The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-21
From the Columbus (Ga.) Enquirer.
The Why and the Wherefore.

"Mr. EDIroR How is it, that while 90 much an.
parent apathy prevails among the Wings of Geor-
gia, there is such tremendous revolution in the
southwest in favor of General Scott?"
Extract from q private letter.
Let US here examine this matter little. When
General Pierce was fret nominated, those who
stood godfather to his newborn importance claim
ed for his 'antecedents clear record on the slave
ry question" No one South knew any thing of
his "antecedents." Indeed very few knew that be
had any :" antecedent," or present. Hence the
people we're prepared to believe this declaration of
the returned delegates of the Baltimore Democratic
Convention. They supposed that inasmuch as
the convention had passed by all the prominent
men of the party, and had taken up and put in
nomination an obscure man. they would be at least
certain that he was not liable to any charge of un-
South. After his nomination the southern deleRa-
tions returned to their homes aud declared to their
constituents that the "antecedents" of Gen. Pierce
were unexceptionable. When, however, public
investigation commenced its scrutiny, the first
thing which turned up to light was his speech
made at Manchester, New Hampshire, in Novem-
Der, 1850, in which he said he hated and deplored
slavery as much as the Disunionists, (meaning the
Abotionists.) This was something the people of
the South were not prepared for, and though not
among the public records, yet it came in such we'll
authenticated form that it could not be denied and
has not been denied.
Next came his vote against the bill authorizing
Edmund Brooke to remove TO the District of Co
lumbia two slaves owned by him prior to his re-
moval from Virginia. This was on the record and
of course could not be denied.
Then came the report of his speech made at New
Boston, January 2, 1852, a little stronger anti
slavery than the Manchester speech-n this, that it
took particular notice of the Fugitive Slave act,
characterized 1t as "contrary to moral right" and
expressed "revolting" at the idea of giving up a
fugitive slave. An effort made to parry the
effect of this speech, by vague denial the part
of General Pierce himself, backed by the certf-
Gates of some Of his Freesoil supporters in New
Hampshire; though the speech had been published
in the neighborhood of General Pierce seven months
before such denial was made, and no denial was
ever made till his nomination for the Presidency
rendered such denial necessary to save him in tho
South.
Now let US take look at the other side of the
picture. Before General Scott was nominated, but
while il was thought he would be the strongest
man before the Wing Convention, a few unprinci.
pied and reckless letter-writers about Washington
city. aided and Allotted by some such mcndacious
prints as the New York Herald, concocted and out
in circulation slanderous report to the effect that
General Scott was in the hands of William II. Sc
ward, and, if elected would be under the control
of the Abolitionists. This report, without being
traceable to any responsible author was industri-
ously circulated throughout the South in order to
prejudice the minds of the people in advance
against the man who was supposed to stand the
best chance of being nominated. Thus, by the
time the Wing Convention met at Baltimore, the
public mind Of every Southern State sur
charged with a strong prejudice against him.
Since his nomination, however, investi CATION has
been Get foot, and this vile SANDER generated in
the dirty pool of politics about Washington city has
been disspated by the light Of truth, the foul mi.
asma that exhales from the putrid fen disappear
before the pure rays Of the sun. At every step,
as the investigation of the relative soundness OF
these two candidates on the slavery question has
advanced, the cscutcheon OF General Scott has
frightened, whilst that Of General Pierce has
darkened. An examination of all the facts and
circumstances connected with the New Boston
speech has satisfied every unpreJudiced mind that
the speech was fairly reported by Mr.. Foss; and
every man that votes for General Pierce after q
fair examination of the proofs on both sides in
reference to that speech, unless he 10 blinded and
poisoned by fanaticism or biased by hope of re.
ward, must do SO believing that General Pierce
expressed the sentiments there attributed to him
luton going on in the public mind in the South
west, for the canvass has been more active there
than in any other portion Of the South. If the
relative claims OF General Scott and eneral Pierce
had been taken up and actively canvassed from the
time of nomination till the day Of election, Genera
Scott would have swept the South, and left Genera
Pierce hardly foot Of ground that he could cal
his own. We say, then, to Scott friends in
Georgia, Arouse! shake of the lethargy that sur.
rounds you, and go 10 work! Work faithfully
work diligently from this time till the election, and
you know not what result you may accomplish.
DEATH OF SAUL ALLEY, Esa.-We have to an
nounce the death Of another New York citizen
Saul Alley, esq.,, long known as one of our leading
merchants and capitalists, who died this morning il
the 18th year of his age MIR. Alley has been con
fined TO his residence by indisposition for some
months. During bis extended life he filed many