Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-28
Gen. Pierce Defended.

Pierce, to a brother clergyman in Phila-
delphia, in answer to letter inquiring as
to the moral conduct Of Gen. Pierce. 1t
is most satisfactory answer to all the ca
lumnies that have been fabricated by the
wings about our candidate, and shows
that he is entitled to the full and entire
confidence of the American people, not
only on account of his popularity, but al
so for his high social and moral qualities.
The writer says:
"You make inquiries respecting Gen.
Pierce, my honored townsman and neigh.
Dor, which regard both as a pleasure
and duty TO answer. You know have
never been a political partisan; or if ]
have had any political preferences and
partialilies, they have been in another
direction, reckoning myself a Wing rath-
ct than Democrat, What / say, there
fore, is entirely free from any political
consideration or feeling
81 have known General Pierce perso-
nally for about twelve years. and
might say somewhat intimately, as we
have lived in the same neighborhood.
attended the same church, and have been
brought together almost every week in
going to our places of business. If un.
derstand any mans character, think it
is that of General Pierce-for he is so
frank, generous, and open, that he is
incapable of concealment. know of
no man of such generous nature, so rea-
dy 10 sympathiSe with poverty and sor'
row, and SO liberal in relieving them
His heart and hand are always open to
whoever appeals 10 him in distress: in .
decd, the appeal is not waited for when
the distress is known. In all his domes.
tic relations and social Intercourse, and
business transactions in his large profess
sionul practice. his life has been marked
by purity, justice, and generosity. The
breath of censure has never fallen, SO
far as know. upon him, while his char
acter, in all these respects, is universally
admitted and admired.
"Not only is General Pierce firm be-
lever in Christianity as a Divine rcveln-
lion, but in its highest and most peculiar
traths, as a system adapted to the moral
condition Of man, and which alone can
renew and save him. While he is no
narrow sectarian, but honors all good
men of every name, and ready to do
them good He is an attendant at an
orthodox Congregational; church, and no
one is more constant in attendance or Sc
rious in devotion than he. For some
Time he was a teacher in the sabbath
school, and have often seen him at the
monthly concert and social meetings.
! have known Of his generous acts in re.
liuving poor ministers unaskcd, and where
he sought concealment.
"Should General Pierce be elected to
the Presidency, | doubt not that he would
carry 10 Washington that reverence for
religion, and observance of its worship and
institutions which he has so long shown
here and will add. though this is not
included in your inquiries. that the White
House was not hunored with the presence
of n moro accomplished. intelligent, and
truly christian lady in Mrs, Polk than it
would be in Mrs. Pierce.
"You refer to 'rumors respecting the
use ofintoxicating beverages will first
say in reply, that in all my long and some
what intimate acquaintance with General
Pierce, have never known him to use
ardent spirits, nor have seen him when
thought or suspected he had used it,
In the next place | will say, that in know
ing Dr., Thomas Chadbourne. one Of our
most distinguished physicians, a total alb
stnence man, and member of the church
with which General Pierce worships, had
been for years the family physician OF
General Pierce. took the liberty to hand
him your letter enclosed in a note to which
received the following reply:
al have attended General Pirce's ia.
mily as their medical adviser more thar
seven years. and the delicate health oil
Mrs. Pierce and her son during most q
this period has accustomed An intimacy ir
: the family that hardly any other circum
stances could have done {; and am free
to say, and ! say it with perfect truthful.
ness, that have never seen, in the fami
ly. or out of it anything in the appearance
of General Pierce 10 excite in my mind a
suspicion that he INDUCED in Incorporate
. habits, or anything that would atloId the
least proof of the truth Of the reports al
luded to-
have now answered your inquiries,
and though no politician take pride. as
you do, in New Hampshire men. and
take pleasure. whatever the party tt
which they belong, in indicating theil
character from reproach.
Very truly yours, your friend apd
, brother,
"P. S,-You ask if General Pierce i.
q straight forward. honest man, who
dares to do What he believes to be right
anywhere and everywhere Genera
Pierce is universally known AS a man O
great decision and independence Of cha
racter, and will do what he thinks to bt
his duty in the face o; any consequences
and though nominated by party he vii
be more than partisan, being in every
inch, feeling and impulse a national man
whose motto and watchword will be thai
of our New Hampshire statesmen we
both honor and admire, Our whole cOun'
try, the country and nothing but ouI