USA > New Hampshire > A synoptic history of the Granite state > Part 5
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So Mm Plumer
Sen John P. Htale
Go C.H.
Bell
Pres. Pierce
Webster
H. Greeley
L.CASS
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and also an outstanding Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. John Quincy Adams' one term as President extended from March 4, 1825 to '29.
Morrill, Governor. In 1824, '25, and '26 we had a Con- gregational Minister for Governor-the Rev. David L. Morrill of Epping. He was also a physician. His unsuccessful opponent in 1826 was Benjamin Pierce, father of Franklin Pierce.
Presidents Adams and Jefferson both died on the same day- July 4, 1826. Webster's eulogy on their death is historic, and should be read by everyone. It has a magic overtone of religion.
Pierce and Bell, Governors. But in 1827 Benjamin Pierce defeated Minister Morrill. Then in 1828 John Bell defeated Pierce. Pierce "came back" in 1829. Governor Samuel Bell and Governor John Bell were brothers.
CHAPTER XIII
THE JACKSONIAN ERA, 1829-1837
I N 1828 Andrew Jackson (D) was elected President over John Quincy Adams (F) who was thus made a one-term President. This began what is called "the Jacksonian era." At last, it was said, the "common people" had elected one of their own.
President Jackson's advent to fame marked the beginning of an era in American politics. Down to Jackson's time voters had accepted men of culture and wealth. A re-action against the leadership of wealth set in. The people's era had arrived. Andrew Jackson was a rough and ready man, but one of honor. Many looked upon Jackson as a perfect symbol of the ideal Democratic Party, although the very cultured and learned Jef- ferson, long before Jackson, had laid down the principles of the Democratic Party as the Party of the poor. One way of saying it might be that Jefferson wrote the principles of the Democratic Party, but Jackson personified them.
Governor Benjamin Pierce was the leading Jacksonian per- sonality in New Hampshire. He had served in the Revolution- ary War, enlisting as a mere boy from a Massachusetts town, while patriotism ran hot after Lexington and Concord. He fought at Bunker Hill as a private and later on in the War as a Captain. After the War he removed to Hillsborough, New Hampshire, soon becoming a Democratic leader. His son Franklin, the future President, was one of nine children.
Governor Bell's politics, in the doings of that day, was put down as "A," meaning an Adams man, while Pierce's name had a letter "J" after it, meaning Jefferson in politics.
Adams and Jefferson were both profound thinkers, but in- variably came to opposite conclusions. Hence, they were cre- ators of a political division still readily discernible in today's politics, reactionary and liberal, capitalistic and humanitarian.
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Governor and Mrs. John Bell had ten children, of whom one, Charles Henry Bell, became Governor fifty-three years later, or in 1881. At the Jackson election in 1828, New Hampshire went for John Quincy Adams, the vote being Adams, 24,118, Jackson, 20,922. She was conservative.
Jackson Dividing up the Money. New Hampshire figured conspicuously in the Jackson Administration on account of the controversy over the United States Bank. It seems that Levi Woodbury, a Jackson man, attempted to have Jeremiah Mason removed as President of the United States Bank at Ports- mouth. President Biddle of the central bank at Washington refused to remove Mason. Biddle was arbitrary and defiant and opposed Jackson. So he was removed by Jackson, who abolished the Bank and distributed the money to the States per capita. New Hampshire received as its portion, out of a total of $36,000,000, the sum of $800,000, which the State, in turn, divided up among the towns. The fate of the United States Bank and Jackson's attitude was due to a strong senti- ment for so-called "States Rights." It became a competitor with the State Banks. It was held by President Jackson to be a monopoly. It was not similar to the present national banking system.
Matthew Harvey, Governor. In 1830 Matthew Harvey, a Jackson Democrat, was elected Governor, but soon resigned to go on the bench of the U. S. District Court, and Josiah M. Harper filled out the term of office.
Jackson Re-elected, Dinsmoor, Governor. In 1831, Samuel Dinsmoor, a Jackson Democrat, was elected Governor by a vote of 23,503 to Ichabod Bartlett's 18,681. He was re- elected in 1832 over Ichabod Bartlett, at the time of President Jackson's re-election, both carrying New Hampshire. This was the first time New Hampshire had given its electoral votes to a Democrat for President. Henry Clay was running for Presi- dent for the Whigs. It was the beginning of the "Whig Party."
