The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-09
General Pierce and the Religious Test o.
New Hampshire--Thc Question Settled For

New iampshire--ThcQ uestIon Settled For
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ
Dear SRA strenuous effort has been madc to
impugn the sincerity OF General Pierce cooosition
TO the religioustes
Men will naturally disrust professions made bv
an individual after he has become a candida o. when
not content with his previous and declarations;
out when candidate can appeal to a consistent re-
cord, he requires perfect title to public confidence
conclusive proof of the entire frankness and sin
certify of General Pierce has come into my posses.
sion, which you will greatly favor BY giving to
the public in your widely circulated journal.
Ia November, 1851, stranger to me, whose name
now appears to be L l.. Flood, but whose sig aature
! could not decipher, addressed to me, by letter,
from Jacksonport, Arkansas, an inquiry concern
ing this celebrated religious test in order to deter
mine wager.
In the course of a casual interview, occupying
few minutes, some twelve or fifteen years ago, and
induced thereto by the fact of bis having been Pres-
dent Of the recent constitutional convention of hs
State, forwarded the inquiry to General Pierce
His reply received by me on the 2ith of March,
1852. l forwith cut from the letter of my unknown
correspondent his unavoidable signature; aul, using
it for the address, forwarded directly to him Gene
raj Pierce's original letter.
That letter and my short note at the foot Of it, ara
as follows:-
Coscoao, Nh
To CHARLES O'CoNoR, Esq, NEW YORK Cry
Ny Dear sir-You must have been surprised al nv
failure to answer your letter of December oath The
fact is, was ashamed to make the confession which
truth would then have demanded At the time Of the
adoption OF our State constitution, in 1854 the religious
after the French alliance that there was also to be an
alliance with the French religion and the establishment
rejected by decided vote and the rejection ratified
by majority Of tho people, but two thirds vote being
feature still retained its place. m
In the convention OF 1885, consisting of about &c
members the vote to strike out this ties. almost
trely unanimous-I think not more than six members
voting in the negative The amendment Of tho consti-
tuition in this respect was submitted to the people at
the late election and although We are not in the receipt
Of full returns there is believe that the State
is to be no longer dsgraced by such provision in its
hope to visit New York in May and to have oppor-
tuDity to renew the pleasant Acquaintance it was my
good fortune to make with you many years since.
With the highest respect, your friend,
FRANK PIERCE.
New York March "a, 1862
Dear sir-Not being any better acquainted with the
laws Of New Hampshire than yourself addressed dis
tngushed lawyer Of that State on the question
Whether Roman Catholics are excluded from Office
in the State Of New Hampshire prohibited from hold
ing Office by the constitution or laws Of that State?'
have just received his answer and forward it
to you It that they excluded from office
ut the date of your letter But the disqualification has
CHARLES o'coNoR
Shortly after the nomination, I addressed to the
postmaster at Jacksonport, q request to procure
for return of this letter, without disclosing to
him its contents or my motive. On the Isl inst,
Mr.. Flood returned it to me- attributing the delay
to an accidental cause, explained in his note.
leave the whole original correspondence with
you for free perusal.
At the time that General Pierce wrote the letter
to me he was not candidate for the Presidency
Indeed he had refused to acquesce in the resenta-
ton OF his name to the Baltimore Convention. I
have never seen him but once never before his no.
mination had any other correspondence with him
than what is above related, had any expectation
that he would be candidate for the Presidency at
the ensuing election.
Thus it is, from the daily walk and conversation of
an honest man, from his casual and unpre meditated
words and actions, there is ever arising some con-
vincipg evidence Of his integrity--some efectual
shield against Misrepresentation
The annual election in New Hampshire was held
on the 9Th March, 1852. The letter Of Gen. Pierce,
as will be seen, was written shortly prior the 24th
of that month. He forbore to answer me until the
amendment abolishing the religious test had been
submitted to the people, and conviction had arisen
in his mind that it xoud be adopted. 1.-THE wish
was father to the thought" Though it was not
adopted, the responsibility for its rejection rests not
upon the liberal and enlightened citizen who al
ways favored it. am, dear sir,
Yours, respectfully, CH. O'CoNoR.
October 6, 1852.