Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-08
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Story About the Famous "Hale
Storm of 1e45s"
Sensational Climax Of Debate BETWEEN
John p. Hale, the Anti-SlaVery
Leader Of New Hampshire, and
GEN. Franklin Pierce
Ry &. j. EDWARDS.

tICpduIy W al buI - 'S-'
those who were personally 1aHlAai
with the leading minds In pubic HE
CT the era which closed with the Ter
nination OF the Civil war. TO lie
younger generation at this time lr.
Hales name has NO significance what
ever. Yet he was TOR quarter Or
century one OF the leading nsures III
our public life. He was three times
elected United States senator from
New Hampshire. He was twice nonl'
mated by the Free-Soil party for presl'
dent, and be was United States Min-
lister to Spain through the four years
Of President Johnson's sdministEa'
ton.
Hale was one OF the great anti-slaf-
cry leaders OF the late forties ana the
tifties Of the last century; at one tlme
be was the only anti-slayery advocate
with membership il the United States
senate. He opposed the annexation OF
Texas on the ground that II would be
slave territory, and he alone. or all the
resolution rendering the thanks OF
congress TO Generals Scott ana lay
lor for their victories In the Mexican
war, which made ii certain that TINS
country would have Texas. Not until
Chase and Seward entered the senate
In lS49 did Hale have any help IN
waging his anti-slaTery hight on tue
floor Of the senate. Two years later
Hale was joined By Charles Sumner
Senator Hale possessed q national
reputation as political orator he
vas d man OF impressive personal ap-
Dearance. His voice was clear and res
ouant. yet II had almost musical
quality In It; and he possessed u per-
sonal magnetism which caused him TO
be numbered among the most effective
speakers in the years between lS4o
and 1865. One OF his greatest III
umphs OF oratory came when be SET
out alone in 1916 10 win his native
state Of New Hampshire over 10 the
anti-slavery cause. He went To WORK
In the face OF an apparently lnVinciDle
Democratic majority, he addressed
meetings in every town and village Q!
the state. and when the votes We're
cast lie 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 1915" was perhaps lie most
exciting campaign that Hale ever
waged. It was full Of exciting and dra-
matte incidents. but the one that Hale,
in his closing years, took most delight
Ia telling was the following:
''One of my Democratic opponents
In the Hale Storm OF ls45' was
Franklin Pierce, against whom | ran
FOR president in 1852. We were both
citizens OF the same town. Concord
that is. | was practically citizen Of
the state capital. though my legal res
idence WAS in Dover. Some miles to
the east
We'll. was going up and down and
across the state talking up the anti
slavery cause, and General Pierce WAS
as busy In behalf Of the Democratic
doctrines. We were the leaders on
the two sides OF the question. and so
IL was arranged that We meet in po-
litical debate at the state capital.
Pierce, Of course, had long been known
TO New Hampshire voters; had al
ready gained prominence as an anti
slavery leader. The interest in the
debate was statewide. and tine church
in which The debate was held was
packed 10 suffocatlon Oh the appointed
evening.
Let me tell you right here that
General Pierce was an excellent speak
er and sincerely conscientious Dem.
ocrat; he was much ADLER man than
many persons gave him the credit OF
being. And what speech he made
that night in reply to mine, which, Of
course. / made as strong as. was Ca
pable of doing. It was late when we
had said our last says. and then, just
at adjournment there occurred the
most interesting incident OF the whole
debate. Somebody never knew VINO
It. was-cried out in a voice that car
ried all over the church: You ought
to 60 home proud because you have
been hearing tonight man who is
sure to be president Of the United
States!' The people cheered, Mr..
Pierce and exchanged compliments,
neither OF US dreaming that the predic.
ton would come true. Nor, OF course.
did It. enter our minds that seven
years later We would both be prcsI-
dental candidates, he upon tho vlcta-
rious Democratic ticket and l &C the
head of the Free Soil ticket
copyright, 1911. by L. J. Edwards. All
1T. ID al