Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-08-18
General F. PIERCE, Concord, N. H.
CoNcoRp. N, H.. july %, 49,

MY DEAR S1R: Surrounded by pressing engage
ments, l seize the earliest opportunity to reply to
your letter of the 18th instant much regret that
any thing connected with myself should have been
the cause of disagreement between you and gentle
men with whom you have been associated in the edi-
toral department of the Southern Press do not re-
member ever to have seen what purports to be re-
port of speech delivered by at New Boston, in
this State in January last, until my attention was
called to it as republished in the Republic. The pre-
tended report is, and presume designed to be,
an entire misrepresentation. Il is not merely un-
truthful, but is so grossly and absurdly false
render, in this vicinity, any denial of its auhentic-
tY entirely unnecessary. The two papers quoted
the Independent Democrat published in this place,
and the Democrat published in Manchester-are tho
roughly abolition journals; and have been and are
Zealously opposed to the Democratic party. For a
long time prior to the meeting at New Boston, and
since, they have been unsparng in their attacks
upon me personally, and in their bitter denunciation
of what they have been pleased 10 my pro-save-
~ sentiments. But it would be something new for
either of these papers to deny the consistency of my
opinions upon the subject of the constitutional rights
of the South in relation to slavery. 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 indebted for the Constitution
under which we have enjoyed such signal prosperity,
advancement and happiness, l have regarded the
subject too vital and delicate to be used as ele
ment of sectional appeal in party conflicts. My ac-
this matter, have been at all times and under all cir
cumstances in entire accordance with my action and
language at Washington. My votes in the Senate
and House of Representatives were not repubished
in the Era for the first time. They have beenagan
and again Paraded to arouse the passions and preu
dlces of our people against me Individually, and
against the party with which it has been my pride
and pleasure to act. There has been attempt to
evade the force of the record. 1t has been at all times
freely admitted, and my position sustained upon
grounds satisfactory to my own mind am not sur
prlsed to know that the attempt to prove abo-
lItIonIst provokes much merriment among Of all
parties here and this weak and untruhul sketch of
what purports to be my speech, is really ridcu
lous TO be considered in any serious light.
l am daily in the receipt of letters, propoundng
the greatest variety of curious questions, upon all
conceivable subjects. Letters of this character
not be answered, of course. No individual could
command either the time strength the herculean
task would require. l may add, that such cores
Pondence would by no means comport with my views
OF duty. The Democratic party its delegates
Baltimore not alone to nominate candidates. but to
reafrm principles and to present the leading issues
upon which the canvass should be conducted.
If l could deem myself capable of improving the
platform there adopted it is quite certain that should
decline, either at the call of individuals associa-
tons to incur the charge of arrogance which any
attempt to alter, amend or enlarge It, would inevita
bly, subject me.
Your letter is of an entirely different character 1t
seeks truth in relation to alleged fact speaks of
history, to which too searching an appeal cannot be
made. l appreciate the estimate you seem to have
OF my character for dIrectness; and beg you to
cept my thanks for your efforts to vindcate my claim
to that trait, at least, before the public.
am, with high esteem, your most obedient SER
want, FRANK PIERCE
EDWIN De LEON, Esq, Washington, D. c."
Now that Gen. Pierce has come out and over
his own hand given an unequivocal denial to the
New Boston SANDER, we have right to demand, |
with additional force, that those Wing papers-the
Raleigh Register included-which have kept this |
charge standing in their columns against him.
hall take it back, and admit thereby, of course,
hat they have done him gross injustice. Will
hey do it? Will they even publish his letter ?
Perhaps they will-perhaps not. We shall have
more to say this subject in our next