Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-08-20
Concord, N. H., July %, 1852

Ny DEAR SIR: Surrounded by pressing en-
gagements, seize the earliest opportunity to re-
ply to your letter of the 18th instant. l much
regret that any thing connected with myself
should have been the cause of disagreement be-
tween you and the gentlemen with whom you
have been associated in the editorial department
of the Southern Press. do not remember ever
to have seen what purports to be a report of a
speech delivered by me at New Boston, in this
State, in January last, until my attention was
called to it as republished in the Republic. The
pretended report is, and Ipresume was designed
to be, an entire misrepresentation. 1t is not
merely untruthful, but is SO grossly and absurd
ly false, as to render, in this vicinity, any de-
nial of its authenticity entirely unnecessary
The two papers quoted the Independent Dcmo-
crat, published in this place, and the Democrat
published in Manchester-are thoroughly abol-
tion journals and have been and are zealousy
opposed to the Democratic party. For long
time prior to the meeting at New Boston, and
ever since, they have been unsparing in their at
tacks upon me personally, and in their bitter de-
nunciation OF what they have been pleased to
term my pro-slavery 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 mindfulof the
difficulties and dangers which so long broodcd
over the assemblage of wise men and pure pa
triots to whose spirit of concession and earnest
efforts we arc indebted for the Constitution un-
der which we have enjoyed such signal prosperity,
advancement, and happiness, l have regarded
the subject as too vital and delicate to be used
as an element of sectional appeal in party con-
ficts. My action and my language in New
Hampshire, touching this matter, have been at
all times and under all circumstances in entire
accordance with my action and language at
Washington. Myvotes in the Senate and House
of Representatives were not republished in the
Era for the first time. They have been again
and again paraded to arouse the passions and
prejudiccs of our people against me individually,
and against the party with which it has been my
pride and pleasure to act. There has been no
attempt to evade the force of hereford. Ithas
been at all times freely admitted, and my posi-
tion sustained upon grounds satisfactory to my
own mind. am not surprised to know that the
attempt to prove me an aboltlonist provokes
much merrlment among men Of all parties here;
and this weak and untruthful sketch of what
purports to be my speech is really too ridiculous
to he considered i'll any serious light.
l am in the daily receipt of letters propoun-
ding the greatest variety of curious questions
upon all conceivable subjects Letters of this
character cannot be answered, of course. No
individual could command either the time or
strength the heculean task would require
may add that such correspondence would by
no means cOmport with my views of duty.
The democratic party sent its delegates to Balti-
more not alone to nominate candidates, but to
reaffirm principles, and to present the leading is
sues upon which the canvass should be conduc-
ted.
If 1 could deem myself capable Of improving
the platform there adopted, it is quite certain
that should decline, either at the call of mdi-
viduals or associations, to incur the charge Of ar
rogance to which any attempt to alter, amend,
Or enlarge it, would inevitably subject me.
Your letter is of an entirely different character
1t seeks truth in relation to an aletlcd fact it
speaks of history, to which too searching an ap-
peal cannot be made. Iapprcciatc the estimate
you seem to have of my character for directness :;
and beg you to accept my thanks for your cf-
forts to vindicate my claim to that trait, at least
before the public.
am with high esteem, your obcdient SER
want, FRANK. PIERCE
EDWIN DELEoN, esq, Washington, d. c.
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