Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-08-02
The Proof Thickeus.

Obscure as was The political career OF
Franklin Pierce, minute and patient inquiry
has brought to light several incidents in his
public life that abundantly account for the
lacrity " it'll which his nomination for the Pres
idency was hailed by Van Buren,, Ran,oul,
Chase and other Free-soil leaders. So ron.
clusively do these developments establish bis
complete identity with the anti slavery feeling
of the abol tionists. and his utter aversion and
loathing of the domestic institutions of the
South. that we cannot but believe. that the
Baltimore deleg ,'es from the slavery section
were imposed upon and deceived by the
more astute and Letter informed members from
the North.
A gentleman from Virginia, some years ago.
says the Richmond Wing, moved to the Dis
,rict of Columbia. He subsequently desired
to remove thi,her two family servanrs-which,
by the law. he could not do without an act OF
Congress. He made application to Congress
for permission. "The Young Franklin" was
member Of the House. His heart revol,ed
so much at the sight Of human being in bon.
dage," that he would not consent that the
Virginian should bring his slaves to the Dis
,rict. He VOTED AGAINST THE PERMISSION.
See the authentic record below:
"An act authorizing Edmund Brooke. to re.
move to the District OF Columbia two slaves
owned by him prior to his removal from
Virginia.
BE it enacted &C.. That Edmund Brooke,
Of Georgetown. in the District of Columbia.
be authorized, and permission is hereby grant
ed him. to bring from the State Of Virginia into
the said District of Columbia. tw negro slaves.
namely, John and Alfred. the property of the
said Brooke, and to have and to exercise the
same rights of property and of ownership over
the said slaves. as if they had been brought by
the said Brooke into the said district at the
time of his removal to the said District of CO.
lumbia. any law, custom or usage TO the con-
trsry notw ithstanding. This act shall be in
force from its passage" Approved June 30.
ls34-(Vide Little 4 Brow n. g private acts, p.
6OO)
tatives June 18th, 1884. " hen Mr.. Wardwell
moved to lay it on the table. which failed -
yeas 60, nays 95-FRANKLIN PIERCE roting in
the a6frmatre- and thereupon the bill passed:
yeas LOG, nays ~. FRANKLIN PIERCE roting in
the megatire-(V Vide H. jour, LIST Sess. 23d
Congress p. 743.)
We repeat our belief that the Southern del
gates to the Baltimore Convention were i'm
posed upon and deceived. Absolute as we
believe ,heirserviliiy to party, We cannot think
that they would knowingly have consented
to the nomination Of man. so deeply imbued
with the fanatical preiudices of the North, as
Franklin Pierce But their heedlessness in a
matter ofsuch vital importance. is but little
less criminal than wilful connivance at the
outrage committed upon Southern feeling and
rights. by the Nomination of n1an-with
Pierce's antecedents. Experience should have
made them cautious The recollection Of Van
Buren, and Cass and VIM. J. Brown, and the
various mishaps that have befa.len them. in
their search after Northern men, with South.
ern feeli gs-should have opened their eyes
to the danger of giving their confidence to a
man. every act Of whose public life, was not
known to them. 1t is not yet too late for them
to retrieve theiverror. by sban' oning him to
the support ofhis contTeres-'he aboli:ionsts
and Free soilers.