President Jackson Visits New Hampshire. Again in 1833 Dinsmoor was re-elected as a Jackson Democrat. He suc-
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ceeded in securing for New Hampshire a visit from the "Hero of New Orleans," who was accompanied by three great sons of New Hampshire-Secretary of War, Lewis Cass; Secretary of the Treasury, Levi Woodbury and the then Congressman, Frank- lin Pierce. Vice-President Van Buren also graced the party from Washington.
The visitors were met at the State line with due formalities and conveyed in carriages to Nashua, Manchester and Concord where President Jackson appeared before the Legislature. President Jackson was not in the best of health at this time, and his visit was the more a compliment to our invigorating summer climate. He was accorded a record ovation and returned to Washington having "fallen in love," as he said, with our people and our wonderful State.
Daniel Webster. It was in Jackson's Administration (1832) that Senator Daniel Webster made that memorable reply to Senator Calhoun as to the right of the State of South Carolina to secede from the Union, its Governor then claiming this right. Webster supported Jackson in opposition to this, and also Jackson's idea to "force" North Carolina to comply with Federal Laws, as other States were doing.
Democrats Unopposed, Badger, Governor. Politics in New Hampshire had become so Jacksonian by 1834 that William Badger of Gilmanton, a Democrat, was elected Governor with no candidate of any Party opposing him. And in 1835 he was re-elected over a Whig, Joseph Healey, by a vote of about two to one. Martin Van Buren (D) was President, 1837-1841. Levi Woodbury was his Secretary of the Treasury.
The Indian River Republic. In 1836 Isaac Hill of Con- cord, a Democrat, was elected Governor over Joseph Healey, Whig. He was re-elected in 1837 and in 1838, being a con- spicuous leader of the Democratic Party and the founder of its old newspaper, "The Concord Patriot." During his Administra- tion it became his duty to call out the State militia under Capt. James Mooney to put down a defiant group of about 75 families who called themselves "The Indian Stream Republic," located
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in what is now New Hampshire's far-up-north town of Pitts- burgh. This independent "Yankee Republic," was the case of a few settlers who were so far away from any other settlement that they organized a Republican form of government as if an independent State or nation, and had as their President one John Parker. The plan worked alright for a few years but soon trouble arose. Canada claimed them. New Hampshire claimed them, and they claimed themselves. Finally, the Attorney General of the United States, on application, ruled that they were in New Hampshire. Our Sheriffs and Canadian officers went there at times to make arrests and met with resistance. The story is all a great little drama, but the militia had to be called out to break it up. President Parker fled to Wisconsin with his family, where his son, Charles B. Parker, afterwards became Acting Governor. The remaining folks fired a few shots and then surrendered. It took the famous "Ashburton Treaty" finally to settle the boundary line between the United States and Canada.
Martin Van Buren (D) was elected President over William Henry Harrison in 1836. The first railroad put in operation in New Hampshire was in Hill's Administration-being the Nashua and Lowell (1838).
John Page, Governor. In 1839 John Page of Haverhill, Democrat, was elected Governor over Enos Stevens, a Whig, and was re-elected in 1840 and 1841. He was an outstanding citizen and a farmer, of the "north country." He served in the U. S. Senate. The Eastern Railroad from the Massachusetts line to Portsmouth began operations in his Administration.
CHAPTER XIV
THE WHIGS ELECT HARRISON WHO SERVED ONE MONTH. LEWIS CASS. WEBSTER. POLK. HUBBARD AND STEELE, GOVERNORS. AMOS TUCK.
W ILLIAM Henry Harrison, a Whig, elected over Van Buren in 1841, served as President only one month and died. The Vice-President was John Tyler. Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. This was the only time a Whig reached the Presidency. Webster had been a Federalist, was mildly Democratic, but now went into a Whig Cabinet.
Henry Hubbard, Steele, Governors. In 1842, Henry Hubbard of Charlestown, a Democrat, was elected Governor and re-elected in 1843. The first railroad from Nashua to Concord began to run in 1842. The same year the railroad opened up from the Massachusetts State line to Exeter and Dover.
In 1844 John H. Steele of Peterboro, was elected Governor, and re-elected in 1845, defeating Anthony Colby of New Lon- don, a Whig.
At the Presidential election of 1844 James K. Polk (D) was chosen President in a contest with Henry Clay (W). His At- torney General was Nathan Clifford, New Hampshire born, later a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
New Hampshire Went for Lewis Cass. In 1848 New Hampshire gave its vote for President to a native-born son, Lewis Cass (D), although Cass was defeated by Zachary Taylor, Whig, serving from March 5th, 1849, until he died July 9th, 1850, and Millard Filmore succeeded him, serving until 1853. Daniel Webster was Secretary of State under President Filmore.
