Description:

Franklin Pierce
Andover, MA, December 28, 1863
Franklin Pierce War Dated ALS Supports Dartmouth Pres. after Pro-Slavery Stance & Tie-Breaking Vote Against Honor of Lincoln
ALS

Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Franklin Pierce, former 14th President of the United States, dated December 28, 1863, written from Andover, Massachusetts. The letter spans three pages across two sheets of Pierce's personal mourning stationery, with Pierce's bold, flowing hand in brown ink and his full signature at the close. Pierce writes just 26 days after the death of his wife, to Charles O'Conor, a prominent New York attorney and fellow Northern Democrat. The letter discusses a fundraising effort on behalf of Dr. Nathan Lord, the recently resigned president of Dartmouth College. Pierce acknowledges receipt of a $500 check from O'Conor and reports that $6,000 of the $8,000 goal had already been raised to fund Lord's annuity. He notes that the remaining amount would soon be secured, and thanks O'Conor for his "gratitude." Pierce's continued loyalty to Lord following the explosive controversy over Lord's pro-slavery stance and his tie-breaking vote against honoring President Abraham Lincoln. The document sports light folds and remnants of mounting on verso, but boldly signed. Measures 5" x 8".

In full:

"Andover Mass
Dec'r 28, 1863

My dear Sir –
I received your check of $500 from Mr. Webster this morning – and have taken the liberty to send your note addressed to him thro my nephew (Prof. Aiken) to Dr. Lord, because it has done my heart good, and will I know gratify the brave able man, who has been 'of faith – yet found among the faithless.'

It will gratify to know that six thousand dollars has been already subscribed, and that the entire sum ($7800) requisite to purchase the annuity of $12.00 (the amt. of Dr. Lord's annual salary while President of Dartmouth College) will be made up tomorrow or the next day – The certificate of annuity will be issued on the first day of 1864 be in Dr. L's hands.

I thank you heartily.

And now, with kindest regards to Mrs. O'Conor,
I am truly – yr. friend
Franklin Pierce."

This letter is directly tied to the explosive Nathan Lord controversy at Dartmouth College. A former abolitionist turned pro-slavery theologian, Lord was forced to resign in mid-1863 after he cast a tie breaking vote against awarding President Abraham Lincoln an honorary degree, just months after the Emancipation Proclamation. His theological shift—justifying slavery based on biblical interpretation—was out of step with the College's trustees and the national sentiment during the Civil War.

Franklin Pierce, who had long opposed abolitionist "fanaticism" and Lincoln's wartime policies, was an outspoken supporter of Lord. In this letter, Pierce coordinates a private annuity campaign to support Lord financially in retirement, reflecting the deep loyalty between the two men. Despite Lord's political and religious reversal, it is worth noting that during his long presidency at Dartmouth (1828–1863), the college was one of the few Northern institutions to admit Black students, even as Lord's views grew increasingly pro-slavery—a paradox that continues to challenge historians today.

This letter—along with Pierce's August 1863 letter to O'Conor—forms a critical piece of correspondence that documents the former president's behind-the-scenes efforts to defend Lord and protect his legacy, even in the face of widespread public condemnation.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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