1856 Franklin Pierce - Underground Railroad

Today, we hold Harriet Tubman in very high esteem, and she is often referred to as the "Moses" of her people. Harriet Tubman is the most well-known of all the Underground Railroad's "conductors". During a 10 year span she helped over 300 slaves escape to freedom. Stories of Harriet Tubman include some of her carrying a gun and even threatening the fugitive slaves if they tried to give up or turn back, telling them "You'll be free or die". But in 1856, Harriet Tubman was an enemy of the South and of President Pierce. President Franklin Pierce did not have to mention her by name, but he was no doubt thinking of Harriet Tubman when he made these statements in 1856. With this kind of vitriolic rhetoric, it is no wonder he is often referred to as one of the worst presidents ever.

Here is Franklin Pierce condemning the Underground Railroad and the Personal Liberty laws of some Northern states in his 1856 address to congress:

"The second step in this path of evil consisted of acts of the people of the Northern States, and in several instances of their governments, aimed to facilitate the escape of persons held to service in the Southern States and to prevent their extradition when reclaimed according to law and in virtue of express provisions of the Constitution. To promote this object, legislative enactments and other means were adopted to take away or defeat rights which the Constitution solemnly guaranteed. In order to nullify the then existing act of Congress concerning the extradition of fugitives from service, laws were enacted in many States forbidding their officers, under the severest penalties, to participate in the execution of any act of Congress whatever. In this way that system of harmonious cooperation between the authorities of the United States and of the several States, for the maintenance of their common institutions, which existed in the early years of the Republic was destroyed"

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29497
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Harriet_Tubman_portrait_photo.jpg

I highly suggest reading more about Harriet Tubman.  She was an amazing woman.  After leading many out of slavery, she served the Union during the civil war as a spy.   Her path crossed so many people at the time.