The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-19

Duchess county
The Last WING Calumny Exploded.-FrankIin
Pierce Defended against wing Persecution
by Voluntary WING Testimony.
We have never known a more sudden or more disas.
man than that are enabled to denounce to the
country. The democratic purity of this vicinity have
been appzed for weeks past Of an atrocious cal
umny in preparation against General Pierce-a caumny
which it said must cost him and his friends
great pain and, from the manner in which it had been
concocted. would render contradiction extremely diff
cult. The intelligence of this calumny was first dis
cussed on the streets aud in the bar.rooms and the
caumny itself made its appearance in print some days
ago. in low campaign paper issued from Baltimore
and called " The Old Defender" As is the case with
all attacks upon private character it assumed an anony-
shape. The intimalons contained in this printed
article directed public attention, for the authority for it's
allegations against General PIERCE to an officer in the
army, whose relations with certain prominent members
of the democratic party would it was supposed give his
testimony especial influence The article of the "Old
Defender amounted, in substance, as follows: that al
social party in the city OF Mexico the night before his
departure for the United States General Pierce had his
face slapped by another officer of the army and had not
resented the insult The name of the officer alleged
to have perpeuated this outrage soon became well
known, and COL John Bankhead Magruder, now sta
toned San Diego, California was declared to be the
man. His absence at the time the Islander was con-
coced and proclaimed strong presumplive evidence
OF the object OF those at the bottom OF lis publication in
one OF the common of wing defamation A
few days after its anonymous appearance, the alleged
authority upon which 1t was made public appeared in
the form OF letter from Captain George McLane, OF the
army, in reply TO another letter from Mr. McJon, the
editor of the Baltimore Patriot"
Captain McLane stated that the article in question had
been published without his knowledge consent" and
was ga mrfcrio misrepresentation Of hs he had sod or
intended After himself disposng OF the atrocious cal
umny in the Old Defender" and virtually branding
those who bad issued IT unworthy of belief, he pro-
ceeds 10 acknowledge that he understood himself to be
the person alluded to the authority for the statement
against General Pierce; that il was his "impreon" that
scne such difficulty that referred TO had taken place
between General Pierce and another oicer and q that
the ndgny was not on the instant, or, far [hel
learned subsequently resented 10 such manner as in my
[hsl opinion, il ought to have been by OF proper
spirit and courage He does say he presen, and
saw any such dcuy he does not that there was
any, but gives his impression" alone. MIR McJion
OF the Baltimore Patriot, who obtains this information
from Captain McLane, in bis letter asking for information
on the subject, refers 10 Colonel Magrnder now as we
have said, absent in California the person who perpe
ated the alleged indgniy upon General Pierce That he
is the gentleman alluded 10 there be no doubt Be-
sides, il is no, denied that Captain McLane has in his
conversations with others, made no secret that Colo
mel Magruder is tina, person.
Although we have many OF the officers OF
the regular army now in Washington, and several Of
those who belonged to the volunteer service. since
this disgTaceu outrage upon the truth has been made
known; and although and all Of these officers
wings as well demoeras-bad the very best op-
porunity to know II any such affair had ever taken
place, and all concurred in the indignant denias
and denunciaons Of it yet have carefully sbsained
from any allusion 10 il in the columns OF the Wash
i ingon Union Indeed, there is not respectable whig
newspaper that has given il TO its readers il except
the Baltimore American, which is fast losing its former
high character. and daily becoming echo OF vul-
gar fusian and disgusting alsehood Neither the Re-
public far !, has gone traduce General Pierce nor
the Niond ttigeneer earnestly l, abors for Sco's
election. has alluded TO IL. They have acted wisely
for they must have felt that, carefully such caunny
may have been prepared, and rapidly may be promul
gated, it, ultimate and Overwhelming contradiction was
morally certain. These like all other decent newspapers
revoed from The circulation OF an accusation which every
reasonable probability, and every argument OF propriey
and OF circumstances pointed simply reckless and
nnounded. SILL less would any fair and manly antagonist
refer TO Il now, resting it does upon vague and
insufficient testimony as has been dragged from Captain
Mclane. Originating in rumor, which often the pre-
text and the principal Of indecent and shameless as
saus upon repuatonwhich Is the refuge too frequently
OF those who delight in saducing eminent msu-it ia
placed BY the alleged authority OF those who frs, adj
ver,scd II for whg on the unsubstanta ground Of
mere impressions" and opinions
Il But almost at the very momen, when the friends Of
General Pierce had made up their minds not to regard
this expedent OF the desperate who seek to
poison the public mind against hmespeciaIly in view
of the triumphant refoalion OF all the previous and
nov persisted falsehoods impugnng his honor his cour-
age and his broad nationality OF senimen,--almost at
this very moments letter is received from Colonel Ma
gruder-ihe same gentleman implicated ia the calumny
already alluded ion which letter he pays voluntary and
high wrought tribute TO the virtues, the deservngs and
the gsllaoiry OF General Pierce We give this letter be-
low and direct attention to il az in all respects most
powerful and most eloquent tribute the democratic
candidate for President Il is rue. Colonel Masrad.s