1897.] Edward Lillie Pierce. 197

EDWARD LILLIB PIERCE.BY GEORGE F. HOAR.

IT IS hoped that a full and extended biography of our asso-ciate, prepared with a thoroughness and ability such as arefound in his own masterpiece of biographical literature,may be given to the world. Such a work will be a chronicleof important service, of noble friendships, of lofty publicspirit, and of profound and varied learning. We can findroom in our proceedings for little more than a brief and drycatalogue of facts and dates.

Edward Lillie Pierce was born in Stoughton, Massachu-setts, May 29, 1829. He was the son of Colonel JessePierce and Elizabeth S. Lillie. By the father's side hecame of a race which has contributed many famous namesto NeAV England history, including Franklin Pierce, Presi-dent of the United States, Benjamin Pierce, the greatmathematical genius of America, and his son, and John A.Andrew. By his mother's side he was the grandson ofMajor John Lillie, an officer on the staff of GeneralKnox. He took a just pride in his lionorable ancestry,and, in his later years, devoted a good deal of time toinvestigating his family history. He was prepared forcollege at Bridgewatev Academy and at a classical schoolin Easton. He was graduated at Brown University at theage of twenty-one in the year 1850, from the HarvardLaw School in 1852, and received the degree of Doctor ofLaws from Brown University in 1882. He received manycollege honors, having Avon during his college course ninefirst prizes for excellence in various studies. In the year

198 Am.erican Antiquarian Society. [Oct.

1848, while still in college and but nineteen years of age,he wrote articles upon the Independence of the Judiciaryand the Executive Veto, Avhich were published in theDemocratic Eeviesv, and attracted Avide attention. One ofhis prose essays at college Avas upon Sir Thomas More as astatesman and a seholar. He won a prize at the CambridgeLaAV School for an essay of which the topic was the Con-sideration of a Contract, which was printed in the AmericanLaw Kegister. In 1853 he published a careful article uponSecret Suffrage, which attracted great attention in thiscountry and Avas republished in Europe. In 1857 he pub-lished a treatise on American Eailroad LaAV wliich soonbecame a standard authority and has passed through severaleditions. In the transactions of the Norfolk AgriculturalSociety for 1851 is published an essay of his to Avhich thesoeiety awarded a special prize. The article on SecretSuffrage was highly complimented by eiohn Bright, referredto in Parliament, and reprinted and circulated in Englandas one of the tracts of the Ballot Society.

After graduating at the LaAV School Mr. Pierce becaniea student in the office of Sahnon P. Chase in Cincinnati,aud afterAvard accompanied him to Washington as his con-fidential secretary. In 1857 he earnestly opposed theKuoAV Nothing crusade against foreigners and Catholics,and wrote,an able letter on that subject, coutaining muchstatistical information, Avhich was circulated as a pamphletby the Eepublican State Committee.

He was a delegate to the Eepublican National Conven-tion which nominated Lincoln in 1860, and to that Avhiclinominated Hayes in 1876. He enlisted as a private on thebreaking out of the War iu Company L of the 3rd Massa-chusetts Eegiment, aud took part in the destruction of theNorfolk Navy Yard. Iu 1862 he Avas put by SecretaryChase in charge of the freedmen and plantations of theSea Islands of South Carolina. He made some very inter-esting aud important official reports, which had large inÜu-

1897.] Edward LilUe Pierce. 199

ence on our national policy in dealing with the freedmen.In August, 186.3, he Avas appointed Collector of Eevenuefor the Third Massaehusetts District, an office Avhich heheld for three years. On June 26, 1866, he was appointedDistrict-Attorney by Gov. Bulloek to fill a vacancy occa-sioned by the resignation of Benjamin AV. Harris. Hewas elected by the people to the same office in 1866, andre-elected in 1868. On November 3, 1869, he Avas electedSeeretar3^ of the Board of State Charities, in Avhieh officehe served with distinguished ability until April 1, 1874.He was nominated by GOA^ Claflin as a Justiee of theSuperior Court September 29, 1871, but failed of confirma-tion hy the Council. This action of the Council was neverattributed to any doubt of Mr. Pieree's ability and absoluteintegrity, but Avas held to liave been due to animosity occa-sioned by some emphatic expression by him of his indig-nation at the official eonduet of one of the Judo-es. In187.5, 1876 and 1897 he represented the town of Milton inthe Massacliusetts Legislature. He rendered a great pub-lic service by procuring the passage of an act drawn byhim "To Limit Munieipal Indebtedness." In 1876 he AAasChairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. In Decem-ber, 1878, on the recommendation of the Mas.sachusettsSenators, he Avas appointed by President Ha3'es AssistantTreasurer of the United States, but declined the appoint-ment. He was for many years lecturer in the Boston LaAVSehool. He promoted the foundation of the Public Libraiyof Milton, of which he Avas for many years trustee. Hewrote a report on the subjeet pf public libraries, whieh AAasincorporated largely in the publication of the AmericanSocial Science Association.

