Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-25
The Democratic Free-soil support

Among the speeches made at the late Free-SOil
Convention was one by Mr.. Watson u. Haynes,
in which he exhibited what the New York Ex-
press well styles the Frce-Soil face''of the Dem
ocratio party. He said
GAS many gentlemen have expressed prefer
ence Ton Mr.. Hale, and some manifested prefer
ence tor Gen. Scott against Gen Pierce, take
the liberty OF saying something in favor of the lat
ter-to present some of the reasons why Franklin
Fierce has some claims, at least, upon the ANTI
Slavery vote OF the country; presuming, as DO,
that If Slavery is ever abolished 1t must be BY the
Democracy.
Tn the ranks of the Democracy the friends OF
Freedom have been found in great numbers. IL is
also true that many OF the former friends of free
dom have efl us, as distinct 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
10 Pierce. Now. can we suppose that all these
men, and papers, who now advocate Pierce have
entirely abandoned their former principles and pro-
LESSONS of fidelity to the cause Of freedom?
| cannot believe that 50 many men are now re-
ereant to the principles they strongly advocated in
lS4Si Have not these men stated that they are.
even now, as strongly attached to the principle of
Freedom as in lS4S and that they intend to bring
all the influence they can to bear on the admins
tratlon of Gen. Pierce if he is elected. Gas he is
pretty sure to be. by the great Protestant Demo-
cratic Party of the Union for repeal of the Flu
gitive Slave Law. the abolition Of slavery where
ever the Federal Government can reach it,and the
great furtheTance of our cause2 Don't we find the
strongest man in 1913, our Presidential candidate
OF that election, amongst them-ranged under the
banner of Franklin Pierce the favorte son of free
State-a Free Soil State-a Protestant State-in
which POpery has no power, and Roman Cathc-
lie cannot hold office Our old friends, assure
YOU, kao,c their men, aud have no kind ofdoubts
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. Cas-, lS48, if all
the Free Sellers are to forsake the good old Dem
ocratic Platform of Equal Rights don't mean
the late platform, adopted at Baltimore; don't re-
spect that platform, nor is it possible that such
men as the following can respect it:
Ex-President Martin Van Buren, John Van Blu
rem, Hon. Benz. F Butler, Hon. J A Dix, VIM {
Bryant Of the Evening Post, editors of the Buffalo
Republic. Rochester Advertiser, Albany Atlas
Hon Preston King, Hon Martin Grover, Hon
Floyd, Hon Gilbert Dean. Fl B Stanton, Hon LIE
vi S Chatfeld, Hon H H Van Dyke, Hon HOr
ace Wheaton, Hon Timothy Jenkln, and Hon L
Y Howe, Jr., all of New York.
In Ohio will merely point to J w Gray, o
the Cleveland Plaindealer, Hon d K Carter, Hor
j Cable, Judge Beldin, Hon Brnkerhoff
Judge Potter Walk. of the editorial corps
Judge Kennon and Gen w NJ Blake, among thou
sands.
b + Hallet, of Mass. Hon John Wentworth
and DIR Maloney, of Ill.,; Hon T II Benton, of Mis-
souri, John Atwood, of N H.; Hon Chauncey I
Cleveland, of Conn; Hon B Fl Thurston, OF r
l.; Hon Hannibal Hamlin, of Me-; Hon A II Blu
ell, of Michigan; Ii Dodge, p Walker, and Elk
Gov j ID Doty, of Wis; with Hons ID Wilmo
and G A Grove Sanderson and w Guern
sey, of Penn. and DIR ID Gazzam and Maj L
Lynch, this very city.
This list of the friends of freedom zealouSly sup
port Mr. Pierce, and think ou,sir, that these mel
can be induce to pander to slavery2 Never =
They are freemen, the sons of freemen. born il
tree States and thoroughly attached to the princi
piles of freedom and aiding in the election of Ger
Pierce, in fact electng him. if he shall be elected
they will take their full share Of the offices of tn
Government, and set their influence against slave
ry and make it effectual, (Applause) Now my
idea, and the idea of the majority of the commu
nifty from which came,is that Gen. Pierce is en-
titled to support as the best anti-savery man o
the two candidates nominated at Baltimore.