Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-30
Gen. pierce,s Courage.

II is most extraordinary development in re
gard TO Gen. Pierce, made in the extract we
give below from the Louisville Journal. That
Gen. Pierce permitted himself to be slapped in
the face without rescnting it, seems 10 be fact
inoontrovertible: taiH
We copied two OF three days ago from the
Baltimore Odd Defender, an article stating, on
the alleged authority of captain in the army +,
that Gen. Pierce had his face slapped at a card
table in Mexico, on the evening before he start
ed for home, and that he did not resent the blow.
The article stated that the captain who made this
declaration was himself an eyewitness of the
occurrence, and that he was and always had
been Democrat, though unwilling TO vote for
Pierce in this election; and that he was the son
Of one distinguished democrat, and the brother
of another. His name was not given, but the
editor of the paper said, that if any democratic
paper should venture TO deny the truth Of the
tatemcnt and call for the proof, ii would be fur
lnished,
We are not aware that the paper in Bal
timore has been called on FOR its proof, but, as
we happen TO be in possession of the names Of
the parties concerned, we shall give them. The
officer who slapped Gen. Pierce in the face at
the card table was the distinguished Col. Ma
Igruder, and the officer who was an eyewitness
of the occurrence, and upon whose authority
the statement was made in the 'Old Defender,
was Capt. McLane, son of the Hon. Louis Nc
Lane, who was in Gen. Jackson's Cabinet, and
brother of the Hon. Robert McLane, member
of Congress from Maryland.
The facts occurred as stated, and the names
lof the parties involved are now before the pub
Ilic. Gen. Pierce, robed in the livery of his
country, with his epnulets upon his shoulders,
aud his sabre at his side, received slap on the
face from brother officer, and, instead Of hold
ing that officer responsible for the insult skunk
the next day from the city on his way out Of
the country.
We commenced the present canvass deter
mined not to apply the term coward to General
Pierce, and we intend TO keep that determine
ton. We must say, however, that Gen. Pierce's
ldeportment under Col. Magruder's inhiction
fully explains, if any explanation is needed,
why he always tainted or got sick whenever
there was any fighting 10 be done during the
active operations Of the army in Mexico. We
thin!i that any man, after readnga fair and full
account Of Pierce's connection, or rather dscon-
nection with the battles in Mexico, would, if
asked his opinion as 10 the probable department
of such person under the circumstances of hav-
ing his face slapped, unhesitatingly say that he
would submit quietly TO the insult.
We do not like TO dwell upon personal mat
iters, but we would ask in all earnestness
whether General, who submits tamely TO a
blow, can possess the qualities iAdlspensably
necessary 10 the stern and resolute performance
of the important duties of President of the
United States. The democratic papers have no
right to complain of this exposition, for many of
the democratic papers have had the shameless
ness TO call Gen. Scott a coward and we pre-
sumo there is scarcely democratic paper in the
United States that has not, upon the authority
of that miserable old traitor and malignant SLAM
derer, Gen. Wilkinson, charged the hero Of
Lundy's Lane with ducking, bobbing, and dodg-
ing in his duels in early life with DR.. Claude
and DIR. Upshur.
Intensely whig as we are, we would not vote
for Presidential candidate bearing meekly
about with him slapped face, though nomina-
ted by fifty thousand Wing National Conven-
tions.