Scarce and lengthy portion of a longer ALS signed “Jane,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.25 x 7, no date. Pierce writes an emotional letter to her sister, in part: “A blessed day, and one which I trust I pride with gratitude for its quiet…and its privileges—it, more than any day brings my precous [sic] child to my side in memory and fancy—the day he used to love—each hour of past Sabbaths I trace in the present lonely ones—and I look at this dear picture….with an aching heart—to go back to pleasant memories again where I did not dream of the coming devastating storm. We find that dear Rebecca is coming on to Orange about this time. I wish she could come here, but hardly expect it from what she said in her last letter. I think if dear Aunt Mason cannot undertake so much of a journey…to Washington that Mary may be induced to, sometime in March or the first of April. How I wish you could come my beloved sister. I never dare to look forward to those I love—least of all for myself—but earnestly hope we shall meet in some way in the coming season.
I see you read about the Nebraska Bill—I do not know much about these great questions and I do not talk about them at all. I earnestly pray…you do that wisdom profitable to direct may be given where it is so much needed. We have morning receptions…and dinners congressional, on Thursday—both great…evening receptions on Friday, at the last one…was said to be the most brilliant….Abby did not appear as she was not quite well. At the last dinner I had Senator Chase as my left hand neighbour (altho I did not go in with him) and found him quite pleasant and genial. But dear sister—I have been writing as long as I have time to now, and must close after giving much love and kind remembrance to all the dear family and inmates of your household.” Pierce adds on the reverse, “I have just asked the messenger about the pamphlet and he thinks he may find it for me.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, scattered toning and wrinkling, and a few mild adhesive remnants over the text from previous display.
Despite the First Lady’s denial of having anything to do with the politics surrounding the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Bill, she had much more sway over the president than she would ever let on. Staunchly opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, one of the major causes of the Civil War, she anxiously expressed her concerns over the possibility of war if the south did, indeed, secede from the Union. But Pierce did not advertise her opinions or her political power, concealing her policy disagreements with her husband in a deep shroud of privacy. Ohio Senator Salmon P. Chase, who she describes as “quite pleasant and genial,” shared similar sentiments with her, an outspoken anti-slavery advocate himself who rallied his fellow Congressman in an attempt to thwart the spread of slavery to the North. The ensuing war saw a political division between the president and first lady; Franklin sought to preserve his country’s Constitution and with it, the Union, while Jane was more concerned with seeing an end to the barbaric practice of slavery. This letter presents an extremely intriguing glimpse into Pierce’s personal presentation of her own thoughts, or lack there of, as history reveals just how much influence she actually held over the 14th president. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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