The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1897-07-31
81 -
LETTER TO JEFF DAVIS.
What Former President Pierce Wrote
just Before the War.

What Former President Pierce Wrote
just Before the War.
Capt. Jacob Sheppard, of Lawrence
burg, Ind, is in possession of an inter-
esting letter written by former Presi-
dent Franklin Pierce to Jefferson
Davis, just before the war:
"Clarendon Hotel, January 6, 1860.
MY Dear Friend-I wrote you an I'M
satisfactory note day or two since.
l have just had 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. This feeling and
judgment Of Mr.. S. in this relation is,
am confident, rapidly gaining ground
in New England. Our people are look
ing for the coming man'-one who is
raised by all the elements of his char
acter above the atmosphere ordinarily
breathed by politicians-a man natur-
ally fitted for this emergency by his
ability, courage, craftsmanship and pa
triotism.
"Col. Seymour (Thomas H. arrived
here this morning and expressed his
views in this relation in almost the
identical language used by Mr.. Ship
ley. 1t is true that in the present state
of things at Washington and through
out the country no man can predict
what changes two or three months
may bring forth. Let me suggest that in
the running debates in congress public
justice seems to me not to have been
done to the Democracy of the North.
l do not believe that our minds at the
South have any just idea Of the state
OF feeling prompting at this moment
the pitch of intense evaporation be-
tween those who respect their political
obligations and those who apparently
have no imputing power but that which
fanatical passion on the subject of do
nestle slavery imparts.' Without dis
cussing the question of right-of alb
stract power to secede-I have never
believed that actual disruption of the
Union can occur without blood, and if
through the madness of Northern alb
olitionism that dire calamity must
come, the fighting will not be along
Mason and DiXons line merely. 1t will
be within our own borders, in our own
streets, between the two classes of citi-
Zens to whom I have referred. Those
who defy law and scout constitutional
obligations will, if we ever reach the
arbltrament 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 presence at
home would be of little service. I have
tried to impress upon our people, es-
pecially in New Hampshire and Con-
necticut, where the only elections 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 upon which their resolutions
are written unless we can overthrow
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. I shall look
with deep interest and not without
hope for decided change in this mat
ter. Ever and truly your friend.
"FRAKLIN PIERCE"
Hon. jeff Davis, Washington, D.
c."