Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-21
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MONDAY, SEPT. 2l, 1863.
Frank Pierce to JET. Davis.

print. A copy of this was sent to the Com
cord On. H. Democrat, by Capt. VIM. H..
Gibbs of the second Illinois brigade, who has
in his possession the original The letter is
as follows:
"CLARENDoN HOTEL, January 9th, 1860.
"My dear Friend: wrote you an unsatis
factory note day or two since. | have Just
had a pleasant interview with Mr.. Shepley,
whose courage and fidelity are equal to his
learning and talents. He says he would rather
fight the battle with you as the standard bear
or in 1860 than under the auspices of any
other leader. The feeling aud Judgment of
Mr. Shepey in this relation is, l am conf
dent rapidly gaining ground in New Eng
land. Our people are looking for the coming
maa-une who is raised by all the elements
OF his character above the atmosphere breathed
by politicians. a man really fitted tor this
emergency by his ability, courage, broad
statesmanship and patriotism. Col. Seymour
(Thomas H. arrived here this morning and
expressed his views in this relation in almost
the identical language used 10y Mr.. Shepley
1t Is true that in the present state of things at
Washington, and throughout the country, no
man can predict what changes two or three
months may bring forth. Let me suggest that
in the many debates OF congress, full Justice
mocracy of the north. | do not believe our
friends at the south have any just idea of the
state Of feeling hurrying at this moment to the
pitch OF intense evaporation, between those
who respect their political obligations, and
those who have apparently no impelling power
but that which tanatical passion on the subject
OF domestic slavery imparts. Without dis
cussing the question of right-of abstract
power to seeded have never believed that
actual disruption of the Union can occur with
out blood; and if, through the madness of
northern aboltiOnists, that dire calamity must
come the fighting will not be along Mason
and DiXon'S line merely. 1t will be within
our own borders, in our own streets, between
the Two classes OF citizens to whom l
have referred. Those who defy law and
scout constitutional Obligations will, if we ever
reach the arbltrament OF arms, find occupa-
ton at home. Nothing but the state of Mrs.
Pierce's health would induce me to leave the
country now, although it is quite likely that
my presence at home would be of little ser
vice. | have tried to impress upon our peo-
pie, especially in New Hampshire and Con-
n1cticut, where the only elections are to take
place during the coming spring, that, while
our Union meetings are all in the right direc-
tion and well enough for the present. they will
not be worth the paper upon which their reso-
political abolitionism at the polls and repeal
the unconstitutional and obnoxious laws which
in the cause of personal liberty have been
placed upon our statute books. l shall look
with deep interest and not without hope for u
decided change IN this relation.
Ever and uly your friend,
"FRANKLIN PIERCE.
'Hon. JEFF. Davis. Washington, ID. c."
1t will be seen that Pierce fully understood
at that time that the southern extremists were
organizing conspiracy to break up the Union.
He speaks of this matter freely and Familiarity,
as if he were in full sympathy with the con-
spirators. He has not word of warning to
utter, not a syllable of rebuke, but, on the
other hand, much to stimulate them to greater
resolution and activity. He takes pains to as
sure them that they ale right in their preten-
tlous and factious proceedings, and that they
have reasonable and sufficient grounds for
what they propose to do. He goes SO far
IS TO say, even, that he will no deny or
question the correctness of their doctrine
Of secession. In his view, they are entirely
right, and those in the north who have the au.
dacity to vote against them are inexcusably
wrong. Such the tenor of this mans
talk to the leader of band of tratorous men
who, as he knew, were conspiring TO destroy
the republic and, mingled with this talk was
the mo- tulSome praise of jeff Davis, as "a
man really fitted for the emergency by his
ability, courage, broad craftsmanship, and
patriotism"
But he goes still further. He gives the
traitors confident promise of aid and COM
tort whenever they may begin the work of Sc
cession. He thinks their reasonable conspir-
acy will lead to bloodshed; but, he assures
them that very large proportion OF the north
ern people will rise and fight their battle and
that the bloodiest battle-felds will be here in
the northern states. The meaning is that lie
and his friends, who justify and encourage the
secession conspirators, will act with them and
fight for them when the conflict shall come,
hoping, we suppose, to revolutionize the gov
eminent, suppress the political influence of the
north, establish slave despotism at Washing
ton, andsecure to southern extremists perpet-
ual monopoly Of power. This, plainly is what
N'A NNPPNA4ANeeuo 'iiSoilt' lHSh II 10 NLdl luey
mean now; and everybody understands how
much they said and wrote to encourage the
seeessionists to believe they were right and
go on with their work. Ii a man who had
been president OF the United States could
write such a letter as that which we copy
from the Concord paper, what might might
be, or father, what might not be, expected
from others of the same INSCRIPTIONS frater-
nifty?
1t is nowise likely that the southern con-
spirators could have organized rebellion aid
civil war if they and their followers had not
been stimulated and strengthened in their
wicked purpose by such communications from
the north They were bold and unscrupu-
lous, and were able to persuade large num-
Der OF the southern people, because they were
so earnestly and abundantly assured that half
the northern people would support them, and,
to use the words of Pierce letter, that ''the
hghilng would not be south of Mason and
Dlxon's line, but within our own borders, in
our streets, and between our own citizens. ;,
Without this encouragement the leading ex-
tremists might have ragged turiously. but thew
would not have been able to plunge the country
into civil war. a very large share of the re-