Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-11

A Letter that He Wrote 90 JeM.
Davis in 1880.
Manleton fEo,rn1 Pre.a

Nkes~&~fR AANGGJ AAEA9
Mr.. j. 2. Jenness, of Smithland, has
placed Us under many obligations for sn
original copy Of q letter ia manuscript
written by the late Franklin Pierce, ex
President Of the United States, to his
friend, the Hon. Jefferson Davis The
letter was captured during the war in the
South by brother of Mr Jenness, Mai
j. &. Jenness. Assistant Adiutant Gene
raj on the staff of General Hardin. of
New Hampshire, who was in command
OF portion of the Eastern army. Of
the general contents of the document,
and value because of its associations, the
reader can well afford to peruse the fol-
lowing Uerbdtlnl ct kserdttm.
CLARENDON HOTEL, January 6,1860.
MY DEAR FRIEND wrote you an un-
satisfactory note day or two since. /
have just had pleasant interview with
Dir. Shipley, whose courage and fidelity
are equal to his learning and talents. He
says he would rather fight the battle
with pou as the standard bearer in 1860
than under the auspices of any other
leader. The feeling and judgment Of
Mr.. S. in this section is, | am confident,
rapidly gaining ground in New England.
Our people are rapidly looking for 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
exigency by his ability. courage, broad
craftsmanship and patriotism
Colonies Seymour Thomas II } arrived
here this morning, and expressed his
views in this relation in almost the ldenti-
cal language used by Mr.. Shipley.
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.
Letme suggest that in the (-) debstes in
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 intense evaporation. be-
tween those who respect their political
obligations and those who have appa
rently no impelling power but that which
fanatical passion on the subject of
domestic slavery imparts without
discussing the question of right-of
abstract power to secede. / have never
believed that actual disruption of the
Union can occur without blood. And
if, through the madness of Northern
Abolitionism, that dire calamity must
come, the fighting will not be along Ma
son and Dixon's line merely, it will be
within our own borders, in our streets.
between the two classes of citizens to
whom l have referred. Those who defy
law and scout constitutional engagements
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 services at home would be of
little service.
have tried to impress upon our
people, especially in New Hampshire
and Connecticut, where the only cleo
tions are to take place during the coming
spring, that while our Union meetings
are all in the right direction and we'll
enough for the present, they will not be
worth the paper on which their resolu-
tons are written unless we can over
throw political abolitionism at the polls
and repeal the unconstitutional and OBJ
nOXious laws which, IN the cause of
personal liberty" have been placed
upon our statute books.
| shall look with deep interest and not
without hope for a decided change in
this relation. Ever and truly your
friend, FRANKLIN PIERCE.
The Hon. JEFF. Dd0sS, Washington, ID. c.