The famous name of Amos Tuck of Exeter broke into the spotlight of New Hampshire history in 1847, by his election to Congress from Exeter. He was the father of Edward Tuck of Paris, donor of the Tuck School at Dartmouth.
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CHAPTER XV
GENERAL FRANKLIN PIERCE IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
WILLIAMS, DINSMOOR AND MARTIN, GOVERNORS. DEATH OF WEBSTER.
T HE annexation of Texas in 1845, was a necessary step which undoubtedly led to War with Mexico. This War lasted about two years, from 1846 to 1848. It was during the Presidency of James K. Polk, and while Anthony Colby was Governor. The annexation of Texas was effected against the protests of Mexico, which had never given up its feeble claim on her, and had never recognized her as an independent Repub- lic, as many other nations had done. Then there was also in- volved a serious boundary dispute. General Zachary Taylor, before he was President, led our United States Army into that country after War was declared, and won battles at Palo Alto, Monterey, Buena Vista, and elsewhere. General Scott also took Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Chapultepec and the City of Mexico. Although victorious our Government did not oppress Mexico. It even paid her $15,000,000 for the land acquired, in- cluding what is now California.
Anthony Colby, Governor. In 1846 Anthony Colby (Whig) of New London, founder of Colby Academy, was chosen Governor by the Legislature, although the Democratic candidate, Jared Williams, received 26,740 votes to Colby's 17,707. Na- thaniel Berry (Free Soil) a third candidate had 10,379. This Legislative vote was evidently a coalition of representatives against the Democrats. The avid opponents of slavery were logically opposed to the annexation of Texas, and to the War.
Brigadier General Franklin Pierce led United States forces in the Mexican War, including the 9th N. H. regiment of In- fantry, and he came out of that War with a record of heroic service, which suggested him as an available Presidential can-
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didate. Other New Hampshire men in the Mexican War were: Lieut. George Bowers of Nashua; Sergt. John Bedel of Bath; Lieut. Jesse A. Gove of Concord; Major Bliss of Lebanon; Lieut. John H. Jackson of Portsmouth; Capt. Rowe; Lieut. Whipple of Wentworth; Lieut. Thorne of Derry; Capt. Kendrick of Lebanon.
The election of John P. Hale to the United States Senate in 1846 is a historical event because of his power in the nation thereafter. He ran on the Free Soil Party ticket, being a dynamic orator and perhaps the leading abolitionist in America.
Jared Williams, Governor. In 1847 and 1848, Jared Wil- liams, Democrat of Lancaster was elected Governor over Colby, and re-elected over Barry.
Governor Williams had the honor of entertaining President Polk on his visit to New Hampshire in 1847. Polk, let it be noted, came by train, not by buggy. He made an address to our Legislature, and also delivered addresses in Manchester, Dover, Exeter, and Newmarket.
Samuel Dinsmoor, Governor. In 1849, 1850 and 1851, Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., Democrat of Keene was elected and re- elected Governor. During his Administration a State Insurance department was established and a Constitutional Convention was held, presided over by Franklin Pierce.
Noah Martin, Governor. In 1852 and 1853, Dr. Noah Martin, Democrat of Epsom was elected and re-elected Gover- nor.
The railroad from Concord to Wells River was opened in 1853, from Concord to Bradford in 1850 and from Bradford to Claremont in 1872.
Webster's Death. Daniel Webster's death, widely la- mented, was eight years before the Civil War began, (October 1852). It was not, however, before the slavery issue began forging rapidly to the front. He was opposed to the annexation of Texas and to the War with Mexico because it precipitated anew the question of "free or slave" in a vast new territory. He was opposed to slavery per se, but hated war and agreed with
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Clay on the famous slavery compromise. Yet Webster sup- ported the Mexican War when it did begin, and in it he lost a son. Although a Whig, generally, he was an independent States- man-powerful and conscientious. We are told he would have voted for Pierce had he lived. Probably he would also have turned to Lincoln's aid in later events, had he lived. One should read Webster's speeches to get a view of the intense patriotic and religious side of his make-up.
CHAPTER XVI
FRANKLIN PIERCE, PRESIDENT (1852 ).
SLAVERY ISSUE. ATTITUDE OF APPEASEMENT.
