Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-21
Cen. Pierce On tine Fugitive Slave
Law.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE.

| EnW.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE.
The Washington Republic has, brought to iigh
the following important publications, which being
of great general interest we publish at length;
From. The IadeYendea. Democrat, published al
Concord, .Ne,c Hampshire.
AT the meeting appointed at New Boston Cen
tie on Friday afternoon of January I'd, by Gen
Franklin Pierce to address the citizens Of tina
town in regard to the difficulties between himself
and portion of the Democrats of that section, he
occupied the hour of his in defending his military
character. He explained the circumstance OF his
Paintings; and declared that, with the exception
of single occasion, he had led his command In
the blaze of every battle"
After this he commenced speaking upon the
Fugitive Slave Law. He said that it differed III
TO important particular from the law of 1893. A
clergyman who was present said, that as the lnvl-
tation had been given. he would like to make an
inquiry: "Do you regard the features of the Flu
gitive Slave Law as consistent with common
law~
General Pierce Immediately replied: 'F
must o,s,ccr the question, I say no, do not.
hare been asked if liked this Fugitive Stare ac.
ans,oered no, Iioathed 1t. Ihaue most resott-
ing feeling at the giving up ga slare; the tatc is
opposed TO humanity"
Here Mr.. Foss inquired, 'Ifit were not oppcs-
ed to ripht as well as humanity?" General
Pierce replied: "Yes, it is opposed to moral
right"
The above is the substance of General Pierce's
remarks upon the Fugitive Slave law. The quo
tation marks include the very language used by
the General, as taken down at the time it was ut
tered.
From the .Nenchester az H. Democrat Of Jar,',-
ucry 6, 1852.
GEN. PIERCE IL NEW BOSTON.
New BosToH, Jan. 3, 1852.
MIR. Editor Some weeks ago Gen. Pierce
sent word to certain of the friends OF Mr. Atwood
in New Boston that he was about to address the
people Of this town, in order that he might set
himself right in the case Of Letitia Blaisdell.-
This, however. was considered to be mere pre-
text while the real Object Of his mission would be
to procure the passage Of some resolutions, or In
some way get up ''manfesto" against Mr.. At
wood, which Nigh go forth all over the State as
the actual voice of New Boston. A week previ-
Gus to the meeting ,hand-bs were scattered all o.
yer the northern part of the county, from Litch-
field on the east to Hillsboro' on the west-an-
nouncing that Gen. Franklin Pierce would address
the citizens of New Boston on Friday, the I'd day
of January 1t was manifestly the intention to
have enough considers" present to aid our cit-
zeus in making the discovery, which an acqualnt-
ance of twenty five years had failed to do, that
John Atwood was very base, intriguing and dis
honest man
Beforenoon on yesterday the deputy sheriffs and
party fuglcrs in general began to arrive In town,
and the bar-room of the tavern was thronged with
those who were evidently preparing themselves
for demonstrations Little attention, however,
was paid to the meeting by the friends Of Mr. At
wood, and but comparatively few Of them were
present. Of the whole number assembled in the
meetng-ho less than third were citizens of
New Boston. In fact, many OF our people Gay.that
more than three fourths Of those present were from
other towns
The meeting was called to order by Captain B.
Fletcher. who, on taking the chair, said that as.
Cen Pierce was unwel, Mr. B + Aver would
occupy PARTON Of the time, and introduced him
to The audience. Mr., Aver spoke FOR three quar-
tiers Of an hour. lie had evidently prepared him
self for the occasion, and considered the part he
was acting as Very important one. As his argu-
ments. and to a considerable extent his language,
arc to be found in the Patriot and other HunSer
papers Of the past year, 1t is needless to repeat
them. In State matters he was very anxious to
have it understood that the Hunker party were not
responsible for the corporation acts Ct the last Leg
isature, and the individual liability law; but for
some cause he forgot to mention that the party had
q majority in the Legislature, and he gave the Ii
ability law an antiquity far before its actual origin
in 1912.
General Pierce commenced his remarks by COM
plimenting his ''young friend" and announcing
that there was no other place where he could have
been induced to make political speech at the
present time. He went through the stereotyped
Introductory Of Ill his speeches in this region, aln-
ding in very feeling tones TO the important fact
that he was born in Hilsboro county-spoke of
being among the friends of his father-sald that
d. Bennett, of this town, built the first stack OF
chimnes in his fathers house that was ever built
in the town Of Efsboro'; called by name several
individuals present as his especial acquaintance
and inuur d if there was any revolutionary sol
der present.
Some one in the audience announced Mr.. Abner
Hoqg. revolutionary soldier, (and in lS45 and
'46 member of the Legislature from New Bos-
ton. was still living but not present; and Sc
cond voice announced that he was thorough At
wood man.
Cen. P.-"And none The ,coFse for that"
Voice-''So think"
The General then proceeded 10 speak of his IA
Their and mother as riding horseback over rough
roads, and Of the great Improvements that have
been made within few years. lie referred to the
constitution Of the country, aud IN pious taino
thought recognized The higher lar, and shat poac-
er a5oce all Constitutional HIS position here wGS
SO ui,squirocal, that the Rev Mr. Foss formerly q
Clergyman Of his torn, could bit assent to it as s
fcienly ia 'atica' 10 a'iJy the most ultra abo-
tioliSs.
Gen. P pow proceeded to speak upon another
topic which he is very apt TO dwell upon on all &C.
casions, net excepting his efforts at the bar
viz his own relcr in the Mexican war. Most of
those who had returned from that war had Jared
better than he had. There had been many foolish
lies in regard to his bravery. and Goodale's paper
was full of false nsinuations upon this point
With q single exception, he chad led his command
in the blaze OF every battle!"
This information was precisely what was need
ed. No official account having been rendered of
these deeds Of bravery, we might remain in ignor-
ance Of them, if General Pierce had not impaired
the needed information. There certainly are two
facts in the Generals history that have not often
occurred to the great captains, Of either ancient OF
modern times
''IIe fought and fell, ta
,.. But lived to tell arf
The speaker noD took up tic subject fslaruy
He said IL ,cGs The greatest trouble Of the country
and was so regarded by Washington. as for him
self, he ':necer SAFE htmla,t being IN bondage
,cithom feeling his heart reuoh al IL. Slacery /;
contrary 10 The Constitution ii, some respectS-d
moral blot upon The character q the nation. Bu
IL can't be helped" He referred to the great per
il in which the Union had been placed. Some
and among them Rhett Of South Carolina, openly
o,,o,.oJ diounion. and John y Hale had Ga f.,