The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-01

preparation of his time and than ever IN sup
ess Of his political friends Therefore the latter had no
motive whatever To desire his dishonorabc Punishment
as you have the hardihodd to intimate but ON the con
aiy they had every motive 10 wish ina. re msn' Ie
quence and his unng energy to the cause OF ms coun
try and to his friends at home. And such, 4 believe
were the feelings OF the democracy OF New Hampshire
without solitary exception when it became known thai
he had resolved to join the army in Mexico Every one
deeply regretted his resolution although they aPpauded
the honorable and patriotic motive which prompted H.
You will therefore that you have no foundation
whatever for the nmaton which you throw out that the
appointment of Cen Pierce was procured by his poti-
cal friends for the purpose OF putting him "genteey
aside" Gen. Pierce could never have been made the
dupe of trick SO base and bald and the who had
attempted it, would have run much greater hazard than
he who has the temery to manufacture and put il into
circulation.
Your next allegation against Gen Pierce and the only
remaining which deem necessary 10 notice. rs
that he refused accept the generashP unless he
ceived with his commission siI months lu pay ana rd
ons for and horse IN aduance, which, extraordinary
as may appear; and unprecedented IN he army, was
AS this charge, if true would affect very seriously the
honor OF Gen Pierce, have taken particular pans $40
whether there the least color OF acl
to found it upon and extraordinary as It may appear
find be utterly groundess and gratuitous although
such allowances not unprecedented IN the army
as you will see by the following correspondence:
PATENT OFFICE, Washington, Sept. 10, 1871
SIR In the Philadelphia Saturday Courier OF September
4h, it is stated that Bgadier General Pierce refused To
accept his appointment sunless he received with his com
mission months full pay and rations for man and horse
in advance. which, extraordinary it may appear, and
unprecedented in the army granted and paid to him
before he mounted his charger"
Believing the statement the Saturday Courier to be
false and unwarranabe libel upon Gen. Pierce, and de-
string to brand it as such, have request that you
would inform whether not General Pierce, before he
would accept his commission, demanded six months full
pay and raions and horse in advance 9whether
and allo y,epb
his commission land if So whether not contra
y the usage of the department in all similar eases
Perhaps should say you that design the inor
nation which have above requested publicly, in vindca-
ton of the character of General Pierce if necessary.
have the honor to be, respectfully your obedien
EDMUND BURKE.
Hon. WILLIAM L. MARCY, Secretary OF War,
/ Washington, d. c.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, Sept ~, 1917.
SIR In epy your letter of the 10th inst, stating that
has been alleged in newspaper publication that Brga
der General Pierce had demanded and received an adj
of six months and rations as condition prior to
the OF his commission, have the honor TO IN
form you such allegation destitute Of truth Gen
Pierce acceptance of his commission was, usual en-
irey unconditional and advance could be made to
him without ORDER which has been given or asked
for Such advances may be legally made at the discretion
of the Executive, and occasionally ordered to office rs
employed distant service where payments cannot be
effec ted with regularity.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
w. l.. MARCY.
Hon. Ed BURKE, Washington city.
Thus is your second allegation affecting the character
of Gen. Pierce proved in the emphatic language OF the
Secretary Of War, to be destitute Of truth"
Your reflections upon the character OF Gen Pierce as
military man. the unpecedentedly successful march OF
his brigade and army train of two miles in length
from Vera Cruz to Puebla without the loss Of a single
' aaa III sa % FS Saa asay Tn ShSs
ties before the walls OF Mexico render it unnecessary for
me to notice particularly They will pass for what they
are worth with Just and patriotic people.
If the lbefor such it is, which you have uttered and
published against the character of man OF whom IT is
evident you know but ue-had appeared i'll an unscru
been unprecedented unexpeced but that it should
have made its first appearance should have appeared
at all in your Journal protested neutra-is very re-
neutrality and to the support Of your democratic read
ersI may say, your readers OF any kind who are pos
sessed of just and honorable sentiments; -.
Having shown your charges against Gen. Pierce to be
utterly groundless, it is expected that you will now do
justice to that gentleman by publishing in your paper this
founded aspcrsions. And in ntima,ing this expectation
you it is sufficient to say that the friends of General
Pierce will take all proper to vindicate his
uaton when unusty assailed during his absence When
he returns, he will have the will he has the spirit
and the ability, to do it for himself
AS the article containing the allegations and reflections
touching the character OF Gen Pierce to which have
piled appeared in your paper EDITORIAL and your pa
per- far has come to my knowledge, is the first in
which they made their have rsh. as
minced terms in replying to them It is my intention to
brand the calumny with that severity of ephet which its
gross injustice and wanton malgnity deserve.
If you were not the originator, but plagiari~ed the
SANDER from other persons prints introducing it as
original in your journal, you have only to publish
the name OF the author authors to relieve yourself
from the odium and the gnominy of having originated
yourself The plagiarism will stick TO you,
Respectfully, &c. EDMUND BURKE.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 81, 1S47.
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EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.