the "p:non Of his iipse .ns qucs
i ough, not Ia be entertained by Conetcss.
i "tcsolved: That in case any petition praying ITO abolition
Of slavery in the District Columbia he hereafter present
ed it is the deliberate opinion OF this house. tie
]. to be laid on the table without reading
General Pierce was IN favor Of these resolutions the
journal shows. During the session of S256 Mr. PGcknry
Of South Carolina refer all peiiuls and rarca
touching slavery select committee with instructions
report against The power ard cxletency o legislation by
Congress the subject. Gen. PrTcc is recorded
the Journals the Southern side of the question every
phase in whish i was p'ssenled the n"on 'hus 10 l,,T
the select committee er2rlrd
Il. That Congress had constitutional authority in
terere in any way with the institution OF slavery i'll any
OF the States OF Ibis cnEfcacrncy.
80. That Congress oIg interfere IN any way with
slavery in The District OF Cullnna.
"3 That all petitions, memorials, resolutions propositions
or papers relating IN way, any extent Whatever 10
the eubscl OF s!sTtry. t abolition Of slI"rry; wii"I
being either printed cicrrci Be laid uc Lie iabe and
that further action whatever si be has! thereon"
Gen. Picrces name is recorded in III, affirmative upon
! these resolutions.
Later 1885, after he had been transferred t:,r Scna
ne voted for the celebrated resolutions o"rtd by a Cal
houn, i'll which he expressed 40 clearly aud viii, such
tey lorce The respective powers Of the Fe:c' and STATE
Governments under The Constitution ci lie United States
As they decisive o tha opinions .; General Piece
important that tvy should r. and !"ad The pcoyIc
throughout The couny As they passed the Senate they
| are as follows
IL Resolved That ia The adoption Of the Federal Cons
:uton the S:a!cs adopag he same. acted sc"cra!y,
iree independent ard sovereign States; and that ZACH 10. il
SELF by lis voluntary assent entered The GEiun with
The vicw 10 i!s Increased security inst all drnners docS
lie we'll oc:.n, ans: IL. perfect and enjoy
ment o.! is advantages natural, political and sJc.I
80 Resolved That in 'tsaaiing portion OF lher pow
cr exercised nv The Federal Go,enr,rnt the Sairs
retained sererhiy ic exclusive ard sol" right h.f
| Own domestic Institutions ard nuiic" To III" iG
which 0so powers were not !hus ecgnt6d aad alone
responsible for them; and that any :Hcrn"Ing aay
or S!aes, combination Gi her c!.zrts, wita the
domestic institutions and police Of Tie Others any
goand, political moral or religious, under any prrcN
whatever with the view To their alteration subvcrsion, is
warranted By In Constitution, tcndng end the
domestic and ct lGcr!crri
suhye5svc OF the Objects for which The Constitution
formed and. by necessary consequence ;,:dng "cga
and destroy the Union ITSELF.
49, EcSolvcd That !hs government instituted y tic
several States Of lhs UnJD agca in order T.
larry int" .:c' tic pnw.rs Which III lad dS";a ihs
Tia, in u!frpnr Of this high nh snc;u t-
mrn bound exercise 's power, - rf % "'c"'c
with The STABILITY and sccurrr n the comr>c Hs!!cns
of the States compose H. Union, and tat ii IS The sol
duty OF hc government I" resist 10 The e5n ri lts
Constitutional power ali attempts 10y ore portion ol lie
Union TO use instrument attack tie tames'" lns
tutions of another or 10 weaken or destroy suc'i iasu
lions
Southern and Western States Of This unna com2"ses an
important par; Of their domestic Institutions aieri"h from
their and cysn" the aip'i"n ." the co'u
tun by which j. rccognizcd cons ting an import ~
element in he aPporlioncrt "i Eowc: among lfc 'a'cs
and tlat charge At opinion or rns IN Tie "i' =. nc
other States o lhc Griom in relation 10 IT, rnn o-Iy lntH
or their citizens any o: and systematic attack: tic
on with the It's overthrow and that all snch atlhcks
are manifest violation o lie mutual and solemn pge 10
protect ana ren each 0lc- cycn BY II" States respect
4 u!Iv on entering into the Constitutional compact WHICH
formed the Union and such manifest bsach oi ai'
and violation Of the most solemn obligations.