The following list of his publications is probably incom-plete :

Eemarks on the "Personal Liberty Laws," befoi-e a com-mittee of the Legislature, February 1, 1861 ; Report to Gov.Andrew on the condition of " Massachusetts Soldiers," at

200 American Antiquarian Society. [Oet.

Fortress Monroe (Boston Daily Advertiser, June 1, 1861) ;Articles in the Atlantic Monthly, on " 'rhe Contrabands atFortress Monroe," November, 1861, and "The Freedmenat Port Royal," September, 1863 ; Official Eeports on "TheFreedmen at Port Royal," February 3 and June 2, 1862(printed in the Rebellion Record); Address on "TheTNVO Systems of Government Proposed for the RebelStates," at the Town House in Milton, October 31, 1868 ;Speech on Municipal Indebtedness, in the MassachusettsHouse of Representatives, April 9, 1875 (printed in theBoston Journal, April 27, 1875) ; Address at Milton,Memorial Day, May 30, 1870; Speech at Faneuil Hall,June 27, 187 6, on the nomination of Mr. Hayes as Presi-dent ; Lecture on " The Private Life and Literary Friend-ships of Charles Sumner," before the Long Island HistoricalSociety, Brooklyn, NeAV York, Decemlier 18, 1877 ; Articleentitled " A Senator's (Charles Sumner's) Fidelit}^ Vindi-cated," North American Review, Jul3'-August, 1878 ;Address before tlie Suffolk Bar, on George S. Hillard,-januaiy, 1879 ; Address at the dedication of the ToAvnHouse, at Milton, Februaiy 17, 1879 ; Address before theAlumni of Brown Universit}', on "The Public and SocialDuties of the College Graduate," June 15, 1880. Essayson "The Independence of the Judiciary" and on "TheExecutive Veto," Democratic Revieio, 1848 ; Essay on" Sir Thomas More as a Statesman and a Scholar" ; Essayon "The Consideration of a Contract," printed in theAmerican Lato Register; Essay on "Secret Suffrage,"1853 ; Treatise on "American Railroad Law," 1857 ; Essa}'published in The Transactions of tlie Norfolk AgriculturalSociety for 1851; "Diary of John Rowe," 1895; "MajorJohn Lillie and the Lillie Family of Boston," 1896;"Enfranchisement and Citizenship," 1895, being a collec-tion of addresses and papers on various subjects.

He took constant and most efficient interest in the affairsof his toAvn. lie was moderator of tlie Milton town meet-

1897.] Edward Lillie Pierce. 201

ing from 1888 to 1897 inclusive, except when abroad in1894. lie was nominated for Congress by tlie Eepul;)licansof his District in 1890, but was unsuccessful. He was thechoice of a large number of the Repul)licans of his Districtfor that otfice in 1888, but generonsly gave way to Mr.Beard, who was nominated, but defeated at the election.

He visited Europe in 1869, 1873, 1879, 1881, 1882,1884, 1887, 1891, 1893 and 1897, visiting Russia, Con-stantinople, England, France, Germany, Switzei-land, Ttalv,Spain and Eg3'pt. He was a frequent guest of John Brightat Rochdale, and of the Earl of Carlisle at Naworth Castleand Castle Howard. He met Gladstone at Sir WilliamHarcourt's. He received distinguished attention fromnjany eminent Englishmen, and was an honoraiy memberof the Athenieum Club. In 1882 he gave a library of 800volumes to St. Helena Island, South Carolina, where hehad been stationed and had done excellent work amono-the negroes during the War.

