The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-08-04

Gen. Pierce is charged, athome, with hav-
ing said, ..-,--.....--...-.....---
EE He did not regard the fugitive
slave law as consistent with common lawl
H That he "loathed" the fugitive
Slave laM!l
EE- That he had "a most revolving
feeling at the giving up Of a slave"!!
EV That 1the law is opposed to hu-
manity"l
EIThat at is opposed to moral right!
This is q newspaper statement; the cor
rectness of which, says the Richmond
Times, "has never yet been questioned. -
We publish it, as Journalist, for the in
formation and judgment Of our readers.
The Times says:
The Washington Republic copies the
following extraordinary development from
the Independant Democrat, ajournal pull
lished in Concord New Hsmshire, the
residence of Gen. Pierce. Its correctness
has never yet been questioned:
From Me Independent Democrat, publish
ed at Concord, Ne,o Hampshire.
At the meeting appointed at New Bos-
ton Centre on Friday afternoon of Jan
uary I'd, by Gen. Franklin Pierce, to 3D.
dress tho citizens of that town in regard
to the difficulties between himself and a
portion of the Democrats of that section,
lie occupied the hour Of his in defending
his military character. He explained the
circumstance of his faintings, and declared
that "with the exception, Of single oc-
casion he had led his command in the
blaze Of every battle"
After this he commenced speaking up
on the Fugitive Slave law. He said that
it differed in no important particular from
the law of 1893. A clergyman who was
present said, that as the invitation had
been given, he would like to make an in
quiry: "Do you regard the features of the
Fugitive Slave law as consistent with Com
mon law2"
General Pierce Immediately Replied
"y I must ans,oer the question, I say no,
7 do not. hare been asked fl liked
this Fugitive Slave lar. I answered no,
I iodthed IL. I have most rerolting
feeling at the giving up of a SLAVE, the la,c
IS opposed to humanity"
Here Mr.. Foss inquired, "If it were not
opposed to right as well rs humanityi"-
General Pierce replied: AYES, it is opposed
to moral right"
The above is the substance Of General
Pierce's remarks upon 1.-The Fugitive Slave
law. The quotation marks include the
very language used by the General, as
taken down at the time it was uttered.
The above is corroborated by the fol-
lowing from the Manchester IN. H.) Dem
ocrat Of January 9th, 1852. That paper
speaking Of the same speech Of General
Pierce, at the meeting on the I'd January,
says:
"7he speaker noW took up the subject of
slavery. He said a. scas The greatest trou-
Die Of the country, and Dds so regarded
by Washington. As for himself he "nec.
er sdp human being IN bondage ,cithout
feeling his heart revolt at Il. Slavery is
contrary 20 the Constitution ia some re-
speets-d moral 1iot upon The character of
the nation. But IL can't be helped" He
referred to the great peril in which the
Union had been placed. Some, and among
them Rhett Of South Carolina, openly
ayowed disunion; and John p. Hale had
so far joined in the movement as to crack
his jokes with Rhett and other secession
lists. For himself, he was in great distress
when he heard that the Compromise mea-
sures had failed. He was at Meredith,
and told the people he wanted to die II
the Union was to be dissolved-and dis
solve it must, if the Compromise measures
did not save it.
"The General then IT, troduced Mr.. Web.
ster to the attention of his audience. He
had been charged with going for Mr..
Webster. The fact was he had always
been opposed to that man, and his father
at one time like to have LIST his office OF
Sheriff by him. In company with Others
he received an invitation TO dine with Mr..
Webster at Franklin. His father often
used to entertain, Wings at dinner. Much
had been written as to what he said on
that occasion. al will tell what did say, n
said General p; ~ said to Mr. Webster,
we never have agreed before, and we never
may again. We agree upon the Com
promise question, and let us make the
most Of it." He declared that there had
ed much silly lying about this matter
Lut omitted to state that the Boston Post
Or its correspondent, who was present at
the dinner, was respon ible for it. He
declared that Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay
were sincere in their efforts tn save the
Union. Mr.. Clay was diving, and If he
had been rs sincere in every act Of his life
as in the part he had taken in the Com.
promise measures, he would receive from
the great Judge what we all so much desire
the approval, "Well done, good ard
faithful sery want" aa
"After few more exclamations in
rgard to saving the Union, and announc.
ing tie fact that in the late ware "my own
command and the Palmetto regiment
stood together on the field Of battle" the
General again took up the Compromise
measures, saying that the North got the
kernell and the South the shell. He re.