H ONORABLE Franklin Pierce of Hillsboro and Concord, Democrat, having been nominated as a compromise, after a prolonged Convention contest, was elected Presi- dent of the United States in 1852, very soon after Webster's death. As we have seen, he had arisen by sheer force of char- acter to military and political esteem in the nation, was recog- nized as an outstanding orator and statesman, and a gentleman of polite yet powerful personality. He defeated General Win- field Scott, a Whig. Both political parties took the position in this campaign that the slavery question was permanently settled by the "Clay Compromise of 1850," to which the great leader, Daniel Webster, had given his approval. Ardent anti-slavery crusaders in the Whig Party sulked at the compromise. Pierce was opposed to slavery on general principles. It was a situa- tion calling for "appeasement," or "war," and the appease- ment policy endured during a portion of Pierce's Administra- tion, although he found that "slavery" would not down as an issue.
President Pierce signed the "Kansas-Nebraska" bill which, in part repealed the "Compromise" and so opened again the dreaded question of slavery. This law aroused to a frenzy such powerful men as Salmon P. Chase, Garrison, Wilson, Seward, Hale, Sumner, and other anti-slavery crusaders. Presi- dent Pierce's political enemies unreasonably castigated him as a slave sympathizer. The South found him too much opposed to slavery-hence, he was not renominated, although he was ac- tually and conscientiously aiming to preserve peace and avoid war.
His Administration was circumspect. The Gadsden Purchase, settling a Mexican boundary dispute for $10,000,000 and se-
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curing 45,000 square miles of territory-the open door Treaty with Japan, the reciprocity Treaty with Britain, his force in putting down a little war in Kansas, and a generally business- like and honest management of the national affairs, were all to his credit.
Pierce's attitude of "appeasement" undoubtedly postponed the war. Secession had not yet become a direct issue but a new political Party was inevitable, although it would be a Party of "left wingers." Lincoln was called a "left winger," or its equiva- lent.
If sectional anger could have been cooled down to something less than war, many historians now believe that slavery would eventually have died out by moral pressure or purchase, even in the south, as it did in the north. It is quite generally observed by historians that New Hampshire's only President had an honest and honorable record. This should now be said because of the unjust political smearing he bore for years. His statue, though years deferred, has been erected in the State House yard at Concord. Thus came the verdict that Time some times renders.
CHAPTER XVII
LINCOLN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. SLAVERY SPREADING, BUCHANAN WINKS AT IT. DIX IN CABINET. THE SUPREME COURT AND WAR. BAKER, METCALF, HAILE AND GOODWIN, GOVERNORS.
H OW did it happen that the people of New Hampshire were driven to sacrifice so much to win the Civil War? We refer to the Administration of James Buchanan (D) who was elected President in 1856 over John C. Fremont, the nominee of the newly organized Republican Party. So far as the slave issue was concerned, there was but slight difference between the platforms of the two leading Parties at this election. Neither Party pledged itself to abolish slavery. That seems strange to us now. But it is a fact. John A. Dix (born at Bos- cawen) was Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury.
President Buchanan was a Democrat and his Party was in- fluenced by those great financial interests centered about slavery, which was not true of the new Republican Party. It was a northern and western party wishing to keep slavery confined to the south. Financial greed had over-reached itself as it so often does.
The United States Supreme Court Precipitated War. The crisis came when Lincoln was elected. In the Lincoln plat- form there was a flat denial that he intended to interfere with slavery in the original slave States. But he and his Party did declare against the "Dred Scott" decision of the Supreme Court, which held that a negro slave, "Dred Scott" was property and property only, and like any other property, could be taken into free States by his owner and still be property. Under this deci- sion slavery could spread over the entire country, wherever slaves might be taken.
Dred Scott. Let us explain further. A Federal Statute pro-
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marston
John A, Dix
J. J. Porter
V.P. Wilson
Bone Colby
En Goodwin
Cos & H. Roll'
Belly
Se
Bear
B.F. Prescott
yoy Stran
Gov Weston
Jov J. W. Rollins
HON. ONSLOW STEARNS
U.S. S.
HON. JAMES W. PATTERSON
Gov Sawyer
Edward Juck
U.S Senato
Withallinger U.S. Senator
Sec State E. n. Pearson
Sec State E. C. Bean
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vided that if a slave was taken into a "free State" he became "free." Dred Scott was so taken and then brought back. He thought he had been made "free" by the law and so sued in the Courts for his freedom. The Supreme Court held first that he could not even be allowed to sue in Court because he was not a free person but only "property." The rule was laid down that no slave or descendant of a slave could ever be made free by statute, under our Constitution, and that any law to the con- trary was unconstitutional.
