Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-10-06
For the Standard.
.-..a For the Standard.
DISCUSSION IN PETERBOROUGH.

| Mr.. HOLDEN: We had the qualification, on Tues
day the 2lst Instant at Chatham Court, to witness
the discussion between Messrs. Miller and Rencher.
Mr.. Miller is Certainly gentleman of distinguished
ability; and his speech, ingenious, plausible, and
eloquent as it was might have produced impress
sion, if unanswered. 1t so happened, however, that
Mr. Rencher was on the ground and he replied to his
opponent, the grounds which he himself had seec-
ted, (for Mr. Miller led off in the discussion) by
powerful and logical array of facts and arguments
which must have carried overwhelming conviction to
the minds Of all who were not steeIed by their part-
IAN feelings against conviction. 1t was a matter
of regret to the democrats and some wings that the
discussion was arranged by Mr. MIllefs' friends to
take place In the Court House. There few
seats and the Court room could not hold one-half
| the people in attendance Court. The Democrats
desired fair open field.
From the account given in the Standard of the dis
! cussion in Louisburg between Mr.. Miller and Gen.
Saunders, he must have made the speech in
Pittsborough he made in Louisburg. Mr.. Miller
here as there stated that the true issue the
soundness of the respective candidates for the Presi-
dency the slavery question. His time was almost
wholly consumed in the discussion of this ISSUE To
establish his proposition that Gen. Pierce
sound and to be relied on, Gen. Pierce's, Cor
rather, he said, Mr. Pierce's,) vote in the Brook
case, his voting to receive abolition petitions, and
the version of his New Boston speech, as testified to
by the Rev. Mr.. Foss. TO sustain this witness Mr..
Miller produced certificates Purporng to be from
gentlemen of responsibility, to the effect that Mr..
Foss minister of the Gospel of fair standing in
his Church, and labored to show that it exrem-
testified to a falsehood. Mr.. Miller then passed to
Gen. Scott asserted that he with the South or.
the slavery question; justified him in his course in
not answering letters written him, the ground that
it would be electioneering Tor the Presidency, and
closed his speech by rapid review of his military
services, &C. He applauded often by his friends
and particularly by the boys, who not in school
that evening. MIR. Rencher commenced his reply by
stating that it not his purpose to make pretty
speech He designed, however, TO try the case, the
issues which the distinguished gentleman had pre-
scented according to his testimony. The charge was
that Gen. Pierce unsound and untrue to the South
on the slavery question. Was this charge true To
establish the fact the gentleman had relied upon the
given by Gen. Pierce against the bill allowing
him to bring two slaves from Mary land into the Dis
trict of Columbia But the gentleman had forgotten
to tell that the State of Maryan had passed law
prohibiting the Introduction of slaves into the Dis
trict, as had also other Southern States, and that
consequently in giving the vote charged he has
sustained the views and policy of Maryland slave
State and besides that it had always been the ground
taken by the South, that Congress had nothing to
do with slavery in the District, and that if that body
had the right to pass laws authorizing shareholders
bring their slaves into the District should hear
it contended at that they could pass law to
exclude or to get rid of those already there.
In regard Gen. Pierce's vote to receive abo-
lton petition, Mr.. Rencher contended that this
what the most distinguished Wings of the South had
done again and again. Mr. Clay himself had taken
the ground that petitions should be received and laid
on the table, In regard to the New Boston speech
ascribed Gen. Pierce, MIR. Rencher asked upon
what authority Gen. Pierce charged with utter
ing that occasion the sentiment imputed 10 him
Upon the evidence of this Mr.. Foss that said Mr..
Foss, while protesting to be minister of the Cos
pei, yet boosted that he had active agency in
stealing off and abducting than 5000 runaway
negroes-that this Mr.. Foss was the man who, when
Gen. Pierce was engaged in advocating at Manches-
ter the Compromise measures, was heard repeatedly
to hiss the Union! He further produced number
of certificates from many of the most prominent and
respectable citizens of Manchester to the effect that
Foss's report of what Gen. P. said on that occasion
a sheer fabrication from beginning to end.
Again Gen. Pierce had, under his own hand, pro-
nounced the said version of his speech vile caumny
and that if we could suppose Gen. Pierce capable
of utering the opinions imputed to him with view
to gaining Abolition support, how does the gentle
account for the fact that he comes out before the
whole world and denounces Foss slanderer! If
he had motive for making the speech imputed to
him, would not the motive induce silence on his
part now ?-that Gen. Pierce throughout the whole
of his course in Congress had stood shoulder to
shoulder with the South this Abolition question,
and that distinguished Wing member of Congress
from Virginia (Mr. Faulkner) had publicly ridiculed
the idea that the Democratic candidate was unsound
this question.
On the other hand, however, how stood the case
with Gen. Scott What were his opinions on this
all important question Mr.. Rencher here inquired
why it was that the Wing members of the Baltimore
Convention had with such extraordinary unanimity
voted against Gen. Scott? That the position of Gen.
Scott prior to the meeting of said Convention was,
10 say the least of it, equivoca one. That under
the preext that it undignfed to let the people
know his opinions, he had refused to answer letters
addressed to him in respectful terms inquiring his
opinions. That it had been perfectly notorious that
William H. Seward was his most efficient supporter.
That for good reasons tine Southern members in Bal
timore had struggled TO the last against his nomina-
ton, and that his nomination was at last effected on
the assurances of letter received from him by Mr.,
Archer, to the effect that if nominated he would at
once fully come out in letter to the American peo-
pie in favor OF the Compromise measures. How had
the Wing candidate acted since the nomination
Had he complied with his promise to Mr.. Archer
No. He had repeatedly refused to answer letters ad-
dressed to him, and thought it degradation to COM
municate his views to the people for whose votes he
candidate. But how was it with Mr.. Graham 2
Would the Wings of North Carolina say that he
was wanting in dignity and self respect? That Mr..
Graham had answered letters addressed to him; but
if the test laid down by General Scott be correct, how
could they applaud Gen. Scott they did for refus-
ing to do what Mr.. Graham had done? The truth
Was that this was only pretext-a wretched subter-
fuge the part of Gen. Scott, utterly unworthy his
character frank soldier, to catch support al the
North and South at the same time, and that in sub
hitting to be used in this way by William H. Sew
ard, & Co.. he ought justly to be odious to the
South as if openly and avowedly leagued with them.
Mr. Rencher then proceeded to examine the char
acer Of the two parties at the North and their opin
ions on this question. He adverted to the Legislation
of the three great States Of Ohio, Pennsylvania and
New ork, and proved beyond all controversy by an
array of facts and arguments which sophistry
could evade, that the Wing party in these States is
in truth and fact the Abolition party, and the Dem
ocrac party the opposed to it; and further, tina;