The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-03-24
EX-PRESIDENT PIERCE.
A Letter Purporting to Have Been
Written to Hon. Jefferson Davis in
1850.
Mapleton { la Press.

Mapleton (Ia.) Press.
Mr.. J. P. Jenness, of Smithland, has
placed us under many obligations for an
original copy of a letter in 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 a
brother of Mr.. Jenness, Maj. ]. @. Jenness,
Assistant Adjntant>General on the stAf of
Gen. Hardin, of New Hampshire, who was
in command of a portion of the Eastern
army. OF the general contents of the doc
ument, and value because of it's associations,
the reader can well afford to peruse the
following ver6atim ct HterGtim.
CLARENDON HOTEL, JAM 6, 1860.
Ny Dear FrieRd-I wrote you an unsatis-
factory note day or two since. l have
just had a pleasant interview with Mr..
Shipley, whose courage and fidelity are
equal to his learning and talents He says
he would rather fight the battle with you
as the standard bearer in 1860 than under
the auspices of any other leader. The feel
ing and judgment of Mr.. S. in this section is,
l am confident, rapidly gaining ground in
New England. Our people are rapidly
looking for the looming man." One who
is raised by all the elements 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.
Col. Seymour (Thomas H. arrived here
this morning and expressed his views in
this relation in almost the identical language
used by 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. Let
me suggest that in the debates in
Congress full justice seems to me not to have
been done to the Democracy of the North.
| do believe tibet 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 Obligatione and those
who have apparently 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 Abolition, that dire
calamity must come, the fighting will not
be along Mason and Dixon's line merely !;
it will be within our own borders, in our
streets, between the two classes of citizens
to whom 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 coun>
try now, although it isquite likely that my
services at home would be of little service.
have tried to impress upon our people,
especially in New Hamshire and Connect
cut, where the only elections are to take
place during the coming spring, that while
our Union meetings are all in the right
direction and@ell enough for the present,
they will not be worth the paper On which
their resolutions are written unless we can
overthrow political abolitionism at the
polls and repeal the unconstitutional and
obnoxious laws WHICH, in the cause of "per-
sonal liberty" have been placed upon our
statute books.
shall look with deep interest aud not
without hope for decided change in this
relation. Ever and truly your friend,
FRANKLIN PIERcK
The Hon. JEFF DAVIS, Washington, d. O.