Biased Men on the Bench. Could anyone believe the members of such a Court were uninfluenced or unprejudiced on the question of slavery? Lincoln would have reorganized or en- larged that Court if he had possessed the power, and if he had had the time to do so before the War was on his back. The Republican Party then condemned this decision in its Party plat- form, and Lincoln hammered it with mighty blows in all his speeches. After this decision, the slave interests were saying "support the Courts and uphold the Constitution." Many con- tend now that the Supreme Court's decision against a "Minimum Wage" was just as biased as the Dred Scott decision, and might have caused revolution in time had it not been overturned by a more humane interpretation. Judges, after all, are only human beings.
Let us go back a bit and pick up the thread of routine State history, where we left off to discuss slavery.
Nathaniel B. Baker, Governor. In 1854, Nathaniel B. Baker was elected over James Bell, a Whig. Governor Baker ran for re-election as a Democrat. Changes in politics were swift at this time.
The Democratic Party was obviously influenced to such an extent by the slave-holding alliances that all political opponents were forced to merge against that Party in order to advance opposition to slavery.
Ralph Metcalf, Governor. In 1855 the Republican Party in the State was germinating. There was evolving a union against slavery, a merger of Whigs, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings and
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Americans. Ralph Metcalf, a nominal Democrat, turned against that Party. He was nominated on a Know-Nothing ticket against Baker, a real Democrat, and won in 1855. It was a sensational turnover in New Hampshire politics. The State Legislature went with Metcalf, and so they began removing Democrats from office by the "address" route, and enacting vicious Party legislation. Ruel Durkee of Croydon was one of the new and "hungry" Party.
Governor Metcalf at this time as a member of the American Party was re-elected in 1856 by the Legislature over Wells and Goodwin, there being no choice by the people.
William Haile, Governor. In 1857, William Haile, a Re- publican of Hinsdale, was elected Governor over John S. Wells, Democrat of Exeter, by a close vote. He was re-elected in 1858 over Asa P. Cate of Northfield, also by a close vote.
Ichabod Goodwin, Governor. Ichabod Goodwin of Ports- mouth was elected Governor in 1859 and 1860 as a Republican over Asa P. Cate, by a close vote each time. His term of office extended to June 5, 1861, so that he was the Governor who made the call for the first two regiments of infantry in response to President Lincoln's request.
Lincoln Campaigned in New Hampshire. As a Can- didate for the Presidency, just prior to his election, Lincoln (having a son at Exeter) came to our State "campaigning"- making political speeches at Concord, Manchester, Dover and Exeter, thrilling his hearers to a crusading conviction, and mak- ing converts to his new political faith. Amos Tuck of Exeter was perhaps Lincoln's first and best friend in our State. Lin- coln's vote in New Hampshire for President at his first election was 37,519 to 25,881 for Douglas.
Salmon P. Chase (Cornish born) who had emigrated West and risen to fame in Ohio, was Lincoln's Secretary of the Treas- ury. He was followed in that Cabinet chair by William P. Fess- enden (Boscawen born).
CHAPTER XVIII
THE LINCOLN ERA. SECESSION. FORT SUMTER. BATTLES. GOODWIN, BERRY, GILMORE, GOVERNORS.
D URING the four months' interim between Lincoln's elec- tion in November 1860, and his inauguration on March 4th, 1861, that is, before he could act as President, the slave States made haste to organize and secede from the Union. They created a new Government with Jefferson Davis as Presi- dent and took possession of all Federal property within the seceding States. President Buchanan seemed to make no posi- tive efforts to prevent this secession movement and was suspected of being in sympathy with it. But when, after March 4th, the Confederate States of America, through its President, under- took to open up negotiations with Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, to make terms for a peaceful secession from the Union, that great President at once firmly replied, "No," declaring "No State has a right to secede from the Union," and more than that, Lincoln firmly warned Davis that he would pro- tect all Federal property wherever situated. At once, therefore, he was compelled to go to the aid of loyal Major Anderson, then in command of Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. South Caro- lina opened fire on a Union transport carrying supplies to the Fort, and she also fired on Fort Sumter itself. At first the Fort returned the fire, but since it was unprepared for War, it was compelled to surrender. Thus the great War began, in an act of protecting U. S. property.
Ichabod Goodwin, Governor. Governor Goodwin of New Hampshire, in answer to Lincoln's call, responded with his quota of volunteers. War thus developed into the supreme task of preserving the Union. Slavery, however, was the objective of secession. (Note: Goodwin became the father-in-law of Admiral Dewey of Naval fame.)
Since New Hampshire's record in the War is woven into the
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