Mr. Pierce was placed in charge of the colony of contra-bands at Port Royal by Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of theTreasur3\ He left New York for^^rt Ro3'al, January 13,1862. His mission was originall3-niiended as one simplyof investigation. But he was soon appointed special ao-entin control. He made another visit in 1863.

In his official reports, dated Februaiy 3, and June 2,1862, and in an article in the Atlantic Monthly for Septem-bei-, 1863, he describes at length his observations. Hewas also appointed Supervising Agent of the TreasuiyDepartment for the Department of the South with a viewto assisting in the reorganization of Florida on the basis ofe(|ual suffrage for the colored people. He visited SouthCarolina, Georgia and Florida. July 18, 1863, he wasthe guest on Morris Island of Brigadier-General Georcje C.Strong, who commanded the assault on Fort Wagner.He took supper in the General's tent that evenino- with alarge number of otiicers, among them Colonel Shaw. He

202 A.merican A.ntiquarian Society. [Oct.

Avitnessed the attack and gave a graphic account of thewhole affair in a letter to Governor Andrew, dated Beau-fort, July 22, 1863.

He was the author of the resolutions of the RepublicanState Conventions of 1869 and 1872, and was chairman ofthe committee on resolutions at different times. He spokein the Republican National Convention of 1876 at Cincinnatiagainst a proposition to den}' to Chinese immigrants theequality recognized bj' the Declaration of Independence.

He married April 19, 1865, Elizabeth H. Kingsbuiy,daughter of John Kingsbury of Providence, Rhode Island.She died March 30, 1880. Their children are : EdwardLillie, born March 28, 1866 ; Mary Mackie, born Novem-ber 14, 1869; George Burgess, born January 21, 1872;Charles Sumner, born September 5, 1874 ; Arthur John-son, born July 15, 1876 ; Reginald Kingsbury, born July20, 1878.

The following notice of Mrs. Pierce from the ProvidenceJournal of April 5, 1880, is taken from the Pierce Genea-logy, by Frederick C. Pierce,Worcester, 1880, from whiclimany of the foregoing details have been taken :

"The brief announcement in the papers of the death ofMrs. EdwardL. Pierce of Milton, Mass., gives small hint tothe community in general of the heavy loss sustained byher faniil}' and the friends to whom she was endeared.Born in Providence, and living here through her schooldays, and the associations of youth, she formed deep at-tachments which can never be forgotten. Tender memo-ries will be awakened in many hearts among those who,though separated from her for long 3'ears, can bring backwithout efíort the picture of those blended qualitieswhich made her j'outh so charming and full of jiromise.Her father's school Avas the centre of all that was brightand earnest in youthful studies, and gained no common im-pulse from the filial sympath}' and ardor with which sheentered into all its interests. Not in school only, but inthe church and in social life, she endeared herself to allabout her, and exerted a gentle but strong influence.

1897.] Edward Lillie Pierce. 208

"lier marriage took place fifteen 3'ears ago, and she re-moved at once to her husband's home in Milton, Mass.That unique and beautiful town, ].ying on the edge of ag-reat cit}', but possessing its own independent life, itsinteresting historical associations, and its rare naturalbeauty, secured at once her warai attachment, and remainedher loved home to the last. Coming as a bride in all herearly beauty, she could uot help but win the kindly sym-pathy of all. As her children grew up about her, shedeveloped more and more those remai'kalile qnalities whichcame to lier by ifilieritance, and which Avere founded iutrue Christiau principle."

March 8, 1882, Mr. Pierce was married to his secondwife, Maria Louisa Woodhead, daughter of Edward BoothWoodhead aud Elizabeth Woodhead of Huddersfield,England. I'heir children are : Grace Elizabeth Pierce,born November 20, 188.3 ; Harold Whilworth Pierce, bornMiireh 31, 188.5.

