Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-19
Fuss and Feathers !"


UFuss and Feathers ~
The Hon. Stephen A Douglas, in his singular
speech at Richmond the other day, said
81 have no charge to make against the military
conduct the gaantry, and heroism of the illus
trious general whom the Wings have presented
to the people of the United States as their candi-
date for the Presidency. / will not depreciate
his merits as soldier, because truth and honor
forbid it. TApplause.1 l will refrain, because,
as an American, have too much pride OF country
to cast the slightest shade of dishonor upon those
glorious deeds which form part of American
history. The laurels of Scott, achieved while
fighting the battles of his country upon the
Canadian frontier, or in the various Indian wars,
or in the more recent Mexican campaigns, are
common property, and am as proud OF them as
any of our Wing friends" &c.
That point, then, is settled SO far as the opin-
ion of Judge Douglas is concerned Now, how
is it about Gen. Pierce as Aero?
81 have but one answer to make to all these
insinuations in reference to Gen. Pierces military
character and that answer is simply this: Gen.
Winfield Scott, in his official reports, under the
sanction of an oath, has given the lie direct to
every base slanderer who dares intimate or in
snuate such an imputation. Applause. l wish
repeats this charge, his candidate for the Presi-
dency has pronounced and proven him calum-
niator, and that by making the charge he also
accuses Gen. Scott of falsehood in his official
ports to the government. Do our Whig friends
expect to commend their candidate to the favor
able consideration of the American people bv
branding him with official falsehood, whilst at
the head of that gallant army in which he gained
all of his laurels? Either Gen. Scott is unworthy
of public confidence, or Franklin Pierce was a
brave, gallant, and skilful General" lGreat
applause.
What imputation? Mr. Douglas has used the
word colcard, and we suppose he means the ap
plicaton of that term to General Pierce. We have
been en- attentive reader of the Wing papers of the
country ever since the name of General Pierce
has been presented to the public in connexion
with the Presidency, and we have yet for the first
time to read the word coward as applied to
him If it ever has been, we are Ignorant of
the fact and if convinced Of it, shall regret it.
General Pierce, as we have the best reasons for
believing, would not have been nominated if he
had not been general, and in the army in Mexi-
CO; and since his nomination his friends have in
many instances declared him to be hero. We
in all sincerity declare that no evidences of his
heroism exist. That he is brave, gallant, and
skilful general" may be true. We know nothing
to the contrary and if Gen. Scott has declared
linn to be such (which we have never read from
under the Generals hand, we are bound to re-
spect his opinion, and to presume that it was
based upon good grounds, but of which we have
no information.
We will here offer few extracts:
Extract from the official report Of the battles Of contreras
and Churubusco, by General Scott, to William L. Marcy
dated Headquarters of the Army, Tacubaya at the
gates of Mexico, August 2s, 1Sl7"
"Brigadier General Pierce, from the hurt OF
the evening before, under pain and exhaustion,
tainted in the action"
Extract from the official report battle Moino del
Reby General Scott W l.. Marcy Secretary of War,
dated Headquarters Of the Army, Tacubeya Mexi-
co, September H. 1871"
"The enemy having several times reinforced
his line, and the action soon becoming more gem
eral than had expected, i called up from the
distance of three miles, first Major General Pill
low with his remaining brigade tPierce's,l and
his other brigade (Smith's) in observation at San
Angel. Those corps approached with zeal and
rapldlty, but the battle was won Just as Brgadtey
General Pierce reached the ground"
Extract of the official report of the capture Of the city
Mexico by Cen Scott to ". L. Marcy, Secretary of War
Mexico, Sept. Is, 1877
"The immediate command devolved upo,
Brigadier General Cadwallader, in the absence o
the senior Brigadier PIERCE of the same divis
ion."
Extract from the official report Of Major General Qnma
Of the taking Of the city Of Mexico dated ieadqnare
of the Volunteer Diyon National Palace Of Mexico SeI
20, 1S47"
"During the night, while at the trenches, Br
Gen. Pierce--one Of whose regiments the 81
infantry had joined my column during the day
reported to me in person. He was instructed
place that regiment IN rescrve at The battery IN red
for the protection of Stephenss light battery an
the ammunition at that place. The General III
my thanks for his prompt attention to the
orders"
Extract from the official report Of Frank Pierce Brigad
General u. s. A. TO Captain T. Hooker Assistant
jutant General, ,"--dated headquarters 1st Brigade,
Division, Tacubaya, September 10, 1S4T."
GAS soon as il became sufficiently dark to col
ceal the manmuvre, the brigade was directed |
the general commanding the division to mo'
silently under cover of o long range OF building
known as the Molino del Rey, which place is in
mediatey under the guns of Chepultepec. Pr
y;ous TO this Increment, however, was compellt
to leave the field in consequence OF severe indi
position, which confined me to my bed during u
18th, and of course deprived me Of the satsiactt
Of participating with my brigade IN the gloriol
achievements Of that day. AT o'clock In u
morning Of the 14th rejoined that portion OF n
brigade 10Th regiment) then acting under u
orders of Major General Quitman, at the garit
on the Tacubaya road, the 10Th regiment havin
previously been directed to remain at garriso