The daily union., 1852-09-11
ffuh inc FfccmAn 70 JluIlaI
interesting Letter Ample yindication.
NEWPORT. IN. Ha Angus, 10. ls52

4
me that an individual BY the OF Levi C. Turner,
employed BY Mt Secretary Corwin Inspector OF the
accounts Of collectors. had recently visit your
town. made some very gross and disfeputabe charges
against the character OF General Pierce the democratic
nominee for the Office OF President OF The United States
and nqurng OF me as 70 the truth OF those charges. has
been received 1t is with great pleasure that respond
your request
understand from your letter that the person alluded
TO charges General Pierce with nlemperance, with H.
centious habits, and represents him TO be OF inie
or capacity, being employed lawyer only in the low
est description OF litigation 10 our courts Of justice;
know nothing OF The Individual who is the author OF
these charges against Gen Pierce, but from the reckless
AMI unounded character OF his statements. lake him
be some shameless and unprinciped calumniaor
ployed 10 go about and deame The democratic candidate.
And with the view OF giving him the appearance OF
spectablly, IN order that his ISLANDERS may have
show OF cedbiliy gwen them, he has been clothed in
an official character by member OF the present admins
ra,ion. My business, however is much with the
individual alluded to as il is with the defamation OF
which he has been guilty will. therefore, proceed at
| once TO answer those charges,
With respect 10 the charge Of inemperance which the
person before alluded TO makes against Gen. Pierce,
with General Pierce for the past eighteen years.
| and during many years ! have been in the habit
with him three years, he being the Senate aad ID the
House OF Representatives and soemnly aver that,
during my whole acquaintance with him, never saw him
intoxicated excited by intoxicating liquor OF any kind
Indeed, say tina, DO recoec any instance
when have seen him drink either spirits wine. He
has occasionally visited my house, and has been
H. IT, therefore, the charge had any foundation in truth,
am confident should have some evidence Of it,
That he resigned ms seat Congress for cause
is, OF course equally false The true fo his leav
ing Congress TO return 10 the practice of the law in
order by honorable industry and the exercise OF
talents peculiarly fitted for the bar, which very ew men
are like fortunate to possess competence for The support
of his family knew well the of Gen PeTces
resignation, and affirm positively that the which
have above gwen was the chet and principal one that
With regard to the charge Of RIGHTEOUSNESS have
only say that never heard il alleged against General
| Pierce until received your letter. On the contrary,
Gen. is remarkable for the affection and devotedness
which he exhibits towards his family. He is the last
in New Hampshire against whom his worst enemies
here would dare TO bring such accusation, breathe
such suspicion Iis wholly without foundation and of
piece with the charge OF intemperance. They are both
| unfounded and wicked calumnies against man high
minded and honorable his intercourse with Others and
correct and exemplary in his private life.
In relation to Gen. Perce's practice lawyer, the
statements of the person alluded 10 equally false
You were acquainted with Gen. Pierce while you and
ne were in Congress, and must have heard him speak
in the Senate. If such the fact you can bear es
| timony to his talents and ability as an orator. There
were few even in that high and august body-which
furnishes the very best specimens of eoquence which
debate Gen P. ranked among the graceful and
eloquent speakers in the Senate He regarded by
the late lamented Silas Wright, himself ranking among
the foremost orators OF this or any country Il was my
good fortune TO board during two sessions of Congress
the same house with that iusrous man; and sew
eral occasions heard him express his opinion OF Gen.
Pierce legislator and orator, of which particu-
lary remember II the occasion of The delivery
by Gen Pierce of his celebrated speech removals from
Office by the Harrison Administrations and just be-
fore he resigned his seat in the Senate listened
the whole of that speech. and do not hesitate to
say that one Of the most eloquent and effective
speeches ever heard in that body. remember well the
| scene which occurred when he concluded He i'm
| mediaely surrounded by Mr.. Wright, Col. Benton, Mr.
Buchanan, DR.. Linn, Of Missouri, and many other demo-
cratic and whig members Of the Senate and cord
ally congratulated upon the success OF his effort Afer
wards. on the same day, at the boarding house OF MIR.
APPRECIATION oil that speech remaTkng that he regarded
General Pierce as one Of the most promising men in that
body; and he added 'in my Judgment, there is not now
Such was The opinion Of Slas Wright, himself The model
senator, and one OF the great masters Of eloquence in
this country. 1t was expressed when General Pierce
was but about SO years Of age and before his powers
| as orator had become maured. He sooa after
ured from the Senate and resumed his practice at the
bar. With such iacls before II is hardly necessary
say that the representations OF the obscure defamer
whom you mention shameless calumnies.
| But | will add, what every man in New Hampshire
knows 10 be true, that General Pierce took the
irst rank al the bar and is and has been for years,
The leading advocate in the State. His practice is OF the
best and profitable class in which he is constantly
engaged and has ated from lis ayais handsome
| competency As orator and debaicr, know of but
| one 10 New England his equal. Mr.. Choate, OF
Massachusetts, may in some respects be his superior,
and in other respects he his inferior They both
very eloquent men, but differing in their styles of speak
ing. Such is General Pierce orator and lawyer.
And in view OF these facts, how degraded and shameless
must those caumniaors be who give utterance to such
defamation that which you say has been Iealed in
your vicinity by person wearing the livery OF the gov
| eminent.
| In connexion with this matter | will suggest another
fact for your consideration. The delegates from New
Hampshire in the late Baltimore Convention, n present
ing Gen Pierce for the nomination by that distinguished
body the high office OF President OF The United States,
endorsed and became reponsie for his eharoefer fines,
and qualifications IN eUery ropeef for thai Office Those
delegates the Hon Charles O. Aiherton. Hon. John
| Z. Redng, Hon. Samuel Tilton, Hon George w. Kit
fridge, Hon. Samuel IL Ayres, and myself In this mat
had little OF character at stake ourselves.
Mr. AeIton had been twelve years in Congress- and had
earned an enviable national reputation which he pledged
Mr. Redng had been in Congress four years. and also
lad natlonal reputation TO pledge The other gentle
men, with the exception OF myself had filled, and
Of them fill, high Official positions at home. They
therefore had public regulations to pledge. And think
may say, without being charged with vanity. that had
some national reputation topedge We the delegates from
| New Hampshire, put in pledge 10 the democracy and
people OF this country personal bonors and our pub
tic regulations for the fitness OF General Pierce IN every
\ respect for the exalted onee 10 which desired /,
have him nominated We pledged ourselves and became
responsible for his ability, capacity and patriotism and
also pledged ourselves and became responsible for the
correctness and purity OF his moral character Is II to be
presumed that would have offered TO the country for
the highest Office in its gift man incompetent with
character degraded and couup, the irresponsible
bellers Of the whig party twhose discredabe detrac
presses who desire 10 appear respectable and honorabe)
represent General Pierce 10 bel II So public reputation
and personal honor worth but little in this country
might here with propney close my letter. But there
are one slanders upon General Pierce Tor which
he respectable leaders OF The whg pariy and not its OBJ.