The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-10-06
WING testimony I'm favor Of GeaA.

WING testimony IN favor 81 Ge,A.
pierce -
Mn. EDIroR
am, as you know, a whig
rom s.the old Granite State !" and such
am in favor Of the election Of Gen. Scott, be-
cause he IL the candidate of the wing party
1t the same time | observe with regret the
course which certain politicians of the wing
party have seen fiji to adopt in reg,rd to Gen
Piercs: and feeii. duty which owe 10 my
native STATE, as well as to the cause OF truth
and justice, "to set history right here in the
far west, as to certain represe nations made in
re gard to the character and opinions OF Frank
lin Pierce.
There are three distinct points, upon which
gross injustice towards Gen. Pierce is attempted
to b. done by the class of politicians to whom
| have referred.
1st They charge that he is deficient in per-
sonal courage, and that he exhibited this miser-
able failing on the battle field in Mexico. The
insinuat,ons in regard to his tainting-falling
from his horse, &c. &c, mean this, if they
mean anything and the charge must either be
that Gen Pierce was rank coward, or it is
less than nothing. FL
Now, inas,nuch as from long acquaintance
with GEN Pierce, know him to be an honora
BILE, kighminded, and courteous gentleman,
am panied and mortified TO see the attempts
made by certain persons not wanting in respect
ability, and amongst them l recognize MIR.
Washburne of Galena, aiming those assassin
like s,abs at the character of Franklin Pierce.
They can al! be disproved in very summary
manner. In the frst place tn concurrent ties
timony of all the officers and m..n who served
,ha' he was universally considered brave and
good officer; the last piece Of evidence Of this
kind which have seen is the letter of the gal
liant Col. Haskell of Tennessee, formerly a
wing member Of Congress and now think is
one of the candidates nominated by the wing
party for Elector of President and Vice Presi-
dent. | request you to publish that letter, if
you have MT done 80. .,' .rs<
In the second place, Gen. Scott in his official
dispatches effectuaIly blows to the wind all
these idle charges aud insinuations, by compli
menting the subject of them US the "gallant
Pierce. think this is his precise expression.
Did Gen. Scott speak the, truth? Did he
say what he meant to say? Or was he guilty
Of worse than fattery for no assignable object
and Of official iulsehood for the purpose Of Dol.
stering the reputation of political oppone nts
Who believes such monstrous absurdity The
wing politicians who charge Pierce with cow
ardice, also charge Scott with falsehood; and
damage their own candidate for the sake Of in
jnring his opponent. 1t is foolish and dan
gerous game to say the least Of it, and '.cannot
win" they may rest assured. They would
stultify Gen. Scott in order to prove Pierce a
coward, they will do neither.
The next Misrepresentation in regard to
Pierce's opinions is that which slledyes hun to
have been hostile to the removal Of the "Cath :
olic Test from the constitution of New Hamp
shire, at least that he neutral or indiffer-
ent in regard to it. Nothing can be more untrue.
Gen Pierce was well known to have been as
much in favor of removing the Test from the
Constitution as any man in the State. M,re
than this; doubt if there were foe promi-
nent men Of all parties who we're opposed to
the removal of the Test; and DO not know
and have never heard, of single leading poll
,ician of eny party who publicly opposed its re
,noval. Like the Property Qualification, it was
looked upon as sort of dead letter and | well
remember that Woodbury's speech in favor of
its removal, was regarded as a sort of speech
for "Bunconb; no. intended for any effect
upon the Convention, where it was plainy I'M
Necessary, nor upon the public mind of New
Hampshire, which considered to be Who'll
ly in favor Of removing the Test; but for its
effect elsewhere. The vote rejecting the
amendment which removed the Test a
complete surprise upon men of all parties; il
considered to be adopted that no
effort whatever was made any where, by any
person, either To explain or advocate it In
general, the vote against it from the ssrural
DISTRICTS remote from the great thorough fare,
and W here the religious pr'judces of the people
were like their fathers faith RS. To hold Gen.
Pierce responsible for this, would be about as
Just and as sensible TO hold him responsible
FIR the burning of John Rogers at suith6eld in
the reign of Queen Mary 4
Still more ridiculous, and if possible more
false, is the charge, the lnslnua,ion, that
Gen. Pierce, at any time or in any manner ia
vored the obolitionsts; or that he is not and has
not uniformly been strong advocate and sup
porter of all that system of measures usually
called the "Compromise measures'' of the last
Congress.
No man in New Hampshire who has any rep
utation, or desires to have any, will take any
such ground.
Gen. Pierce's political life has, from the start,
been remarkably consistent; and in nothing
more than in his respect for the compromises
of The Constitution, and in his advocacy Of
Southern rights, and resistance to abolitionisn
in all its shapes aud phases. r err RI +
But in his support Of the "Compromise meas.
ures, Fugitive Slave Law ana all, Franklin
Pierce was so prompt, SO fearless, and so for
ward that nothing would have given greater
surprise to any man acquainted with the state
Of public opinion in New England, than this
allegation. Let any person who doubts refer
to the bold and manly stand taken by Pierce IN
favor Of Webster and his magnanimops course
upon this ques,ion-Let him accompany Pierce
with that select band of Democrats which Wis
tied Daniel Webster at his Farm in Frnklin ~
hampshire, and listen to the eloquent tribute of
admiration which Gen. Pierce then paid to the
self: sacrificing patriotism of Webster, and to
Webster's rejoinder, and then doubt whether
Pierce was friend to the compromise meas
Tres or not. -.. s...--.. o.
tell you, Messrs. Editols. that Franklin
Pierce would rather have seen Daniel Webster
elected President at that time, than any anti.
Democrat; and can also assure
'ou, that Pierce sincere and hearty admira-
ion for Webster s conduct, then and there 20
expressed, made a good many of
hese anti compromise democrats turn the cold |
boulder towards him.
But have dnne--l am not in favor of Pierces