Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-09-24
From the Flyria sohn) ccafias luly q. 1852.

Presidential canvass believing thatyour candar viii
grant impartial hearings ard that yeu will act
in the premises with sincere desire to discharge
the important trust confded to you by our laws, IN
such manner. as to secure the greatest amount OF
good yourselves and to the principles which you
so dearly cherish |
The two great political parties. have held their
nominating Conventions, and have presented to you
their candidates for the Office of Chief Magistrate OF
the nation The Democrats have nominated Frank
lin Pierce and the Wings have nominated General
Winfield Scott. zasg
With the former, YOU are doubtless but little &C
quainted He has occupied seat in the National
House of Representatives has served few years IN
II. S.sSenate, and served during one campaignln
Mexico, holding commission as fBrgadIer General
under Gen. Scott COMMANDMENT Chief of the Amer
lean Armies. OF his private character citizen,
we do not design to speak, His public acts, and po-
tical opinions, alone, are to form the basis OF your
actions when you cast your sntrages for OF against
him.
In regard to his political sentiments, there is no
diversity of opinion. During his briefpolitical career
in Congress, he uniformly sustained every measure
OF importance which the slave holders deman ded for
the security and perpetuty of their cherished instr
buttons, and uniformly opposed the construction OF
harbors, &C.. Northern frontier. n proof of
these facts refer you TO his votes while in Con-
gross and first his opposition TO the right Of petition
" On Monday, the 26h of December, 1885, John Quincy
Adams presented petition for the abolition of slavery and
the the District of Columbia. It moved
to lay it the table. The motion adopted by vote
of l16 ayes to Sc nays
| Franklin Pierce voted against the reception of the
petition, and for laying it on the table. See Con-
gressional proceedings for December goth, 1886.
On the 18th of January 1897 223 South Wey
mouth asked the privilege ofpetioning Congress in regard
to slavery Their prayer was refused by vote of 100 to
| Franklin Pierce voted eainst these women hav
ing the right petition Congress, and in favor of
rejecting the petition. [See Cong. proceedings for
Jan. 9, 1927.
.'Tho day, John W; Davis moved to suspend the
rules in order to aTesouon not to receive petit
lions upon the subject of slavery
Franklin Pierce voted for the motion, although it
was not adopted, because two-thirds of the members
did not vote for it. See Cong. proceedings for jan
uary 10, 1887
| On the 18th day of January, 1887 Mr. Halves Of
fered the following resolution:
Rcsotred That all petitions, memorials resolution
propositions Or papers relating in any way or to any extent
ithout being printed referred be laid the table, and
40 further action had thereon g?
The record shows that Mr. Pierce was among its
warmest supporters, and voted for the resolution.
These facts, taken from the journals of the House,
show that Mr.. Pierce warm supporter of Ath-
ertons infamous gag resolution, which forbid the
cepton of any petition relating to the subject of
slavery.
- How do his votes stand recorded the question
of River and 4arbor improvements, question of vast
importance to the people of the North and almost
universally opposed by the South By reference. to
the journals, it will be seen that he has uniformly
voted against the bills that have been introduced for
this purpose and hence the following resolution,
adopted at the late Baltimore Democratic Conyen-
ton, meets his earnest approval: "a
RESOLVED That the Constitution does not confer upon
general the power to and carry
on a general system of internal improvements
The warmest supporters of Franklin Pierce, do not
claim that he is entitled to any merit, as an anti
slavery man. This would be so utterly inconsistent
with all his public acts both while he was in Con-
gress, and since his nomination, that it would be
| fo11 Is otto, aIat1 10
ry has been uniform and always such as to COM
nand the appreciation of the slavery propagandsts
The following resolutions adopted at the late
Baltimore Democratic Convention: ....-.
Resolped That Congress no power under the Con-
suton interfere with control the domestic institutions
of States and that such States the sole and
prohibited by the constitution That all efforts Of 40
oionist Others made to induce Congress tote5e cih
thereto are calculated lead to the alarming and dan
geros consequences and that all such efforts have inev
eudanger the stability and pcrmanency of the Union and
ought be countenanced by friend of political
Resolued That the foregoing proposition covers, and
intended to embrace the whole subject slavery agta
ton Congress- therefore the Democratic party
Union standing this National PLATFORM syU abide By
@ 9dhs, to aa sgsf d S f s Ge e the
for yecaii"g ng'tves from service or labor Included ehiG
constitmfion Cannot 10Th fey Thereto be repealed or 50
changed as to destroy or impair its efficiency. >,
tempts at renermg r Congress out it, the agitation of
the avery question: under shape COLOR The attempt
may be mQde.'
This resolution not only sustans the Compromise
Measures, but it makes the Fugitive Slave Law a
par! of the constitution, by aedgng that it cannot
be changed as to impair its efficiency, without
olnting the Constitution Not only does it do this,
but it pledges the Democratic party to RESIST call
attempts at renewing an Congress out of 1t, the
agitation of the slavery question, under aoboteuer
shape color the attempt may be made !! The
adoption of these resolutions by the Convention,
would not of itself be fatal objection TO the support
| of Gen. Pierce. provided he did not approve their
sentiments. But the contrary is Enthusiastically true.
as the following extract from his letter of acceptance
will abundantly prove:
accept the nomination upon the Platform adopted by
The Convention because it is expected of me,
date because the principles it embraces command the
appreciation of my Judgment, and with them think can
safely that there has been word action of life
in conflict
Here is an unequivocal declaration that the prin-
cples set forth in the above resolutions his prn-
ciples, and not only that but he points with appa-
rent satisfaction to the fact that word action
of his life, has been an conflict scih them Can
freemen at the North sustain such man. Can
n they even permit person entertaining such senti-
= ments to be elected TO post where his influence
would be almost unlimited, without assuming q re.
spons blty from which it would be impossible to
cape?
5, We have been thus minute. in abiding to the po
stion of Gen. Pierce because do not des gn to dc
( him injustice and because wish to contrast his
position with that of Gen. Scott that you may the
better Judge what your DUTY is in the coming cleo
ton. e shall present this matter in candid, and
n we trust, in perspicuous manner and to do
shall be under the necessity of reviewing the posi-
:, ton of the Wing party during the last two years