Beschreibung:

PIERCE, Franklin. Autograph letter signed ("Franklin Pierce") to Congressman Samual Cox, Andover, Mass., 18 February 1862. 1½ pages, large 8vo. FORMER PRESIDENT PIERCE LAMENTS THE STRENGTH OF THE ABOLITIONISTS AND DECRIES THE "FEARFUL RUIN" OF THE CIVIL WAR A striking and very unusual letter; Pierce seldom expressed himself in these stark terms. During his single term, Pierce, a Democrat, had strongly supported the Kansa-Nebraska Act, endorsed the concept of popular sovereignty and done all he could to weaken the growing anti-slavery movement. Here, in retirement, the former President pens a letter of introduction for General George Stark (a descendant of the legendary John Stark, Vermont patriot and Revolutionary war legend): "...We shall try to elect him Governor of N[ew] H[ampshire] next month but I fear that abolitionism may prove too strong for us, as it has for some years past. What fearful ruin is this upon which we have been precipitated? What is before us beside havoc and bankruptcy?..." He closes with a request for copies of Cox's "late admirable speech."