If Mr. Pierce had not achieved his great workAvhich Avillcarry his name down in liistorA^— the " Memoir of CharlesSumner" — his life would still liaA'e been notable as thatof one of the most useful, influential and eminent men ofliis time. He Avould liaA e been remembered by man}' in-timate friends, botli at home and abroad, themselves amongthe most interesting persons of the centurA^ He exerciseda great influence on the political history of the Common-Avealtli and countr3\ He dealt eourag-eousl}' and jioAver-fully with great questious. He Avas one of the most im-pf)rtant figures in the great moA'ement Avdiieh abolishedslavery, subdued reljelliou and secured, so far as they havebeen secured, fi-eedoin and political equality to the negro.He Wiis a law \vriter of learning and accuracy, among thefirst to deal with a great department of jurisprudence inwliich he is l'ecognized by his profession as a master. Hismeasure for limiting municipal indebtedness is one ofthe most important and valuable coutributions to the leais-lation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Every

204 A.m,erican Antiquarian Society. [Oct.

man engaged in a death struggle for righteousness knewthat he could count on Edward Pierce as a brave, stead-fast, unflinehing and eonstant ally. He was wise in coun-sel and efficient in action. He was the embodiment of thebest intellectual and moral traits of Massachusetts. T liestory of his life, of his friendships, of his controA'ersies,of his contributions to literature, to jurisprudence, tostatesmaiLship, with his extensive correspondence, ought tobe, and doubtless will be, preserved for the instruction andgratification of posterity. His great characteristic wasthoroughness. He Avas always careful before stating themost unimportant faet to establish it by complete investi-o-ation. He went down to the roots in everything he didor said.

' But his great place in history and literature Avill be heldin his capacity of biographer of Charles Sumner. Tliepolitical movement Avhich resulted in the abolition ofslavery in the United States, and through the force of theexample of this countiy, in the West Indies and in Bi'azil,was inaugurated b}' a meeting held in Worcester on the28th June, 1848. The people of the Northern States, ex-cept those portions whieh had been settled from the South,had for a long time disliked and abhorred slaA^eiy. Thisfeelino- had been without organization and without leader-ship, excepting a A ery small number of persons known as" Garrison Abolitioni.sts," who declined to hold public office,to vote, or in an}' Ava}' to support the Constitution of theUnited States, because of its provisions l-ecognizing thelaAvfulness of slavery. There was another part}' known asthe Liberty Party who sought to advance their end bypolitical methods,' but Avho were \villing to support menbelonging to other political organizations if they werewilling to trust them to do what they could to resist thefurther spread of slaA'ery in the country. But the partyorganized for the first time at Worcester adopted as itsfundamental principle resistance to the extension of slavery

1897.] Edtoard Lillie Pierce. 205

into the great regions between the Mississippi River andthe Pacific,- and refused its support to any person belong-ing to either the A¥hig or the Democratic part}^ whatevermight be his individual opinions and purposes in respect tothat matter. This part}', a few years after, took the nameof Republican, but did not lose its identity, which hasbeen preserved to the present day. Charles Sumner wasits leader in Massachusetts, and probably down nearly tohis death its most powerful and influential leader in thecountry, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln alone.His biography by Mr. Pierce, in four volumes, is the historyof the Republican party, and the history of the abolitionof slavery in the United States.

Mr. Pierce Avas singularly well equipped for his work.He was eighteen years old wlien the party was founded.lie had then an intellect remarkabl}' mature for a personof his age. He Avatched public events, even at that time,with a most intelligent and zealous interest. Soon after,he became acquainted Avith Summer, andAvas his closest andmost confidential friend until his death. Sumner madehim one of liis literary executors, together with Heniy AV.Longfellow and Francis A . Balch. Mr. Pierce, as hasbeen said, quite early in life became the confidential secre-tary of Salmon P. Chase. He became also very intimatewith Henry AA''ilson, John A. Andrew, AA illiam Claflin andothers who Avere prominent in the same cause. He Avashimself prominent in the councils of the Republican party,member of the Legislature, frequently member of theState conventions, and a member of two important nationalconventions, in one of which he had much to do withshaping the platform. He was a man of 'aii intelligent andalert habit of observation, which no trifle escaped. Hehad a tenacious memoi'}', from which nothing seemed to belost. He took all matters of politics, history and litera-ture with great seriousness, so that few things which cameunder his observation pertaining to either ever seemed to

206 American Antiquarian Soeiety. [Oct.

him to be trifling. He had a remarkably sound and dis-passionate judgment. He liad an unweaiying industry.He sifted matters to the bottom and sought his evidence inthe original sources. In spite of his zealous and earnestconvictions he had a singular fairness and impartiality ofhistoric judgment. His narrative is without bitterness orheat. The men who had earnest controversies ^with Sum-ner during his lifetime (and there were a good many ofthem), and their representatives, with scarcely an excep-tion, bear testimony to the singular fairness and truthful-ness of Mr. Pieree's narrative of these controversies, — anarrative which Mr. Pierce makes conijilete, without flinch-ing or suppressing. In spite of Mr. Pieree's love for liisillustrious friend he maintained through life his own inde-pendence of judgment and of action. He has a good,vigorous and racy narrative st}'le. He is quite capable oflofty eloquence on fitting occasion, but never undertakesto use it as a eover for feebleness of thought.

