The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-16
General Pierce's Letter.


Yesterdays Union copies General PIERcE's
letter to Mr.. De LEON, with the remark that
it is conclusive" Why, where, and to whom
the letter is so are points On which our con-
temporary preserves discreet but significant
silence. lfit be conclusive" only in the es-
tmation of those who were satisfied beforehand,
and who had already vowed that no explana-
ton or reply was necessary, we are unable to
discover what General PIERCE has gained by
producing it, or what grounds the Union can
find for its boastful satisfaction. On the other
hand. if the term be used to express the idea
that the statements of the letter fairly and fully
meet the features Of the case against General
PIERCE, then We think that the reasons which
tend to the "conclusiveness" should have been
indicated, if not established. The thorough
going partisans Of Democracy required no eps-
tie to confirm their faith; and, unless its effect
be to remove doubts entertained by other par
ties, the labor of Mr.. De LEON and his distin-
guished correspondent have been thrown away
The question of General PIERcE's soundness
as a politician in relation to slavery and the
Fugitive law is not to be determined by the ipse
dirit of the Union, or the Republic, but by the
truth-seeklng people of the country; and they
demand-and they have right to demand
full view Of the evidence on both sides. At
present the evidence is overwhelmingly against
General PIERCE; and neither he nor the Union
can hope to deceive those who will render the
verdict by vain show of confidence, by APP
peals to irrelevant considerations, or by at
tempts to prejudice the character of the accu-
sers. Men are prone to resort to these tactics
when better ones are not available, and when
something is to be gained by postponing de-
feat that is inevitable.
Were General PIERCE arraigned upon a
single issue, and we had his explicit and un-
qualified contradiction. supported by long line
of consistent antecedents, to counterbalance
the declarations of an opponent, or of two op-
ponents, the General would be entitled to an
honorable acquittal. The prescriptions would
be all in his favor. But this does not happen
to be the nature of the case He is charged
with the utterance of sentiments obnoxious to
the South at a specified place in the present
year; the accusation rests upon reports of the
speech prepared by known individuals, and cir
culated without contradiction for many months;
it is shown to be compatible with General
PlERCE's political exigencies at the period; and
it is proved, moreover, to be in perfect harmony
with his public antecedents in New Hampshire,
and with all the an,ecedents of his party in that
State during long series of years. We can
conceive Of no stronger case and it is folly to
imagine that such case can be overturned by
the mere disavowal Of the party most concern
ed More especially is it folly to suppose that
there is conclusive" force in defensive let
ter whose main averments are at variance with
the wellascertained facts of history.
One point that has not been dwelt upon de-
serves attention. 1t is, that the damaging
reports of sentiments embraced in the New
Boston speech are consistent with General
PIERcE's professed desire to carry out the law.
say that the Fugitive law must be adhered to
because it is the fulfilment of the COM
pact MADE By our fathers; and SO far it
makes him the :ntagonist of the ultra Adolf
tionis,s The important addition is, that in
nonnexion with this declaration he avowed his
-" hostility to the South, and, i'm
aostrac. --'nation to insist upon re-
Phed'y. MS oe'eri".' -'.very within its
straining the institution OF D..
present limits.
The Union in,mates that the publication Of
The letter exactly confirms the statement" it
had made of its Gown knowledge" in reference
to the existence Of such denials cover General
PIERcE's own signature" Now the informa-
ton we have received tempts US to ask the
Union whether il knew "or its own know
ledge" Of this letter to Mr.. De LEoN7 If it
did why did il withhold a document That is so