i ' Resolved That rhc Interference hy 'he ct Zefs u any
OF Il States will! III. view 10 the abolition cl sl:ey "a
this district cndangcrI the rights and security h the
penpe this dsrc:; ,at any act measure ' on
eress designed 10 ab1s slavery m this distrc, ""ld ae =
violation Of ,,r fh implied ccsons b: the States ol
Virginia aud Maryland ast oi alarm to me s@i
Of The sascholing States hni have direct ana @itaDe
tendency to distract and endanger the Uninn
SO Resolved That any oeIa?i Of Congress III "boiish
slavery in any territory t United Sies IN which cx.
the States sustaining iat domestic ihsiilt6N ""ni or u
violation Of good faith towards the nhntnS o an? +hG
tcrritnry who have permitted settle with nnd '"d
slaves therein BECAUSE the people OF an such Territory nave
not akeL Tor the abolition u slavery hcn, ana o'e4n
xlca territory shall be admitted into INC n"n as a
State people thereof viii he emitted II decide mat qeS-
lion exclusively lnr themselves
General Pierce only voted for these resolutions hut he
adyoce ted them able speech upon the oor OF The Se-
rate He firmly and boldly net the arguments bY which
iicy were opposed II urged against them, thai IN,
.3uaiad ;hr doctrine o! notification e replied that hH
could detect il, The careful oxama&t"n and
that "he mus he excuse ii nc did take the alarm II
vas urged tey invaded the liberty ri speech and the
press; he replied that they did cnl.n syllable Ike It
thai he wcuI driven ro his pos,tian ~ false Issues
was urged that rhey abstractions lie rcic
"Sr il is immatell what you app 10 ,her; sun
acnt is it, that they meet the cass that they encounier e
Abolitionisi upon sound and tcnabe ground nni furnish
) inclusive answer 10 his iInporunit"s"
Such is brief ellncs the political career cf Genera
Pierce We him in bo!h branches of Congress from
20 1872 which Of the most critical and c'ea vi
oeriods OF our history In the aisc stood sode; 10
,houlrr with Polk defence oi JacAsons financial policy
,nd did battle for the South against the enc:oacmens "i
abolition. In the Senate he stoo! eide ny side VITA a
Calhoun in the passage of the subeasurg aud IN sH'i
u his memorable resolutions quoted ABOVE. In his wi'e
course is consistency rmuess and dignity o puf,
pose that his conduct be regulated br fixed ard
nj clearly defined principle The Constitution strictly con-
.ued his pia with his eye steadily fixed on ina
his bark however furious the tempest, driven
from the republican track.
There is nationality the political principles Of Gen
Pierce which entities him 10 the confidence ot the Dni -
Il CIV in every part o The Union. Devoted 10 the Conu
ton he knows North SOUTH ncr Easi, nor west
bur he looks with impartial eye the interest o every sec
ton In his construction ot The Constitution he is hs souh
as Jackson or Polk Calhoun; and ulwavcrng ir'en
OF tho Union he watches with Jealousy the rights oi ne
States best means OF maintaining iis Integrity anu
perpo;uty. ,,,;.,
Ihese things be trneif have fairly and ;rnhay eSh!o',
ted the career of Gen. Pierce - there within iEs s'un
of my voice whether Wig Deuocrlt, who docs ~" stl
in his heart that he is Tor the occasion emp !ai,
cslly the man for South TEt lh"y ne, appeal
TO he journals OF Congress las been m: purpose" pre-
sent facts without comment. heaz int thc pnaii sls "
our candidate his best v!ndcioapead 'oat eioqe-
" his claims upon the conht1nce OF the country.
r Fellow Citizens, how favorable opportunity does 'c
present aspect OF political airs ao!d Inc govern
mcnl back to ils pristine purity, bv hitting ts aaih'
ra:ion TO sound republican ike Gen Pierce III MS