Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-08-07
APoL1T1CAL "REMINISCENCES.

John p. Hale's Revolt Against tho Pro-
Slavery Democracy.
From the close of John Quincy Adams
administration in 1929 to March 1845,
the democratic party of New Hampshire
had maintained uninterrupted control
of that state. The first open revolt in
the democratic party Of the north
against the policy of slavery extension
occurred in New Hampshire, on account
of the scheme for the annexation of Texas.
On the 18th of January, 1845, Mr.. John
P. Hale, who was one of the most
popular democratio representatives in
congress, wrote his we'll known letter to
the democratic electors of New Hampshire
declaring his refusal to vote for the
Texas scheme. Although he had re-
ceived the regular nomination for anoth-
or term, special convention was called at
Concord, which struck his name from the
ticket. Franklin Pierce, then chairman
of the state central committee, made q
tour among the towns to urge his fellow
democrats to sustain the action of the
special convention and ''throw Hale over
board"
This injustice to a brave men who had
calamity stood by his convictions, fired
some of the younger men of the party.
In Exeter, Amos Tuck, young law
yer, said if John P. Hale was to be po-
litically ostracised on account of his op-
position to slavery, he was ready to 60
with him. To this Mr.. Pierce replied that
he had met in his travelspver the state only
ono other man who had talked that
way, and that was John L. Hayes Of
Portsmouth. Mr.. Pierce was then
United States district attorney for New
Hampshire, and Mr.. Hayes was clerk Of
the United States court, and was also
chairman of the Young Mems Democratic
Association in Portsmouth. To him,
therefore, M. Pierce first unfolded his
views after arriving in Portsmouth in the
course of his tour.
But Mr.. Tuck and Mr.. Hayes called a
meeting of independent democrats at
Exeter to sustain Mr.. Hale, and to Mr..
Hayes belongs the honor Of printing the
first democratic protest which Appeared
in New Hampshire against the extension
of slavery after the letter of Nh. Hale.
This protest was in the form Of speech
which Mr.. Hayes had attempted to de-
liver at democratic caucus in Ports
mouth, and being suppressed by the
party leaders, he had printed and cir
culated it in the form of pamphlet.
Franklin Pierce's motives appeared in
the remark: 1--WE must throw overheard
Mr.. Hale, or we shall lose favor with the
southern men," Mr.. Pierce subsequent
ly became president of the United States,
but Mr.. Hale did not suffer by adhering
to his convictions. He was not only re-
turned to congress at a later period, but
was subsequently promoted to the
United States senate. Mr.. Hayes con-
nection with these interesting events, Of
which there are now 80 few survivors,
has prompted him to embody them in
this pamphlet, entitled "A "Reminiscences
of tie Free Soil Movement in New
Hampshire" which will be preserved as
an important contribution to the history
of that period. Hon. John p. Hale was
q great orator, as well as man Of pro-
found moral convictions. In the trial of
Theodore Parker for high treason at
Boston in sbetting the rescue Of fugi-
tive slave named Shadrach. Mr.. Hale
was counsel for the defence, and in ad-
dressing tn, jury he said: "John Do