The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-07-21
dressed to the editor Of the Puritan, a re-
liglous paper. The writer says:

llglous paper. The writer says:
"Of Franklin Pierce cannot do other
wise than speak well; for it happened +
f me, during a short term Of official servic
| in Bowdoin College, during the presiden
cy Of DR.. Allen, to know him as schola
} there, and while resident in this region I,
know him as senator. A very frank
gentemanly ,unobtrusive manis he, strong
ly devoted TO his political principles, kint
and constant in his friendships, venerat
| ing the institutions of religion, and while
living here attended upon the most evan
gellcal preaching in the CITY,"
1t would be easy TO present columns
MIR. Pierce's speeches. These, together
with his votes, present him as a politician
lot the Virginia school, in favor of an
economical administration of the genera
government, of strict construction of the
constitution, and as republican Of the
Jeffersonian cast. They present him as
one who has uniformly acted according to
fixed principles. swerving neither for sym.
pathy nor friendship nor interest from the
constitutional path, but, under the gui-
dance Of this, honestly and fearlessly per-
forming his public duties. They show
him to be thoroughly identified with the
principles and measures Of the great par
ty which, for so many years since the
adoption Of the present frame of govern.
ment, has successfully, in peace and war,
carried the country onward and upward
Mr. Pierce's various speeches on the
abolition question, commencing when first
member of the House, and continuing
almost to the close Of his senatorial term,
will serve to give his views on the living
question now before the country. On this
point he has pursued but one course, and
it has always been decided and frank.
Congress had no constitutional power to
interfere with slavery in the States conse.
quenily Mr.. Pierce said, in 1888:
The citizen of New Hampshire is no
more responsible, morally or politically,
for the existence and continuance of this
domestic institution in Virginia or Mary
land than he would be for the existence of
any similar institution in France or Per.
sia. Why! Because these are matters
over which the States respectively, when
delogang portion of their powers to be
eEorclS93 BY the general government, re-
iaiaed the whole and exclusive Control,
add Tor which they are alone responsible.
Snow, let these doctrines be universally
understood and you take one great step
towards satisfying the consciences of hon.
est but misguided people in one section of
he country, and quieting the irritation, for
which there has been too much cause, in
he other"
Again, in 1910 he thus expressed his
'iews Oh this subject:
81 do earnestly hope that every honest
nan who has sincerely at heart the best
interests of the slave and the master NAV
10 longer be governed by blind zeal and
impulse, but be led to examine this subject,
% full of delicacy and danger, in all its
'earings; and that, when called upon to
end their names and influence to the cause
# agitation, they may remember that we
i've under a written constitution. which is
ne panoply and protection OF the South as
veil as the North, that 1t covers the " hole
Union, and is equally guarantee, for the
nmolested enjoyment of the domestic in.
ttution, in all its parts; and trust, further,
hat they will no longer close their eyes to
ne fact, that so far as those in whose well
are they express so much feeling are con-
erned. this foreign interference has been,
nd must inevitably continue to be, evil,
nd only evil"
In l842 Mr. Pierce resigned his seat in
ne Senate, in the following letter: /.
WASHINGTON, June 90. 1842.
Sra: Having informed the governor of
Jew Hampshire that on this day my seat
! the Senate of the United States would
ecome vacant by resignation, have
fought proper to communicate the fact to
on and the Senate.
In severing the relations that have so
ing subsisted between the gentlemen with
HON lhave been associated, my feeling
{ pain and regret will readily be appre-
lated by those who know that, in all my /
itercourse during the time have been
'ember of the body, no unpleasant oc-
lrrence has ever taken place to disturb $
u moment my agreeable relations with {
ny individual senator. a i
Witha desire for the peace and happi. ,
ess oil you all, for whichnow, in the full q
ess Of my heart. find no forms Of ex- /
'essioD. lhave the honor to be, with the /
ghest consideration, 81. n
Your obedient servant, >
FRANKLIN PIERCE. d
Hon. SAMUEL l.. SoUTHARD, President /
the Senate. rs 3Ys4s n
Thus did ayoungman only thirty seven '
ears of age voluntarily resign one of the O
CHEST and the most honorable Offices in
e gift Of the American nation. and with
e fixed purpose Of not entering public
3, so as to be separated from his family, Q
lless his country in time of war should d
ii for his services And this was pe- o
I'd of life when ambition, the love Of
,wer, the desire Of prelerment, is apt 10 a