Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-08-18


Of New Hampshire, we are indebted u ~
/ H. Robinson. Esq an freshman, who has
! just returned from Concord. New Hampshire.
where he made thorough investigation Of
the subject. and gave them to bis country
men 10 New York on lie 9Th
ca the 7th Of June, 1852. at Pierce
ratification meeting in Philadelphia. the Hon
George VI. Dallas said that while it was true
that Catholics we're excluded BY the Consti
I tuition Of New Hampshire from holding Office
in that State, it was also true that Levi
Woodbury. and Franklin Pierce had obtained
the passage Of laws providing for the holding
Of two State Conventions to amend the Con-
stitution. I'm both cases an amended Con-
4 stitution was submitted TO the vote Of the
people, but two thirds vote being requisite.
1t was defeated by coalition Of Wings and
AhoIisionsts. This was said on the very
day after the adjournment Of the Baltimore
/ Convention. before any charge was made. or
could he made against Gen Pierce. There
is no doubt Judge Woodbury. exerted him.
self to the extent Of his ability for tile aboli-
sion Of this religious test, but what has that
to do with the question now before the PEG
4 pie 2-he is long since dead and bow can lis
/ opinions AID speeches. uttered while living,
affect the present opinions Of Franklin PIERCE
/ The present Constitution Of New IIamp-
shire was adopted IN 1872. The Convention
met at Concord on The 7th Of September.
1871. On the the 10th-.tbe fourth day Of
/ the Consci,tion--a motion was made to strike
out, in the section prescribing qualification
for members Of the House of Representatives..
"shal Be ofthe Protcstantreigion" Benz
PIERCE FRANRLIN's father. voted AGAINsrit
A Constitution was adopted (the present
one) and submitted to the people
1T is remarkable that on The vote on this
Constitution excluding Catholics from Office,
some Of the towns that are now Wing voted
very decidedly against it Thus the Wing
town of Exeter gave 80 votes against it and
not one for it. The Wing town Of Dover
gave 43 votes against it, and only "a for il.
While the Loco Foco town Of Celmantown
gave III votes for it and not one against it
The Loco Foco town Of New Durham gave
Ia Votes for it and not one against it, The
Loco Foc1 townof lIillsborough BnNJAnrN
PIrRcEs native town. and which lie after
ward represented 10 the Legislature gave
IL for it and not one against it,"
Mr. Robinson laid down the following pro
positions, and SO earnest was he in chalen-
gihg an investigation that he announced that
he would deposit in the hands of Simeon Dra-
per, one hundred dollars, to be forfeited and
given up to any one that would prove that in
any one of these propositions he misstatea the
facts. The decision to be left to Robert
Emmett
l. Franklin Pierce did not speak at all in
favor of Catholic Emancipation during the
whole time the Catholic test was before the
Convention.
2 lie had nothing to do with bringing
forward the subject The resolution abol-
ishing the test was drawn up by slr. Parker
of Nashua a Wing, and was brought for.
ward" by Mr.. Parker, November IA, when it
was discussed in Convention.
3. 1t was known throughout New Hamp-
shire that the Catholic Emancipation was f.
naty defeated by an overwhelming vote some
cigat or ten weeks before Mr. O'Conor smoke
in Tannnany Hall
4. When Religious Liberty needed cham
pion General Pierce was found wanting
Though, after Catholic Emancipation had
been carried in Convention he found time
willie masking speech on The Property DUAL
fcation, to excuse and apologize for the test
bigotry, By sayiag it was dead letter ard
blank, which YVES SIMPLY stating that Catho-
lies would peljure themselves to get into Of
flee, by swearing to support a Constitution
which expressly shut them out
s, That so far from all his "antecedents"
being right, bis father, Benjamin Pierce, voted
to PIT the Anti Catholic clause into the Con.
stitution, and voted Tor the Alien and Sedi-
tion Laws of old John Adams
q. That so .ar from Catholic Emancipation
falling ouly for want ola two thirds vote. it
had not one sixth OF the votes cast throughout
the state at the same election tor Governor.
ard did net come near simple majority ofthe
small vote cast on this question,
Z. That ia place Of there being any high
confidence in New Hampshire Of. Catholic
Emancipation being carried, TIE general opin
ion is, that unless we draw line around New
Hampshire saying, that while the plague spot
is on her. and the ship is unpwifed. 40 man,
captain nor crew shah lard. and thus by the
defeat of General Pierce, bring his bigoted
party TO their senses, the Catholics in that
state stand no chance of being emancipated
for half a century
.. Aud IN word, in fine, that the father.
Benjamin Pierce, was red hot enemy of the
Catholics, and supporter Of the Alien and
sedition acts; and that Franklin Pierce. the
young chicken, so learned to follow tie old
one. that be raised not voice in favor Of abol.
isbing his fathers bigotry, during the whole
time the subject was under discussion in
Convention Of which be was a leading member
and President
------@,',
 <s~e>.~----