Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-09-30
How the South was Encouraged to
Rebel
Letter Of Frank. Pierce TO JEFF. Davis.


4 Letter Of Frank. Pierce TO JEFF. Davis.
The Concord (N. II. Democrat has received
from Capt. VIM a. GEsBs, of the 18th Illinois,
now at Natchex, Miss. q letter from EXPIRES
ident PIERCE TO Mr.. JEFF. DAVIS, written in
January, 1860, and found among the papers
of the latter at Jackson. 1t is a valuable con-
tribution to the history Of the Rebellion, aud,
though nobody viii be surprised that Mr..
PIERCE should have written it, its publication
viii be a sore perplexity to those who insist
that the Abolitionists were the instigators of
the Rebellion, that it was not premeditated
by Southern politicians, and that their plans
were not known and approved of by the
Northern associates. 1t proves two things
conclusively, if anybody still doubts, that the
question of Secession was the subject of dis
cussion between Northern and Southern Dem
ocratic leaders as long ago as January, 1860 :;
and that the proposed Secessionists received
assurances from their Northern sympatbiZerS
that the Rebellion at the South would be
aided and enforced by Northern traitors in
arms against the Government and the loyal
people of the North. We doubt if JEFF. DA-
Wis ever received from the most rampant of
his Southern fellow conspirators more une-
quivocal assurances of sympathy and aid than
FRANKLIN PIERCE gives him in this letter. It
is an evidence of premeditated treason which
no words can explain away or excuse. Let
loyal Democrats read herein the character Of
the man to whose guidance they so long sub
mitted:
CLARENDON HOTEL, Jan. 6, 1860.
Ny DEAR FRIEND: | wrote you an unsatlS-
factory note a 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 rath-
| er fight the battle with you as the standard
| bearer, in 1860 than under the auspices of
| any other leader The feeling and judgment
| of Mr. S. in this relation is, | am confident,
| rapidly gaining ground in New England. Our
| people are looking for 1.-THE Coming Man. "
| One who is raised by all the clements of his
| character above the atmosphere ordinarily
breathed by politicians. A man really fitted
| for this emergency by his ability courage
| broad craftsmanship and patriotism. Col.
! Seymour tThomas IL. arrived here this morn
/ ing, and expressed his views in this relation
| in almost the Identical language use by 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
f.. me suggest that in the morning debates of
| Congress, full Justice seems to me not 10 have
| been done to the Democracy of the Forth |
| do not believe that our friends at the South
| have any Just idea Of the state of feeling
| hurrying at this moment to the pitch of in
| tense evaporation between those who respect
| their political obligations, and those who
have apparently no impelling power but that
which fanatical passion on the subject OF do
nestle slavery imparts. WITHOUT DISCUSSING
THE QUESTION OF RIGHT,-Of abstract p0Uer 10
sECEDE, hare ne1cr belieued that actual disruD-
ton Of the Union can occar aCitb0aa flood; and
If through tie n1ad,acSS Of Northern 4boitionists
hat dire calamity mast come, the fghtng aoW not
be 0l0nq Mason and DirOR'S line laerclY II
WILL BE WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS, IN OUR OWN
STREETS, BETWEEN THE TWO CLASSES OF CITIZENS
TO WHOM | HAVE REFERRED. THOSE WHO DEFY
LAW AND SCOUT CONSTITUTIONAL. OBLIGATIONS,
WILL, If WE EVER REACH THE ARBITRAMENT OF
ARMS, FIND OCCUPATION ENOUGH 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 pres
ence at home would be of little service. |
have tried to impress upon our people, eS-
pecially in New Hampshire and Connecticut,
where the only elections are to take place
during the coming Spring, that while our
Union meetings all in the right direction
and well enough for the present, they will not
be worth the paper upon which their resolu-
tions are written unless we can overthrow po-
ltical Abolitonism at the polls and repeal
the unconstitutional and obnoxious laws which
i'll the cause Of Personal Liberty have been
placed upon our statute books. | snail look
with deep interest, and not without hope, for
a decided change in this relation.