Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-26
Pierce to JEFF. DAVIS

Everybody knows that Frank Pierce is
now traitor, little more decorous but
not whit less venomous than Vallan-
digham, but everybody may not know that
he was traitor in 1860, and before the
war broke out gave JEFF. Davis assurance
that when war came the Democrats
acould see that 1t ragged North Of Mason
and Diron's line, as well as South. 1t
is time the country was possessed of this
fact, and happily it comes in shape
which cannot be questioned. Among the
| private papers of jeff Davis, from which
80 many revelations have already taken
flight, were several letters from Frank
Pierce, and one of these letters was foui d
by Captain Gibbs, of the 18th Illinois
regiment, who sent it to the Concord On.
h. Democrat, where it was published
right under the traitor nose, and to his
intense disgust, no doubt. This is it:
CLARENDON HOTEL, Jan 6, 1862.
Ny DEAR FRIEND: wrote you an un-
satisfactory note day or two since. l
have just had pleasant interview with
Mr.. Shepley, whose courage and fideli-
ty are equal to his learning and talents.
He says he would rather fight the battles
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 the coming
man." One who is raised by all the ele-
ments of his character above the atmos-
phere ordinarily breathed by politicians
A man really fitted for this emergency
by his ability, courage, and broad states
manship and patriotism. Col. Seymour
(Thos. II. arrived here this morning,
and expressed his views in this relation
in almost the identical language used by
Mr.. Shepley. 1t is true that from 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 morning debates of Congress, full
Justice seems to me not to have been
done to the Democracy of the North.
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 evaporation between those who |
respect their political obligations, and
those whe have apparently no impeiling /
power but that which fanatical passion |
on the subject of domestic slavery in /
parts Without discussing the question |
of right-of abstract power to secede, I,
have never believed that actual disrup- |
ton of the Union can occur without I
blood and if through the madness of I
Northern Abolitionists that dire calamity 1
must come, the fighting viii not be along !
Mason's and Dixon's line merely 1t |
,oiU be scithin our oon borders, an our
olcn streets, bet1een the tUo classes of /
citizens to Dhona I hare referred Those /
loho dety ld,o and scout constitutional |
a0iU, If aoe e0er reaah the
Of arms, find occupation
enough at home.
Nothing but the state of Mrs. Pierce's
health would influence me to leave the
country now, although it is quite likely
-
upon our people, especially in New
Hampshire and Connecticut, where the
only elections are to take place dur
ing the coming spring, that while our
Union meetings are all in the right dl-
rection and are well enough for the pres
ent, they will not be worth the paper |
upon which their resolutions are written /
unless we can overthrow political Aboli-
tionism at the polls, and repeal the un-
and obnoxious laws which :
in the cause of sPersonal Liberty have I
been placed upon The statute hooks. l !
shall look with deep interest and not
without hope for decided change in
this relation. Ever and truly your
friend FRANKLIN PIERCE
Hon. JEFF. Davis, Washington, d.