The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-02
The Case as Il Stands.

In other columns we reproduce the varion.s
statements and counter statements that nave
been made in relation to GSensral PIERcE's at
tltude on the sis.Jery question, as assumed in
MS speee-.n at New Boston in January last.
| Our object is to present in a compact form all
that is necessary to thorough understanding of
the points in controversy, and the weight to
which they are respectively entitled.
We give, firstly, the original reports of the
Manchester Democrat and the Independent
Democrat, which concur in attrbuting to Cen
eral PIERCE sentiments of hostility to the insti-
tuition OF slavery aud to the Fugitive Slave Law.
| Secondly, there are the accounts of the same
meeting published by the Manchester ONION
| Democrat and the Nashua Gazette, both
being then and now favorable to General
PIERCE. These reports do not embody the
precise expressions employed by the reporters
of the Manchester Democrat and the Indepen-
dent Democrat; but then it is admitted that the
speech occupied two hours and half, and that
the pro-PlERcE reports are merely abstracts
| While, however, the reports of the Union
Democrat and the Nashua Gar lite do not cor
respond literally with those Of their contempt
raries, they do not present any thing directly
opposed to the views which General PIERCE
is alleged to have uttered. For example, the
Union Democrat, which is relied upon by the
PIERCE apologists, states that the General
spoke of slavery as having been introduced into
the country against the moral sense of the
world" and the equally friendly Nashua Ga
:ette represents General PIERCE, while pleading
for the Compromise, as avsrring that the Fu-
gitive law embraces an obnoxious principle.
Thirdly, we give an article from the Man
chester Union Democrat of January Ia, being
the only article that appeared at the time at
all questioning the accuracy Of the reports Of
the Manchester Democrat and the Union Dem
ocrat. 1t will be observed that this second
statement Of the Union Democrat does not
contain line calling in question words which
exhibit General PIERCE as hating slavery and
| "loathing" the Fugitive law. On the other
hand, the sentiment cited by the Union
Democrat as enormously reported is not con-
| fined to the Manchester Democrat, but sub
slantially appears also in the report of the
The above publications compose the contem-
| poraneous history of General PIERCE's sayings
at New Boston, and are all that can be made
available to show how those sayings were inter-
| preted at the time they were uttered. We sub
NIT that the reports issued by the Hunker jour
nails are perfectly consistent with accuracy on
the part Of the reports of the Freesoil Demo-
| erals; while tho corrective statement of the
| Union Democrat-the only contradictory state
ment that has been produced-proves by its
silence on the material issues that the accuracy
Of the obnoxious reports was originally ad-
| mitted.
To complete the case, we add the letters Of
Messrs. CAMPBELL and AVER, which are in
all respects inconclusive-the certificate pre-
pared within the last few days, and signed by
parties who fail to impeach specifically any of
the important allegations-the affidavit of Mr.
Foss, who swears that the reports of the Man
chester Democrat and the Independent Demo-
crat are true-and, finally, the letter of Mr..
GoopALE, editor of the Manchester Democrat,
who explains causes calculated to induce Gene
raj PIERCE to speak as he is reported to have
spoken, and challenges an investigation into
the truthfulness of the report.
We beg the reader to scan the matter closely
in every part. to compare the different reports,
to balance the relative pretensions OF the wit
nesses who now figure in the case, to estimate
the directness and value Of their respective tes-
timony; and then to say honestly whether the
direct evidence, and the known probabilities Of
the transaction, are or are not favorable to
General PIERCE. Looking at the whole case
as coolly as we can, we are constrained to
conclude that some seven months ago General
PIERCE did utter the sentiments attributed to
him by the Freesoil journalists of his neigh
borhood.
I, is for the country to weigh the evidence
and 10 pronounce the verdict.
| Another Plank Gone.