The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-14

WINFIELD SCOTT.
For Vce President,
WILLIAM A. GRAHAM.
Congress.
In the Senate, yesterday, the bills on the
private calendar were considered, and large
number Of them ordered to be engrossed for q
third reading,
The House of Representatives passed the
Post Route bill. The Army Appropriation
bill was considered in Committee of the Whole
on the state Of the Union, and afterwards re-
ported to the House with amendments, por-
ton Of which were concurred in before the
hour of adjournment.
The accompanying correspondence will com
mend itself to public attention. 1t embraces
a letter from General Pierce, excul pating
himself from the charges founded upon the
published reports of his New Boston speech,
and giving his own version Of his position be-
fore the country on the slavery question:
To the Editor Of The Republic:
DEAR Sin: On the appearance in your pa.
per Of charge intended, if not calculated, seri,
ousy to impair and perchance to destroy the
confidence of General Pierce's southern support
ers in his soundness on the slavery question, ]
addressed him O letter, which, together with his
reply, now ask you, as an act Of justice, to
publish.
I make this request, presuming your object,
like mine, have been the discovery Of the truth.
Very respectfully,
EDWIN DE LEON.
wAsHINoros, August Is. 1852.
WAsH1NaroN, July IT, 1864.
DEAR Sin nclosed you will find article, in
which, as one 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
Presidency. That action was predicated upon my
belief Of your entire soundnees upon the slavery
question. Within the last week a speech. pur-
porting 10 have been delivered by you in January
last, has been republished from two Democratic
papers in your own State, (Which are said
now to support you.) On the truth or falsty Of
this, much depends. Neither those with whom
act nor myself, can consent that any doubt should
rest on matter of such importance; but, placing
full reliance on the fearless frsnkness Of your
character on their behalf and my own, respect
fully ask of you whether that report, which your
ton 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, NJ Fl.
CONCORD, N. H., July %, 1852.
My DEAN SlR: Surrounded by pressing engage
ments, 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 gen
,lemen with whom you have been associated in the
editorial department of the Southern Prsss. dc
not remember ever to have seen what purporta
to be a report Of speech delivered by me at New
Boston, in this State, in January last, until my at
tention was called TO it as republished in the Re-
public. The pretended report is, and l presume
| Was designed TO be, entire misrepresentation
1t is not merely untrutbful, but is so grossly and
abe urdIy falsc to render, in this vicinity, any
| denial OF its authenticity entirely unnecessary
| The two papers quoted-the Independent Democrat
published in this place, and the D.mocrat published
| in Mauchester-are thoroughly 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 unsparing in their attacks upon me personally
and in their bitter denunciation Of what they have
been pleased to term my pro slavery sentiments
But it would be something new for 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 avowa
OF them have been everywhere the same. Ever
mindful of the difficulties and dangers which &C
long brooded the assemblage of wise men and
pure patriots to hose ep rit OF concession and
| nest efforts we are indebted for the Constitution
under which we have enjoyed such signal prosper
| lily, advancement, and happiness, have regarded
the subject as tuo vital and delicate to be used al
an element Vi sectional appeal In party conflicts
| My action and my language in New Hampshire
touching this matter, have been at all times and
under all Circumstances IN entire accordance with
my action and language at Washington My votes
In the Senate and House OF Representatives were
not repubshed in the Era for the first time. They
have been again and again paraded to arouse thu
passions and prejudices Of our people against M
individually. and against the party with which i
has been my pride and pleasure to act. There hal
been no attempt to evade the force Of the record
| 1t has been at all times freely admitted, and my
position sustained upon grounds satisfactory to my
| own mind. ] am not surprised to know that thu
attempt to prove me an abolitonist provokes muct
| merriment among men Of all parties here; ant
| this weak and untruthful skctch Of what purport
to be my speech, is really too ridiculous to be
sidered in any serious Ii CHIT
! lam in the daily rcceip. of letters, propoundine
the greatest variety Of curious questions. upon al
conceivable subjects. Leters of this character
cannot be answered, of course. No individual
could mand either the time or strength tn
herculean task would require. ! may add, tina
such a correspondence would by no ncans com
port with my We've Of duty. The Democratic
party sent its dclcgates to Baltimore not alone t
| nominate candidates, but TO reatfirm principle
and to present the leading issues upon which tn
canvass should be conducted.
III could deem myself capable OF improving tn
platform there adopted, it is quite certain that
should decline, either at the call Of individuals o
associations, to incur the charge Of arrogance Il
which any attempt 10 alter, amend, or enlarge 1t
would inevitably subject me.
Your letter is Of an entirely different character
1t steks truth in relation to an alleged fact;
| speaks of history, TO which too searching ap