Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-08-03
P0IIIICAI.
I'M Q -, u g - Z,

ssT1E LIZ TIT {. B, TIA Z + LETTER. -
The Whie press have mads themselves hoarSa
uith tbsIr raven erollings for The letter q Gen.
Pierce reply 70 The eireplaf of Isobt g. Scott
Esq. The query has been inside ils every Varie-
ty Of form. and has been ksp. up with cease
less din. Manifold have been ids fabricated YER
sions q Wing edftoTs IN regard 70 it non-ap-
pearauee, aud ouiinous tie speculations asto lie
slgfiiI eonisnis. VVitla just pity fol their dis.
tress, NIf Scott determined to relieve ttenI from
their prolonged ridiculous position, and, 10 the
Follopine excellent and conclusive card, lays be-
fore them s.lhe letter., Of Gen. Pierce, hieh is
fully satisfactory answer TO his eironia IN the
opinion Of himself and the whole Democratic
party. We trust that the Whig presses vii
read Il, and lIr. SCOTS explanation, and, above
40, viii las them both in fall before the readers,
who must Be famished with craving for the de-
velopments OF mystery which they have been
led to look upon as most dark and monstrous.-
We challenge them 10 serutinizs the document
and 10 show wherein General Pierce has not
done his whole duty, aud met all the requirements
of his friends, and, above all, of every true pa
triot.
The Scott leaders have received a terrible re-
bound from the explosion OF the New Hampshire
charge. The effect of this " letter" will be
none the less disastrous upon their air blown IA
brics OF capital.making out of this "leIter"
humbug:
To the Editors of the Enquirer:
Gentlemen: In May last, addressed letter
to fifteen eminent and distinguished gentlemen,
whose names bad been associated with the nOmi-
nation for the Presidency, proposed to be made
h1 ba RoltinOTn yyh
was to assemble on the lst of June. From all
of those to whom my letter was addressed, have
received replies, except from General Pierce and
General Butler. From neither of these has any
answer been received, to my letter. The posi-
ton of Gen. Butler, on the grave questions con-
tanned in my communication, had been made
known to the country in his admirable letter ad
dressed to Francis Z. Blair, Esq. and published
last winter. So far as Gen. Pierce is concern
ed, have the assurance of his personal friend<
that his failure to answer arose from no iDdltler
ence TO the important questions propouDded to
him, but that he was on the eve of leaving home,
when my letter was received, and really enter
tanning that his name would not, in consequence
of his own past action, be seriously before the
Convention for the nomination, he did not deem
any acknowledgment from him called for. The
mistake in supposing that have received an an
swer from General Pierce, may have, and pro.
badly has, arisen from the following circum-
stances: On Saturday evening, the 9th Of June,
information was TeCeiVeu mere duu COMMUNITIES
ted to me, that before General Pierce received
the nomination. a letter had been received in Bal
timore, addressed to me, where it was supposed
| would be- in answer to my letter to Gen. Pierce,
and which had been seen and read by gentlemen
from Virginia, and that its contents were entire
" satisfactory. This was repeated on Sunday
and Monday / learned afterwards, that no such
letter had been received, but that the mistake
arose by confounding the letter TO Colonel Lslly
with supposed letter to me. The letter to Col.
L 4 t..cz- al. -.
delegation, and was very properly considered by
them, as entirely satisfactory. have esteemed
both the letter of General Pierce, accepting the
nominations and his letter to Col. Lally, taken
separately or jointly, answer to my enqui-
ries, full, complete and satstactory--just as
much so, as any thing said in the replies of Gen.
Cass, Mr.. Dallas, Mr.. Buchanan, Mr.. Douglas,
or either of the others, to whom my letter was
addressed.
But, gentlemen the "cuckoo" and stereotyped
cry Ia raised, from the village journals, to the now
desperate metropolitan Republic, of"that letter"
of "that letter"
Well if these kind and candid souls will but
give the Democratic candidate and myself
@fair field,'' they shall have +" that letter"-
yes, letter that conveys truth and frankness
on its face, and conviction to all fair and just
minds.
| beg you be not alarmed, my trembling Wing
to an unpretending and simple
abatement. The Baltimore Convention adjourn.
Wednesday, the 9th of that month, meeting TO
raliEy the Baltimore nominations was held in
Washington city. At that meeting our old and
long valued friend, Thomas Ritchie, Esq, was
appointed the lst Vice President. He was call
ed on to speak {; and, with his accustomed fervor
and power, responded to the call. He read "the
letter." yes, "the letter" of Gen. Pierce, which,
in all It's parts, is an answer, an emphatic answer
to mine. Here it is, without word, or syllable,
or figure or letter omitted Il is the letter of
l.. l.1rhR nod anIo NRWbn
patriot:
fremont HOUSE, Boston, May 81, 1852.
NY DEAR COLONEL:
intended to speak TO you more fully upon the
subject of the Compromise measures than had
an opportunity 10 do. The importance ofthe ac-
ton of the Convention upon this question cannot
be over-estmated. believe there will be no
disposition on the part of the South to press re-
solutions unnecessarily offensive to the North
But can as much be said on our side Will
the North come cheerfully up TO the mark OF con-
stiIutional right? If not, breach in our party
is, l fear, inevitable. The matter should be met
at the threshold, because in my judgment it rises
above party, and looks 10 the Very'e1lstence OIL
the confederacy.
The sentiment of no one State is to be regard
ed upon this subject; but having fought the
battle in New Hampshire upon the FUGITIvE
SLAVE LAW, and upon what we believed 10 De
the ground of Constitutional rights, we should OF
the country.
What wish to say distinctly is this: If the
Compromise measures are not TO be substantial
ly and FIRMLY MAINTAINED, the plain rights Sc
cured BY the Constitution will be trampled in the
dust. What difference can it make to you, or
me, whether the outrage shall seem to fall upon
South Carolina, Maine, or New Hampshire p
Are not THE RIGHTS OF EACH EQUALLY DEAR
TO US All IwIll never yield 10 a craven spirit,
that, from considerations of policy, would endan-
ger the Union.
Entertaining these views, the action of the
Convention must, in my judgment, be vital II
we at the North, WHO HAVE STOOD By THE UEDE-
NrkBLE RIGHTS OF THE SoUTH, eTe to be aban-
doned through any time.serving policy. the
hopes of the Democracy. and the Union must
sink together. AS / told you, my name will
not be before the Convention; bat | cannot
| help feeling that what is there to be done will
! be important beyond men and parties-tran-
scendantly important as bearing upon the pros
poets Of Democratic progress aud civil liberty