New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-09-15


and test his assertions by facts:
/. Mr.. Pierce says that the repeal OF
the Catholic Test "wns prominent oo-
ject in my his own mind" in advocat-
ing the call Of Convention. Now we
cannot show the state Of another mans
mind otherwise than inferentalIy, by an
exhibition of his acts. The Convention
acted promptly on tho Test and agreed to
strike ii out of the Constitution only SIX
members dissenting. But |, had still 10
undergo tho ordeal of Popular Vote
where ono moro than one third of all the
votes cast would suffice to defeat il. Mr.
Pierce took an active, leading. energettc
part In ioisting into the Reformed Const-
tuition clause whereby ten thousand
poople in ono large town or city would
have no more power In the Legislature
than four or 6ye thousand people liv-
ing in six or seven small towns. The OBJ
iect of this great wrong was purely
stability partisan-to increase the power
of Mr.. Pierce's Democratic party in
the Legislature. He and his con-
federates were repeatedly, earnestly
warnt l." Don't press this unequal APP
portionment; FOR if you do II will allen
ate the voters of the large manufacturing
towns (who were nearly all friendly to
Constitutional Reform and impel them
80 vote against your Amendments GER
orally" Yet Mr. Pierce and his conted-
crates defcd every remonstrance, perse-
verod In their unjust partisan Appor'ion-
mont: aud the result WAS the defeat OF
an tho Amcndmeni--as they had been
duly warned would be the case. Catholic
Emancipation went down with the rest;
though he greater portion of the votes in
its favor were cast in these very populous
towns where the unjust Ratio of Repre-
sentation had driven many into hostility
10 the proposed change in body.
Now we ask, If Mr.. Pierce had been 50
earnest en- advocate of Catholic Emancipa-
ton as he processes would he have exposed
il TO this peril and defeat for the sake of
paltry party advantage
>. Mr.. Pierce, though not great States
man, is very industrious, effective Poll
tician. No man better knows how to pull
wires to secure result on which he has
set his heart he drove John p. Hale out
of the Democratic party and threw his
name off the party ticket for Congress,
when Mr.. Hale yeutured to indulge in the
luxury of a conscience on the Texas Cues
ton; he pitched John Atwood in like man
ner off the ticket for Governor when the
latter saw fit to demur to the Fugitive
Slave Law. The whole country was as
tonished in 1850 TO see Mr.. Pierce elected
President Of the Constitutional Convention
over Levi Woodbury-a far ADLER and more
eminent man, who was supposed to be
the unquestioned head Of the New Hamp-
shire Democracy. No man knows better
how TO make the most of his material
than Franklin Pierce and we assert with
undoubting confidence that he could have
carried Catholic Emancipation by one
weeks Jealous work prior to either of the
two Elections at which it was voted on by
the People. But he did nothing, or next
to nothing, because, though his opinions
on the subject were correct, his heart was
not in the matter. He was intent on bis
small parry games, and let this great ques-
ton of Public Justice go by default. Just
look at the vote of his native town of Hills
borough, were he has lived most of his life,
which he has repeatedly represented in
the Legislature and Congress, and wherein
lie knows nearly or quite every voter, and
can DO as he pleases with large majority
of them. That town gave last spring for
Martin (Picrce's candidate for Governor)
ttrO hundred and hirtyJoUr votes; FOR
Catholic Emancipation Gtteen; AGAINST
it enc hundred and one. Frank Pierce
could have made that town give a hundred
majority for Catholic Emancipation if he
had half tried.
So Of his party's strongholds, perfectly
well known and never failing, which voted
on Emancipation as follows:
Torns Yeas Naus Dim c,r..u..
Bsrnstesd ..--....4j us 349 '
Lee.
mot borough .- l35 29I
uA..--.--...-- = ia l33