Pieree's Life of SumnerAvill be the standard authorityfor the histoiy of the great revolution which Charles Sum-ner led. There will never be any trust\vorthy authorityfor the history of the United States during that eventfulperiod Avhich does not stud}^ Mr. Pieree's book, or whichdoes not adopt his conclusions. It is, so far, one of thevery few masterpieces of American biographical literature.Mr. Pierce gave the best j'ears of his life, all the accom-plishments of his earl}^ education, every power of an intel-lect Avhich might have brought him success and fame in anyof the Avalks which the Republic opened to him, to embalmthe memory of Charles Sinnner for the admiration of ]5os-terity. The great w ork was Avell done. There is littlewanting in this matchless biography. A loving sympathywith his subject ; judicial impartiality ; fairness to antag-onists ; untiring industry ; thoroughness of investigation;al;)solute truthfulness ; a contemporary and intimate knowl-edge of the transaetions he had to relate,— all these he

1897.] Edward Lillie Pierce. 207

possessed in an uncommon degree,— it may almo.st be saidin a degree unexampled in the annals of biographical litera-ture. Mr. Pierce's name will go doAvn in histoiy and willabide b}' the side of the great name of the man whom hecommemorated, so long as the memory of the great con-test for liberty abides in the hearts of the American people., There were t vo events in the life of Edward L. Piercewhich gave him especial delight,— a delight which he ex-expressed freely in the unrestrained iiitercoiu'se of privatefriendship. One was a day's ride which he took in com-pany with John Bright, Avho had never beheld the scenesbefore. It was the privilege of the writer, at Mr. Pierce'ssuggestion, to make the same journey a few years later.The scenes seemed to be peopled not only with memoriesof tlie great men of a former time to whom it had beenfamiliar, but with tlie memory of the two friends, nowboth dead, who had made so recentl}' a pilgrimage to theirshrines. The daj 's ride took them past the house ofWilliam Penn, the cottage Avhere John Milton finishedParadise Lost, the home and the burial-place of Burke,the home of Gray and the country churchyard where hisdust sleeps, to whicli, though consecrated to the rest of thedead, his muse has given immortality.

The other Avas a banquet given in honor of Mr. Pierce the29th December, 1894, on his return from Europe, just afterthe completion of his great work. There were gatheredthe few survivors of the founders of the Free Soil part}',and the representatives of the large number who Averegone. Mr. Pierce was the guest of the evening. A listof the signers of the invitation is given below, a star mark.-ing the names of those Avho were ]:)resent :—

*

*

Adams, Charles Francis. Allison, AVilliain B.*Aldricli, P. Emory. *Baker, John I.Allen, Frank Ü. *Balch, Francis V.

* Allen, Nathaniel T. *Beard, Alanson W.* Allen, Walter. Bennett, Edmund H.

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210 A.merican A.ntiqn.a.ri.a,n Society. [Oct. '97.]

and honor for the man who had so admirably and perfectlynarrated its story. Every syieaker, every letter from per-sons unable to be present, concurred in expressing theperfect satisfaction of the friends of Charles Sumner withthe work of his biographer, and the founders of the greatparty of freedom and their representatives with the workof its historian.

The following sentences from the letter of Rev. JohnWhite Chadwick sum up the general verdict :—

" Mr. Pierce's Life of Sumner will be nobly praised. Itcannot be praised in excess of its deserts. It is more thana o-reat biograpliA of a great man. It is a great historyof a oreat time, all of \vhich Snmner saw, and a great partof Aviiich he was ; and that Mr. Pierce has not exaggeratedthat part, l)ut rightly estimated its proportion to the partstaken by others, is one of the most marked and interesting-features of his work. It is to me a marvel of fidelity, ofpatience, (rf lucidity, of fairness to all concerned."