sold – Franklin Pierce Takes a Stand on Slavery

The Democratic Party opened its convention in Baltimore in June of 1852 with four competing candidates for the presidency. Before deciding on a candidate the convention adopted a platform designed to unite the factions fighting over slavery – it opposed any further "agitation" over the issue. These were code words for a pro-slavery position, in that the “agitation” was coming from the north. When it came to selecting a candidate for president, the four contenders (Stephen Douglas, William Marcy, James Buchanan and Lewis Cass) deadlocked.

On the 49th ballot the convention turned to a "dark horse," Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire. Pierce’s views on slavery were not clearly articulated as he was mainly known for his service as a general in the MexicanWar. His political posture proved to be thoroughly champion the southern position, a policy he carried into effect as president. And while some northern men followed a course of appeasement because they thought that it was the only way to prevent the dissolution of the Union, but were personally unsympathetic to slavery (such as Buchanan), as Pierce demonstrates in this letter, he was a heart-felt advocate of the southern cause and slave system. In denying Whig newspaper reports, he denounced and virtually sneered at the idea that he might be against slavery.

Autograph Letter Signed as presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, Concord, New Hampshire, July 17, 1852, to J.F.H. Claiborne, staunch defender of slavery, Democratic congressman and editor of the Louisiana Courier. George W. Kendall was the editor of the New Orleans Daily Picayune. "Accept my thanks for your letter of the 10th inst. I am truly obliged to Major B. His course is just, disinterested & generous. I view a letter from G.W. Kendall yesterday dated Paris June 26th. It is not confidential & yet not for publication. I send you herewith an extract for your own perusal but not to publish. K. expects to return to this country in Sept. I send by the mail today a copy of “The Independent Democrat”, the leading abolition paper of this state. Is not the Republic at Washington hard pressed when it republishes extracts from this paper to satisfy its southern readers that I am an abolitionist. I think it will turn out that no advantage will be gained by the Whig Party by the unparalleled recklessness & mendacity with which their press is now marked…."

He ends with a P.S. “Extract from Kendall’s letter – ÔI will pledge myself to this – if Genl. Scott is to be your opponent, you shall have my vote & such poor influence as I may possess besides.’”

Pierce’s choice of words – “unparalleled recklessness & mendacity” – is indicative of the extremity of his feelings. The Whig Party nominated General Winfield Scott of Virginia as its candidate for president in 1852. The party was divided with northerners seeing him as a southerner, and southerners suspicious of the reliability of Scott’s views on slavery. Pierce won convincingly. Perhaps the southern concerns about Scott had some foundation, as nine years later, he refused to follow Virginia out of the Union and remained in the U.S. service, providing President Lincoln with excellent advice and devising the blockade of the south that did so much to win the war.