Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-09-29
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
General Pierce on Abolitionism.

General Pierce is supported upon his ayowal of
the most decided pro-slayery sentiments. We
purpose proving the insincerity of this avowal, or
of his past acts To the expression of his opinions
he is heartily welcome; but, if guilty Of duplcity,
he is unworthy of the sutrages of his country
men. Read, and determine for yourselves
PIERCE AND HIS ABOLITION ALLIES.
NUMBER THREE.
The reporter says, he next proceeded to
speak Of his father and mother as riding horse
back over rough roads, and of the great improve
ments made within few years; y but this, Of
course, was "an entire Misrepresentation !"
though we strongly suspect the General will find
the road to the White House equally rough, and
we doubt whethef he win get there, even on
" "horeback," without fainting
The reporter says, that General Pierce advert
ed next to his services in the Mexican war, and
insisted that, with a single exception, "he had
led his command in the blaze of every battle;"
but this was, undoubtedly, ian entire misrepre-
sentation," either by General Pierce or the re-
porter!
"The speaker next (says the reporter) 'took
up the subject Of slavery. He said it was the
greatest trouble of the country, and was so re-
garded by Washington. As for himself he never
saw human being in bondage without feeling
Ills hetIl IcFUlJ NJ IT, OlHFeTy Is COulItlly Iue
constitution in some respects moral blot on
the character of the nation.'" The last part,
the reporter gives as the very words of Gen. p,
for he uses quotation marks rs above; but the
exigencies of the case require the people of the
South to believe that the whole statement is Gan
entire misrepresentation"
"He referred" continues the reporter, "te
the great peril in which the Union had been
placed; spoke with disapprobation of the course
ID l--LI 4 ~ Al ~ ::
he was in great distress when he heard the Com
promise measures had failed. He was at Mere
dith, and told the people he wanted to die if the
Union was to be dissolved--and dissolved it must
be if the Compromise measures did not save it,"
Verify, this would seem to be fair reporter, for
he states not only what would make against, but
what would make for, the orator in the present
state Of affairs but this is also, if we can rely
on General p, "an entire misrepresentation" :"
He then, if we are to believe the reporter, went
into some explanations of certain compliments
he had paid Mr.. Webster, and spoke in high
terms of the course both of that gentleman and
of Mr. Clay. on the Compromise but we cannot
believe him, because General ?. says it is &C an
entire Misrepresentation"
The reporter then informs us that he adverted
to the subject of the fugitive slave law, and con-
CURED with Aver in saying that the act of 1850
4" was in no particular different from the law of
1893, under which we had lived nearly sixty
years Here Mr. Foss inquired, if in no par
ticuar different, why WAS it necessary to pass
the present law? General P. replied, that the
old law could not be executed, because its exc
cution depended on the State courts; ," but this
we must regard as false, for the report-the
whole reports "an entire misrepresentation"
Then, according to the reporter he went on to
use the remarkable language already quoted
that he "loathed the fugitive slave law" that
he had most revolving feeling at the giving
up of q slave" and that " he regarded the law as
opposed to humanity" but that will never do; the
South must at all events believe that the reporter
is false, and his statement can entire misrepre-
sentation."
General P. then (says the reporter) gave
vivid description of the consequences that would
follow from disregarding the law, insisting that it
would lead to reprisals from one side of Mason
and Dixons line to the other, which would end
in bloodshed and civil war-but this knavish re-
porter is incapable of telling the truth-it is
"an entire Misrepresentation"
T. The reporter concludes with saying that Gen.
eral p went at length into his relations with Mr..
Atwood but rs this part relates wholly to the
local politics of New Hampshire, the particulars
are omitted here, as Of no Importance.
Having thus, in as brief terms as possible, pre-
sented the substance Of the report, we are
obliged TO say, in all candor, that, if it is not
true, there is great deal of verismiitude in 1t,
and we think it presumptuous in General L. TO
pronounce il "an entire misrepresentation"
Whether we are authorized on many cogent con-
sderations to believe, notwithstanding the denial
of General P, that he did use on this occasion
the exceptionable language attributed TO him, is
a question which we win consider more at large
hereafter.
We now turn back to his letter, and we find
him, after speaking Of the report as misrepre-
sentation, adding thatit els go grossly and ab'
surdly false as to render in this vicinity any de-
nia of its authenticity entirely unnecessary"
Here the General strikes at two objects with one
blow, viz: he suggests reason why he did not
put the matter right in the day and time of it,
and moreover, he tries to create the impression
that his own course and that of his associates of
the New Hampshire Democracy has been such
on the subject Of slavery IA to render it mpossi-
BILE he should for a moment entertain, much less
express, the heteredox sentiments attributed to
him by the Rev Mr.. Foss. How much ground
there Is for either pretence, and particularly the
last the reader will be able to Judge by the time
we have completed our remarks. The General,
like all his compeers of New Hampshire, then
runs into denunciaton of the two Democrats,
holding them up as Thorough Abolition jour
nails and as "zealously opposed to the Pemo-
cratic party but we can tell the General that
it is pretty hazardous for him to say that man
is not to be believed because he avows Abolition
sentiments, no matter how fanatical they may be.
If that is solid ground to stand on, we will un-
dertake "to nail" the testimony of Gen. Pierce
and honorable Messrs. Norris, Peasee, and Hib-
bard, and many other Democratic honorables OF
New Hampshire, to "the counter as base coin.
But, says the General, al have ever regarded
the subject" ii. slavery cas- too vital and del
icate to be used as an element 81 sectional sp-
peals in party conflicts" All, ha! we will SEQ
how that is by and by, General!
"My action and language in New Hampshire,
touching this matter, have been at NIL times, and
under all circumstances, in accordance with my
action and lnnpnnoa at WASHINGTON" "TOuch- |