The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-08-05
your ODcdlent servants,
NJ. NORRIS,
II. HIBBARD,
c. II. PEASLEE.

DEAR SIR: have Just noticed in late
number of the "Republic' two communica-
tons, taken from the "Manchester Demo-
crat," published here, and the ''Independ-
cnt Democrat, published at Concord, pur-
porting to give report Of speech made by
Gen. Pierce last December at New Boston.
! Nothing could be more false and calumni-
Gus than the account there given of General
Picrce's remarks. WAS present at the meet
! ny, with several others from this city, and
+, mombcr very distinctly the drift and sub
stance of his speech. This was the first pop
ular meeting Of the last political campaign,
and was held at the home of John Atwood,
then the abolition candidate for Governor.
, General Pierce's speech was mainly devoted
to justification Of the course pursued by
himself and the democratic party the year
before, in resembling Mr. Atwood's noml-
nation for Governor in consequence of his
opposition to the compromise measures. In
the course Of his speech Gen. Pierce alluded
to the fugitive slave law, and made a strong
argument in support of it. 1t is wholly I'M
true that he pronounced it contrary to "mor-
al right" but, on the contrary, in reply to a
l. question proposed by an abolitionist present,
T. he said the present law was the same, in
principle and substance, as that which had
~ received the approval of Washington, and
$, many others of the wisest and purest among
re the founders of the republic He though
" that these men were to be considered as NOR
,e al, as conscientious, and as patriotic as those
s. OF the present day, who were, for politica
r effect, constantly storming about slavery
without being able to suggest any practica
bic plan for its abolition.
;, The speech was throughout thorough,
national speech, and produced powerful eff
feet. No full report of it was published
To- though brief extract of it appeared shortl,
after in the Union Democrat of this city.
remember seeing the reports copied b,
al, the Republic" when they first appeared
~ and conversing i'll regard to them with seve
Us nS raj persons who heard Gen. Pierce's speech
All agreed in pronouncing them gross per
version and almost entire fabrication from
VS. beginning to end Both reports were evi
h. IDENTIFY written by the same individual, whic
IS, accounts for their close similarity.
X Both of the papers from which these com
munications are taken, are, as you well know
violent abolition journals, and have bee
unsparing in their hostility to Gen. Pierce
and indeed all the prominent members {
the democratic party in the State One {
them was started by the abolitionists som
years since as the organ of John P. Hal
= and his associates, and the other was repud
ated by the democratic party and turned {
YER to the abolitionists, on account of its Of
position to the Compromise. When it
rs, known how bitter and how frequent hav
been the attacks made by these two journal
upon Gen. Pierce, on account of his ope
national course of the slavery question, eV,
ote ry one will see, it seems to me, how lit
rds confidence can be placed il any such repor
as the "Republic'' has seen fit to extract fro
OF their columns. 1t is well known to yC
that, on account of his course upon tn
question, he has for long time been co
q, slant mark for their denuncation and abus
~ send you few extracts to show the spil
90 they have both manifested towards him.
and The first is from the Independent Democr
try, of February 20, 1851
cit is obvious to every intelligent M
j. that for one offence-oppositio to slave
and the fugitive slave act-outlawrv agaii
= Mr.. Atwood has gone forth. For this
"a has been denounced, harassed, and broug
' to The block. For nothing else has Fra
- lin Pierce pursued him with thecruel hes
KS, lessness Of a furnished tiger and the cunni
'sa' malice Of demon"
The next.oztract is from the same pap
of june "a, 1852:
on '.GEN. PIERcE ON THE RIGHT or Pc
TION.-The last National Era contain,