The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-03-15
new NEWS or YESTERDAY
story About the Famous "Hale.
Storm of 1845."
Sensational Climax Of Debate Between
John p. Hale, the Anti-slavery
Leader Of New Hampshire, and
Gen. Franklin Pierce.
BY e. J. EDWARDS.

those who were personally famlllaf
with the leading minds in public lie
of the era which closed with the Ter
mination of the Civil war. 10 the
younger generation at this time MI.
Hale's name has no significance what
aver. Yet he was for a quarter OF a
century one of the leading fgures IN
our public life. He was three times
elected United States senator from
New Hampshire. He was twice noml'
mated by the Free-soil party for presi'
dent, and he was United States min
lister to Spain through the four years
of President Johnson's admintstra'
ton.
Hale was one of the great anti-slav'
cry leaders of the late fOrttes ana the
ifties of the last century; at n time
he was the only an%ti-slavery
with membership in the United States
senate. He opposed the annexation OF
Texas on the ground that 1t would be
slave territory, and he alone. of all the
senate, refused to vote in favor OF the
resolution rendering the thanks OF
congress to Generals Scott and lay
lor for their victories in the Mexican
war, which made it certain that this
country would have Texas. Not until
Chase and Seward entered h senate
in ,1849 did Hale have any help In
waging his anti-slavery fight on n
floor of the senate. Two years later
Hale was joined by Charles Sumner.
Senator Hale possessed a national
reputation as a political orator. HE
was a man of impressive personal ap-
p%earance. His voice was clear and res
onant, yet it had almost a musical
quality in. it; and he possessed a per-
sonal magnetism which caused him to
be numbered among the most effective
speakers in the years between lS4a
and 1865. One of his greatest tri'
umphs of oratory came when he set
out alone in 1S45 to win his native
state of New Hampshire over to The
a~nti-slavery cause. He went to work
in the face of an apparently %invincible
Democratic majority; he addressed
meetings in every town and village OF
the state. and when the votes were
cast he had the satisfaction of know.
ing that the legislature, thanks to his
single-handed battle. would be con
trolled by Wings and Independent
Democrats.
That campaign. which has gone
down in political history as the Hale
Storm of 1885," was perhaps the most
exciting campaign that Hale. ever
waged. It was full of exciting and dra'
matte Incidents. but the N that Hale
in his closing years, took most delight
in telling was the. following:
"One Of my Democratic opponents
in the Hale Storm Of 1845' was
Franklin Pierce. against whom / rar
for president in 1852. We were both
citizens OF the same. town. Concord
that Is, I was practically . citizen Of
the state capital, though my legal res
idence was in Dover. some miles te
the east
We'll I was going up and down and
across the state talking up the anti
slavery cause. and General Pierce wa
40 busy in behalf Of the Democratic
doctrines. We were the 1eaders or
the two sideslof the question, and &C
1t was arranged that we meet in Pc
ltical debate at the state capital
Pierce. Of course, had long been known
to New Hampshire voters; I had al
ready gained prominence as an anti
slavery leader. The Interest In tbs
debate was statewide. and the church
in which the debate was held wal
packed to s%uffocation on the appointed
evening.
LET me tell you right here thai
General Pierce was an excellent speak
er and a sincerely conscientious Dem
ocrat: he was a much ADLER man thai
many persons gave him the credit o
being. And what aSspeech he mad
that night in reply to mine, which, o
course, i made as strong as l was ca
pable o Rdoing. 1t was late when W.
had said u last says. and then, Jus
at adjournment there occurred til
Most interesting incident of hewholt
debate. Somebody-lnever knew VIII
1t was-cried out in a voice that car
ricd all over the church: You ought
to go home proud because you haw
been. hearing tonight q nan who 1.
sure TO be president OF the Unitet
states!' The people cheered, MI
Pierce and ! exchanged compliments
neither OF us dreaming that the predic
ton wouldScome true. MOI, Of course
did 81 enter our minds that sever
years later We would both be presi
dental candidates. he upon the yictc
rtous Democratic ticket and at tn,
head Of the Free Soil ticket" s
Downright, 1911. by ii. J.sEdwards. Al
Rights R~eserved.)
Catching" Measles.
Paul %. Brooks, Norwich, Conn