Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-08-28
WASHINGTON, August 13. 1852.


DEAR SIR: Enclosed you will find article, in
which, of the editors of the Southern Press of
this city, took issue with my colleague in ad Vocacy
Of your claims to southern support for the P!esden
cy. That action was predicdted upon my belief of
your entire soundness upon the slavery question.
W thin the last week speech, purPorting TO have
been delivered by you in January last, has been re-
published from two Democratic papers in your own
State, (which said now to support you.) On the
truth falsty of this much depends. Neither those
with whom act, nor myself, can consent that any
doubt should rest matter Of such importance
but, placing full reliance the fearless fankness of
your character, their behalf anl my own, respect
rulIy ask of you whether that report which your
southern supporters believe to he without foundation
opposed to your previous course, is correct?
The peculiar position which occupy must plead
my apology for troubling you with this letter.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
EDWIN DE LEON.
General F. PIERCE, Concord, N. H.
CONCORD, N. H., July %. 1852.
My DEAR Sir: Surrounded by pressing engage
ments, l seize the earliest opportunity to reply to
your letter of the 18th instant. much regret that
any thing connected with myself should have been
the cause of disagreement between you and gentle
with whom you have been associated in the edi-
torial department of the Southern Press. do not
member ever to have what purports to be
port of a speech delivered by at New Boston, in
this State, in January last, until my attention
called to it as republished in the Republic The pre-
tended report is and presume was designed to be,
truthful but is grossly and absurdly false as to
render in this vicinity, any denial of Its authenlci
ty entirely unnecessary. The two papers quoted
the Independent Democrat, published in this place.
and the Democrat published in Manchester-are tho
roughly abolition journals and have been and are
zealously opposed to the Democratic party. For
long time prior to the meeting at New Boston, and
ever since they have been unspang in their attacks
nnon me personally and in :hei bitter denunciation
of what they have been pleased 10 term my pro-save
nv sentiments But it would be something new 1or
either of these papers to deny the consistency Of my
opinions upon the subject of the constitutional rights
of the South in relation to slavery. My opinions and
the avowal of them have been everywhere the same
Ever mindful of the difficulties and dangers which
SO long brooded the assemblage of wise men
and pure patriots to whose spirit OF concession and
earnest efforts we are indebted for the Constitution
under which we have enjoyed such signal prosperity,
advancement, and happiness, l have regarded the
subject as vital and delicate to be used ele-
ment of sectional appeal IN party cortIcts MY ac-
lion and my language in New Hampshire, touching
this matter, have been at all times and under all cir
cumstances in entire accordance with my action and
language at Washington. Nj votes in the Senate
and House of Representatives were not republished
in the Era for the first time. They have enagaIn
and again paraded to arouse the passions and preJu
dices Of our people against me individually, and
AGAINST the party with which it has been my pride
and pleasure to act. There has been attempt to
evade the fcrce of the record 1t has been at all times
freely admitted, and my position sustained upon
grounds satisfactory to my own mind. am not sur
prised to know that the attempt to prove me abo-
litionis provokes much merriment among men of all
parties here and this weak and untruthful sketch of
what purports he my speech, is really too rdcu-
lous to be considered in any serious light.
l am daily in the receipt of letters, propoundlng
the greatest variety of curious questions, upon all
conceivable subjects. Letters Of this character can.
not be answered, of course. No individual could
command either the time or strength the herculean
task would require. may add, that such cores
pondence would by no means comPort with my views
of duty. The Democratic party sent its delegates to
Baltimore alone to nominate candidates, but to
rearm principles and to present the leading issues
npon which the canvass should be conducted.
,! If could deem myself capable of improving the
platform there adopted it is quite certain that should
decline. either at the call of individuals or asSoca-
tions incur the charge Of arrogance to which any
attempt to alter, amend, enlarge 1t, would lne'ta-
, bly, subject me.