Year: 1860

No advertisement rejecting upon private Character
can, under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, be admitted. - fQtF
Letter from Ez-pres,dent Pierce to tbs Union Meet
...s. ,-~..:.'f d. ing La Boston. 10 t-7 500


We subjoin few extracts from It's q, Il es5f.t
-,.,e .str-a- CONCORD, n H., December T. 1859.


* X. X


twenty-five years ago, one would have asked invoI
unfairly, upon reading letter like that before me-
" What are the dangers which threaten the Union?
where the who do not honor and cherish that
Unon" who do not mean to maintain the Constitu-
ton of the United States and faithfully to carry out
all its requirements and obligations ?" Could we not
then, each for himself have promptly answered-the
dangers, if theyexist too remote aud the too
inconsderabe in numbers, and too wild and extrayagabt
in the principles and purposes which they avow to make
them the Of even serious consideration much less
of apprehension ard disquietude?


How is it to-day? How is it to be tomorrow, when
patriotic hearts will beat in unison in the old Cradle of
Liberty and patriotic lips will repeat the sentiments and
doctrines which were enunciated more than eighty years
ago, while the men of Virginia were preparing their
crude but trusy weapons not especially protect their
own borders which have been ruthessy invaded in
violation of all law, human and divine but to come to
Massachusetts and mingle their blood with that of
fathers in defence of the common cause.


Undisputed requirements of the Constitution affect
ing the rights the security of the life and property of
the of Virginias Revolutionary men, are set at
naught L. SSons inculcatng dsobedience to such re-
QurementS nave neCn SCaLereQ broadcast n
munity and have borne their fruits not merely liz the
exhibition of nsurrectonary spirit but in an actual
invasion of sister State by armed organizations the
objects of which not disguised. This is not ALL
The invasion and the overt acts of treason and murder
are openly justified and appauded at large meetings Of
men and in your midst This is d sad truth, but
not disheartening 1t may be well that circumstances
have occurred to from ethargy, and
pei to open our eyes, as If from the deluson Of q
dream, to the and magnitude of impending
lamities. 1t is comparatively safe to look dangers in
the face and meet them the advance but fatal to be
appalled, by them.


repeat that the aspect of affairs dark as it confes
sedy is, still is not dshearenng, because believe there
are in New England, and throughout the Middle and
Northwestern States, mutudes of conscientious and
patriotic citizens, moved, it may be at this moment
by sentiments differing widely from those which will
innate you tomorrow, but who nevertheless, would not
wifully and deliberately shake single column which
sustains the fabric of our existing nSttutons-muti
udes who have been mised upon the question of duty
and personal obligations and who now, when they have
practical Illustration drawn In blood, of the teachings
to which they have listened, and to which they may
have given their assent will pause long enough at least
to take counsel of intelligent reason.


You upon the soil of Massachusetts,, where the first
blood of the Revolution shed and where Washing
ton took command of the army in one of the darkest
periods in cOuntrys history cannot gaze listessy
upon the gathering clouds, and will not bow tamely be-
fore the coming storm. We may all have regarded with
too much Indifference the swelling tide of reckless fana-
ticism, but not too late to breast it now If
honest men, who really think the Union worth prescrv-
ing, will stand forth in the majesty and strength of pa
trotism and law and with united purpose and becoming
energy, they and will roll the tide back to the dis
may and discontinue OF all conspirators against the
public peace and the integrity of the sacred bond which
holds us united people:


Let us act calmly and deliberately, without passion
and without acrimony. Let US take no hasty or narrow
view of the causes which have produced fhedanoer we
would meet and If possible, avert 1t IS not the recent


invasion Of Virginia which should awaken our strongest
apprehension but the teachings still yehcmeny persist
ed ill., from which it sprung with the inevitable neces
| sity which evolves the effect from the cause.


80, again, 1t IS to be remembered that those who bold
ly approve and applaud the acts of treason and murder
perperated within the limits of Virginia are not the
most dangerous enemies OF the Constitution and the
Union Subtle, crafty men, who passing by duties and
obligations habtuay appeal to sectional preiudices aud
passions, by denOuncng the institutions and people of
the South, and thus inlame the Northern mnd to the
pitch OF resistance to tue clear provisions of the nnda
mental law-who, under plausible pretcXts addressed to
those preudces and passions pass local laws designed
to evade Constitutional obligations are really and truly
whether they believe 1t or not the who are huryng
us upon swift destruction.


Your reprObaon of the ethical and political teach
ings which inspire this line of conduct will am sure
be pronounced in tones earnest that no man can mis-
take their Import 1Ou will show, on your part fradi-
to give to flowczens of other States such lust
legislation by Congress shall provide for the punish
ment not only OF actual INVASION but for the setting on
foot OF armed expeditions, and thus do what you NAV
etectualy to secure, by constitutional cnaCments each
State against violence from any other. shall hope that
your meetings will awaken spirit which will lead Mas
sachusets and Virginia to grasp again reciprocay the
hand OF a1ectonate sympathy and supporof love and
honOras they did in l776, when as the elder and more
powerful OF the colonies they made up the issue OF blood
| against the power OF an unjust Parliament? WHY
should 1t not be So Is there any cause of alienation,
on our part which did not exist at the formation of the
| Government. When have the people OF the South i'll
vaded territory slain our people or conveyed away
! our property Why should not the authority Of New
Hampshire honor and cherish the authority Of Missis
sppi Are they not each sovereign, but yet are they
not bound up together in the endearng bond OF COM
mon country?


To establish upon firm footing those relations be-
tween all the States what is required but cordial loyal
manly recognition and enforcement in spirit and in act
OF all the requirements OF the compact entered into by


the fathers who have passed to their reward? Can it
be that there 49, among any large portion Of our people,
North or South settled purpose to accept the benefits
t but deny the burdens of the Constitution? Have all
sentiments OF patriotism and honor persisted together


Ii that time has come, you discern its approach then
indeed should you who desire to live under this Cons
tutlon expounded by the august tribunal into whose
charge our fathers gave its exposition raise the voice of
warning and save, if it be possible the voice of


But 1t has not come and it is still in your pQwer 10 say
it shall not. rhere Is no inevitable lrretreVable I'M
pulse hurrying it forward. ...... ....
I deny in the name of all that is most sacred and
precious in Inheritance, that there is an element of


irrepressble conflict between the Southernand North
members Of this Confederation The doctrine is
unsound and untrue it is fearful 1t is contradicted
by the unbroken experience of the first fifty years OF our
history. 1t would have been the price Of the loss Of
reputation for life to have uttered it while the men who
fought the battles of the Revolution and framed the
Constitution, yet alive. No 1t has not come and
with the blessings OF God upon the exerons of good
and patriotic men, it will never be nearer. .. ~ .


have faith in the power of your efforts, my fellow-
ctzensaith that your example, in this relation, will
be followed and your action initiated not only in other