The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-13
From the Manchsster IN. H. Democrat Of January
3, 1852
GEN PIERCE IN NEW BOSTON.

procure paSsage
way get up a ''manifcsto" against Mr.. Atwood,
which might go forth all over the State as tho &C
tual voice Of New Boston week previous to the
meeting, handbills were scattered all over tho
northern part of the county-from Litchfeld on the
east to Hillsboro' on the west-annouucing that
Gen. Franklin Pierce would address tho citizens Of
New Boston on Friday, the I'd day of January
II was manifestly the intention to have enough
"outsiders" present to aid citizens in making
the discovery, which acquaintance Of twenty five
years had Jailed to do, that John Atwood was
very BASE intriguing, and dishonest man!
Before noon on yesterday tho deputy sheriffs and
party fuglers in general began to arrive in town,
| and the bar room of the tavern was thronged with
those who were evidently preparing themselves for
| a demonstration. Little attention, however, was
paid to the meeting by the friends OF Mr.. Atwood,
and but comparatively few OF tfieAn were present.
OF the whole number assembled in the meeting
house, less than one third were citizens Of New
Boston. In fact many Of our people say, that more
than three fourths of those present from other
towns.
The meeting was called 20 order by Captain b.
Fletcher, who on taking the chair said tina us
Gen. Pierce was unwe Mr. b r Aver would
occupy portion of the time, and introduced him
to the audience. Mr. Aver spoke for three quarters
of an hour. He had evidently prepared himself Tor
the occasion, and considered the part he was act
ing as a very important ono AS his arguments,
and to a considerable extent his language. arc to
be found in the Patriot and other bunker papers OF
the past year, it is needless to repeat them. 10
State matters he was very anxious to have 1t un-
BILE for the corporation acts Of the last
and the individual liability law but for some ca use
he forgot to mention that the party had majority
in the Legislature, and he gave the liability law an
antiquity far before its actual origin in 1872.
General Pierce commenced his remarks by com
plimenting his "young friend, and announcing
that there other place where he could have
been induced 10 make political speech at the pre-
| sent time. He went through the stereotyPed in.
troductory of all his speeches in this region, aliud
ing in very feeling tones to the important fact that
| be was born in HiIlsboro' county-spoke OF be-
ing among the friends of his tather-said that ID.
Bennett 81 this town, built the fret stack of chin
nies in his athers house that was ever built in the
town of Hills boro'-called by name several in
dividuas present his especial acquaintance
and inquired if there any revolutionary soldier
present.
Some one in the audience announced that Mr.
| Abner Hogg, revolutionary soldier, (and In le4s
and '46 a member of the Legislature from New
Bcston,) still living but not present; and sec-
ond voice announced that he was a thorough At
wood man.
Gen P.-"A nd none The worse for that"
Voice.-"So think"
The General then proceeded to speak Of his ia
| Their and mother as riding horseback over rough
roads, and of the great improvements that have
been ma de within a few years. He referred TO the
Constituiion of the country, and piVus train Of
thought recognised the higher ln,r, and shat Poioer
aboue oil constitutions" His position here tcas so une-
quiuocal, that The Req. Mr.. Ross, formerly clergy
of this tO,Cn, could but assent TO IL as sufficient
Ia "fanat,ca to sa,fy the most ultra aboittionisf
| Gen. p. now proceeded to speak upon another
| topic which he is very apt TO dwell upon on all
occasons, not even excepting his efforts at the
bar->z., his own uaior 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
Goodae's pa per was full OF false insn nations upon
| this lpoint With n single exception, he chad led
his command in the blaze of every hatue''
This information was precisel Y what was needed:
| No official account having been rendered OF these
hray yp niCrht
| of them, if General Pierce had not impaired the
needed Information. There certainly are two facts
| in the Generals history that have not often occur
red to the great captains, Of either ancient or
| modern times
| 'He fought and fell
| But lived to teH."
The speaker norD took up the subject of slavery He
said 1t the greatest trouble of the country, and
pas regarded BY Washington. As for himself, he
'nsrer human being IN bondage ,cithout feeling
his heart rerot at it. Starery contrary TO the Con-
st,tuion respects-G moral blot upon The char
actcr of The nation. But ii can't be hslped' He re
ferred to the great peril in which the Union had
been placed. Some, and among them Rhstt OF
South Carolina, openly avowcd disunion; and John
p. Hale had 30 far joined in the movement as to
crack his jokes with Rhett and other sccessonists
For himself, he was in great distress when he heard
| that the Compromise measures had failed. He
was at Meredith, and told the people he wanted to
die if the Union TO be dissolve land dissolve
it must, if the Compromise measures did not
save it!
The General then introduced Mr. Webster to the
attention of his audience. He had b.cn charged
with going for Mr. Webster. The fact was be hac
always been opposed to that man. and his father
one time like to have lost his office of sheriff by
him. In company with Others he received an IN
vtation to dine with MIR Webster at franklin
His father often used to entertain Wings at dinner
Much had be.i! %rittcn as To what he said on tina
occasion al v!!l tell hat did say" said G enc
raj p; al said to Mr.. Webster, we never hav,
agreed before, and never may again. w,
, agree upon the Conpromi5e question, and let u
make the most OF it, He declared that there ha'
} been much silly lying about this matter; but omit
ted to state that the Boston Post, or its CORE
spondcnt, who was present at the dinner, was re
sponsb. for it. He declared that Mr.. Webste
! and MIR Clay were sincere in their efforts TO cav
the Union. Mr. Clay was dying, and if he hat
been sincere in every act of his life In the par
, he had taken in the Compromise measures, b
would receive from the great Judge what we all 8
much desire-the approval, ell done, good an
( faithful servant"
After few more ordinations in regard I
saving the Union, and announcing the fact that j
the late war "my own command and the Pal
| meuo regiment stood together on the field of bat
tle," the General again took up the Compromis
measures, ssyiug that the North got the kernel an
S the Syuth the she'll. lie repeated what Mr.. Aye
, had stated before 'that the present Fugitive Siav
law, about which go much noise ia made, tDdS IN u
n particular different from the lato Of l793, undo
! which had lived nearly sixty years"
Here Mr.. Foss said, that without interruptin
IL the speaker be wlshcd 10 make an inquiry. III 1
@ no particular different, why was it necessary
pass the present lawi
y General p. replied that the old law could not
executed because its execution depended on tn
| Stale courts do also said something which WI
II not fully understood about the law OF 1893,
. based partly on the common law.
he vas then asked, "Wss either the law Of 81
II or the present law, founded in any degree upo
n the common law!''
% Gen. Pterce.-"l can't gOiuto disquistion upc
the common law"
t, The inquiry wa0 then mad, "DO you regard Il
n features OF the Fugitive Slave law as consistcl
" with common iaw'
'e Gen Pierce -"IFtH if ! must anst5er. No, IL
not. IhaUs been asked II hked this fugrficc Sta
latp. Idnsiosred, no. IhaUs a most rscolfing fee
T. ing at The giving up II ,taUej The FNgit De STA
iutD is opposed 10 humanity. Here som. one n
re CURED. Is il not opposed 10 ,ighRl Yes, Il
Al opposed 10 moral right But fathers made Il
=, compact, and VIC must fulfil II. ! cay nothing
~ the humanity Of il, nothing of the right OF it,"
III Gen. p. then gave vivid description OF Il
be scenes that would occur il the law wac disregar
~ cd. First, party of twenty armed men wou
ma cross the Pennsylvania line 60 recover fugit
slaves; twenty would meet them TO defend q
vi slaves. Then five hundred would come, to be IN
he by an equal number; and before three mont
Epn M l.. {,