The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-12

We have published the remarks of nearly
all the New Hampshire papers that have
reached us, in reference to General P1LRoE's
condemnation of slavery and the Fugitive
law at New Boston, and our readers cannot
have failed to notice the unanimity with which
the journals we have quoted assert the re-
liableness of the reports of the Manchester and
Concord Democrats, and their adaptation to
the exigencies Of the Democratic party at
that period. We now present another witness.
having all the advantages Of local knowledge
the Nashua IN. H.) 1slegraph-whose expla-
nation of the case accords exactly with that of
majority of its contemporaries. The Isle.
graph says:
During the canvass of the last election in this
State it s we'll known that the Locofoco party
tremendously alarmed at the prospect Of defeat.
In consequence Of the detection of a very large
number of the rank and file of the party upon the
morality Of the Compromise measures, led of by
| John Atwood, their ranks we're becoming reduced
beyond what was regarded as point Of safety, and
something must be done to stay the tide which was
sweeping away their strength. In this contngen.
cy Frank Pierce, who had been the chief inqusi-
tor in the ostraczation Of Mr.. Atwood, felt called
upon to do something, and he went about from
| town to town addressing the terrified Democracy.
His first effort, we believe, was made at New Bos-
ton, the residence of Mr.. Atwood, where the party
had become very seriously impressed with the idea
| that the Fugitive Slave law was opposed to the
moral law, and had forsaken their old leaders to
most alarming extent. According to the papers
of his own party. he went into an explanation Of
the introduction of slavery into the country, as he
expressly declared, against the moral sense Of the
,ohole icord and then went into the merits Of the
Fugitive Slave law itself.'
After reprnting the controverted accounts of
General PIERcE's speech, the Telegraph pro-
ceeds to remark
"These quotations have found their way to the
South, and have occasioned a stir there which has
put his friends at the North in a most delightful
state of confusion and alarm, and they have set
themselves about denying that he made any such
statements or any thing making the least approach
to them. B. F. Aver, of Manchester, and j. M.
Campbell, editor of the Manchester Union Demo
crat, have written letters to the Locofoco members
OF Congress from this Stale, declaring these reports
| to be entirely false These letters are communica.
ted to the Union, in most solemn form, by the Hon.
| Moses Norris, c. H. Peaslee, and Harry Hibbard
| To the card Of these distinguished gen tlemen
the Washington Republic replies, by publishing
the strong Abolition resolutions passed by the New
Hampshire Legislature in lS47, signed by Moses
| Norris and Harry Hibbard-one as Speaker, and
the other as Clerk Of the House. Mr.. Norris also,
| az s we'll remembered, made most violent Abo-
| ition speech, declaring that he should be willing
| to go further than the resolution Themselves >
And this matter, while il places these gentlemen
in very awkward position, shows very conclu
sively that such were the unanimous sentiments Of
the Locofoco party in this State at that time
Frank Pierce among the rest.
| "But we have now to do with what Frank Pierce
himself said at New Boston. In the above reports
he 10 declared to have said that the Fugitive Slave
law is opposed to moral right, and this declaration
is declared to be false. Mr.. Aver and Mr.. Camp
bell declare it 10 be 80, and long certificate, got
up and sigued by number Of gcntlemen-B. B.
Whttemore, editor Of the Gazette, aad Mr.. Camp
bell, the editor Of the Union Democrat, among the
rest, and published in the Boston Post-says these
| reports are "a tissue Of ialsehoods from beginning
| to end 1t is matter perfectly capable OF proof
that the reports substa ntialIy correct; but let
that pass for the pre- sent, and see what the Man.
chester Union Democrat, edited by this very J. M
Campbell, said at the time In It's account Of the
meeting at New Boston, the week after, it stated
the heads of Pierce's speech, and in it we find the
| following:
".He spoke Of the difficulties attending the for.
nation OF the Constitution. With no model for
guide, and with some discordant elements to har.
mon,ze. the labor and anxiety Of the convention
was intense Siaucry had been introduced into por.
tions Of The States in their colonial condition. 40 AiNsr
THE MORAL SENSE or THE WHOLE WORLD.
"Now, il this is not saying in pretty strong terms,
too that slavery exists and is sustained in opposi.
ton TO moral right, we confess our inability to IN
derstand very plain English. Docs the moral
sense Of the whole world condemn slavery and
Frank Pierce approved There cannot be a shadow
of doubt that in his speech he expressed him.
self strongly against slavery and the Fugitive Slave
law. There was every motive to induce him to do
SO. He wac addressing community in which the
anti-s!avery element had been strongly developed,
and endeavorng to win back to the fold Of his par.
ty those who had strayed away from it, Il was no
time or place to sing halleujahs to slavery, or any
OF its appendages, and he didn't do il. What
he wanted to do was, to convince them that he
was just as good an Abolidonist as the best Of