Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-08-31
LETTER FROM GENERAL PIERCE.

The following letter was written some
eighteen months ago by franklin Pierce, in
reply to an invitation TO participate in measures
which were taking for the erection of monu-
meut 10 Gen. Stark:
CoxcoEp, February %, 1850.
GExrLEMEx: Your note ii this day, inviting
me TO attend n meeting to be held at the City
Hail. on the eth Of Marcb, at O'Clock, =. 81, iof
the purpose of taking meastreS TO erect
ment to the memory OF MAJOR General SStsrs, has
lust been received. tear tllaf my euTs sgrn.eHf5
in court in BeiknaP county, will prevent me from
participating with You in this preliminary meet
ing but whether present or absPnt, yOn viii
need no assurance Of my earnest co operation ia
the successful prosecution of an object which
must make a strong appeal TO the hearts Of every
patriotic son of New Hampshire. IL will, am
confident, lie the work OF our whole population
Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, viii
heartily unite in an enterprise around which must
ever cluster SO many proud and grateful Tecollcc-
tions, and that Uill make the column worthy Of
the brayest and most selEsacTiEciDg spirits OF Tie
age of heroes. How naturally and in=ep1rabiy
united 10 association, are the names OF w asbH1-
ton and Marion, Stark and Sullivan: and hOR
fresh and delightful on this anniversary the me-
mory of these great men and their associates -
They lived and la5oTed in a common Cause, wiih
unflInching ortitGde, at period tn,i "f dIscous-
agement, danger and pTivaticn. In what vas
the eFOWniDg element of their final triumph p
Doubtless, far human instFumeuIsl!jies
we're concerned, in the bond OF brotherhood ard
patriotism, that knit together all hearts and BeTV-
ed all hands.
A participation in that struggle made This entry
upon his military journal. Nav, I557: The
maxim adopted by our enemies DIVIDE ard con-
guer.' We euloin the command, unite and be
invincible' 'Lberty or DEATH 'Hni;e de- are
the notices which blazOn the chronicles of the
day and embellish the military Standards OF al
most every militia company"
The value of whatever will revive and strercfh-
en- this sentiment cannot be over estimated while
every proposition, every act, every Idle word call
cuIaIed 10 weaken it is a proposition, an act, 4
word false to humanity.
God forbid, that while at the North and at the
South the present generation are erecting mOnu-
ments commemorative OF the events OF the TeTo-
luton and Of the services OF It's leaders, they
should, by encouragement or cOunieBanee TO sec
tionai distrust. cast pail over all the bright
hopes of the future.
In the fortunes of war Molly Stark was noe
made widow Al Bennington, bul The monument
will call up saddening bat glorious memories Of
the fields Of Lexington and B0nkeF Hill, Yorktown
and COwpeDs-aDd many homes never afterwards
gladdened by The sound Of husbands voice
Will il not pro6tabiy remind Us OF Ihe price az
which the present power, freedom and pEOep peTify
| Of this great eOnfederaey were purchased, and
necessarily ofihe only means by which they can
be sustained and perpeiRaied2
shall look with much interest f0E an account
Of your proceedings
am, very respectfully,
Your friend and servant,
FRANK PIERCE.
Hon. r. III. Aver, J. Mex Wilkins, II. BrOWn.
Esqs.s COMMITTEE.