Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-09-07


sometimes in misapprehension, sometimes IN ina
iigpity were not to be anticipated. Honest mel
are sometimes deceived by such accusations
and may be unjust in repeating them, bHi the
ever contide in truth aud facts, and when unde
ceived, are sure TO be Just and generons. II
these we appeal under the firm conviction iha
our candidate has nothing 10 tear iiUm candi'
scrutiny OF his whole history
In a spirit of cruel and unjnst misr"presenta
ton, an effort has been made 10 d'sParage IN
military conduct. 1t is sufficient TO say, that h'
received the high Commeniation OF the command
inr General: and his brother officers OF al
grades have promptly vindicated his character
and by a minute detail OF facts shown the ut
most paIlantTY on his part. and the utility o
the attempt to injure him. The claims oil Gene
l raj Pierce to your support are not based on mere
military service. He has shown himself ready
"a any neTsonaI sacrifice, TO take up arms in de-
fenee al the honor ofsh,-SstrntIYs and. as lar as
i circumstances allowed he has Shown the ability
to maiutain her rights. But bis claims rest on
the solid basis of acknowledged talent, know
ledge of our institutions, experience in the civil
affairs of his country loyalty 10 the Constitution,
and frmness and fidelity in defending the just
! rights of all parts of his whole country.
An effort has been made TO excite donh's in
your minds OF his fidelity on the subject OF the
! Fugitive Slave Act. The truth is, when the
! country was distracted by the agi,a'ions OF the
| Abolit0nists, and tmd men at the North cover
eu before Tue EdsIuS SptIIt VI duAI'S'@tt'1 N'SA
! Southern men were murdered in The effort 10 re-
cover their property he among the few who bod
y came forward aud risked himsei! III favor OF
: The rights of the South, secured 10 them by the
Constitution, ard enforced by this act. The
proofs are beyond doubt, thatthe charge is base
creation Of wretchcs, who answered his manly
arguments in favor of the act by impudent hiss
es aud, unable to Overawe his gallant spirit,
and induce him 10 unite with them in opposition
to its provisions and its enforcement, have sought
to crafty their malignant hatred by falsely repre-
sentng him as holding opinions in common with
themselves. His enlarged patriotism regards
the whole country, and each and all, as entitled
10 his jealous support in the maintenance OF their
rights against outrage, IRON whatever quarter II
may fall: "Having fought the battle in New
Hampshire upon the Fugitive Slave Law, and
upon what we believe to be the ground o! COnSIi-
tutional right, we should, Of course, desire the
approval Of the Democracy OF the county
What wish to say distinctly is this: If the Com
promise measures are not to be substantially
and firmly maintained, the plain rights secured
by the Constitution will be trampled in the dust
What difference does it make to you or me-
whether the outrage shall seem TO fall upon 5.
Carolina, Maine or New Hampshire? Are not
the rights ofaIl equally dear 10 all -? lwiLi never
Weld TO a craren spirit, that from considerations
of policy would endanger the Union. THIS Is
his own language, and these noble sentiments
are characteristic of the man.
we are dWdIei IeiiO" GIihClIS3 VI thS SSl7''''S
state of the Southern mind in regardlo he oPin.
ions of Northern men on questions connected
with negro slavery. These charges OF hostility
10 the law which was intended To secure the
right to pursue and recover our fugitive slaves,
are designed to excite your distrust in the demo-
cratic party, and TO withdraw your attention from
the known character and opinions of many more
violent in opposing this very act. We warn you
not to suffer yourselves to he misled by any such
device. There are patriotic public men at the
North who contemn the foul spirit OF abolition
ism, who love the Union, and are ready to pro-
tect and defend the constitutional rights of the
South, at the risk of life itself. In COrro6Oration
Of these views we quote the language Oi dis
tinguished Wing OF this state, who, short time
since, was one of the Wing Electors tor the
State at large, and who has lately Witnessed
what he a1irms: 81 take leave to say that was
very highly gratitied spectator, and only regret
that every man in the South, could not sec and
hear all that | saw aud heard in Faneui Hall
last night, and at the great meeting az lllllsOO.
rough; for they a0Ould then feel, am sure, as 1
nOeC do, that the Democratic party Of Ne1C ingiGnd
is as sound upon The Compromise question and
the constitutional rights Of The South. the SOuh
iLSeC, and that The Union is safe in lis keeping -
We have no doubt Of the truth Of this remark.
We believe that Franklin Pierce, the rcPrescn-
tative ofthat party, is sound upon these questions
and that the history of his public career proves 1t.
We believe that he is devoted to the cons'itu
tionaI rights of the South, and that the Union
will be safe in his Keeping.
The aboitiOnists are the enemies OF the Union:
for, in their madness, they urge measures which
must, If successful, destroy the Federal compact;
and, TO gain their ends, their course is To de.
nounce, traduce and PROSTATE every Northern
man u no dares to defy them. do not let US be
guilty OF the folly Of promoting their policy by
listening to faIsehood, and refusing our conf
dence to Northern men whose whole lives show
thew are entitled 10 it. The sentiment, founded
10 hinhnr IhpO the Cons
which is entertained by some at the North, is by
no means universal, and those who do hold It,
are the unrelenting enemies OF Franklin FIERCE
Even now, while an attempt Is made 10 eXcIte
distrust of him at the South, the effort is made
at the North to show that he is supple tool oi
slave owners.
An abolition paper issued in Washington, has
published an article headed, " Mr.. Pierce and
the Anti Slavery Movement" in which are care
fully compiled all his votes in the House OF Re-
presenIatives and in the Senate, on questions
growing out of the Anti.slavery agitation siIcc
1893, and which concludes with the following
paragraph: sit may be said that others, in those
DAYS, voted as he Gid, who, since then, have
shown their devotion TO freedom. True, but ne
continued unchanged. When John p. Hale, his
intimate friend for twenty years, faithful to his
convictions of right, denounced the annexation
of Texas in defiance of the edicts of his party,
Mr.. Pierce, trampling under foot his long stand
| ing friendship turned upon the Independent re.
preventative followed on his track with reient-
less hostility, utterly Prescribed him, and com.
PEELED the Democratic press OF his Stale 10 eat
its own words on that question. From that time
he has been the leader of the Hunker Democra-
cy of New Hampshire /; and when Sir. Atwood,
the regular nominee of the Democratic parry
| frankly aVowed his disapprObalion of the FugI.
tive Slave Law, Mr.. Pierce attempted first to
brow.beat him into a reuaclion of his honest
words, and then led on the party in the work of
making a new nomination of ascertained devo-
ton TO the slaveholding interest"
A member Of Congress informs bis constiiu-
\ ents in Tennessee, over his own signature, that
thousands of copies of this document are now
being circulated at the North. with the view OF
showing there, that Gen. Pierce Is devoted to the
made to excite distrust of his fidelity TO the Con
stitution, by representing him as having opposed
the Fugitive Slave Law. :.
II is an insnlt to your understanding to sup
pose that you can be csjoed by such an artitce
| or that von can be deceived iuto the abandon