Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-10-20
EDWIN De LEON.
Gen. f. Pierce, Concord, n. H
CONCORD, n. H., July %, 1852.

CONCORD, n. H., July %, 1852.
My DEAR SIR:-Surrounded by pressing en-
gagements, l seize the earliest opportunity to
reply to your letter on the 18th instant. | much
regret that anything connected with myself
should have been the cause of disagreement be-
tween you and gentlemen with whom you have
been associated in the editorial department of
the Southern Press. | do not remember ever
to have seen what purpOrts to be a report of a
speech delivered by me at New Boston, in this
State, in January last, until my attention was
called to it as republished in the Republic The
pretended report is, and | presume was design
ed to be- an entire misrepresentation. 1t is not
merely untruthful, but is so grossly and absurd
ly false as to render, in this vicinity any denial
of its authenticity entirely unnecessary. The
two papers quoted-the Independent Democrat,
published in this place, and the Democrat, pub
hshed in Manchester-are thoroughly abolition
journals; and have been, and are zealously oppo-
sed to the Democratic party; For long time pri-
or 10 the meeting at New Boston, and ever since
they have been unsparing in their attacks upon
Inc personally, and in their bitter denuncation of
what they have been pleased to- tern my proslave-
~ sentiments. But it would be something new,
for either of these papers to deny the consisten-
cy of my opinions upon the subject of the con-
stitutional rights of the South in relation to sa-
very, My opinions, and the avowal of them,
have been everywhere the same. Ever mindful
of the difficulties and dangers which so long
brooded over the assemblage of wise men and
pure patriots to whose spirit of concession and
earnest efforts we are indebted for the constitu-
ton under which we have enjoyed such signal
prosperity, advancement and happiness, | have
regarded the. subject astoo vital and delicate TO
to be used as an element of sectional appeal in
party conflicts. Ny action and my language in
New Hampshire, touching this matter, have been
at all times and under all circumstances in en-
tire accordance with mYaetion and language at
Washington. My votes The Senate and House
of Representatives we're not republished in the
Era for the first time, They have been again
and again paraded to arouse the passions and
prejudices Of our people against me individual
ly, and against the party with which it has been
my pride and pleasure to act. There has been
no attempt to evade the force of the record. It
has been at all times freely admitted, and my
position sustained upon grounds satisfactory to
my own mind. ] am not surprised to know that
the attempt to prove me an abolitionist provokes
much merriment among men of all parties here;a
and this weak and untruthful sketch of what
purports to be my speech is really too ridiculous
to be considered in any serious light.
| am in the daily receipt of letters, propoun-
ling the greatest variety of curious questions
upon all conceivable subjects Letters of this
character cannot be answered, of course. No
Individual could command either the time or
strength the herculean task would require. |
nav add, that such correspondence would by
10 means comport with my views of duty. The