Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-09-01
erssaT LETTER.


ne natice on its contents We design a more
delibe ate comment on it, and the position cf
It's author and his party onthe national chess
board
We have stated. once and again, that we
did not wish, or intend to do Gen. Pierce, or
his party, the leas, injustice, and would not
persist in auy charge which we did no, believe
well sustained, and Of material import in the
Presidential campaign. In this connection
We have continued to treat the New Boston
speech. as it was connected with Fosss state
mont Wethen stated, as we now repeat, that
this issue on tie New Boston speech, was
but .'cIRcuMsTANcE" in the chain Of facts
tending to show the real position Of General
Pierce and bis party on the slavery question
The publication of this letter, SO far from
weakening this chain OF facts or breaking
the force o. the concurrent circumstances, but
adds weight 10 the conclusive tendency q the
evidence Weregret the appearance Of Gen
Pierces letter only on bis own account SO
Car as the issue involved 10 this discussion
stands affected hy it. ii but darkens the per
spective and renders more certain the truth
and propriety Of tie position which we haze
hitherto occupi, and intend to maintai'i with
regard to Gen Pierce views on the slavery
question.
But to thcpoint TO which we wish 10 direct
the public attention. This letter appears I'M
der the most peculiar and forbiddng circum-
stances il is called for under the heaviest
pressure Of outward and untoward circumstan-
ccs it is addressed 10 but single point
L. .,,.J a.. 4 l
as covering erery point touching the stare
ryquestion 1t is not affirmative as to facts.
but merely negdt,re as to sentiments 1t does
not place the writer on any distinct grogaa.
or commit him to any particular principle;
but denies tic truth Of report of his SPEECH
irhieh did commit him distinctly to Tie sup
port Of the Fugitiue Stare Lar But we
will let the author speak for himself:
CoScoRp, n IL. july 23d 1852.
Nix DEAR SIR:-Surreunded Ly pressing
engagements, ! sieze the earliest opportunity
to reply 10 your letter of.tbe 18th inst
much regret that anything connected With
myself should have been TIE cause ofdisqgree-
ment between you and gentlemen with whom
you have been associated 10 the editorial de-
partment of the Southern Press. | do not
remember ever to have seen what purports to
be report % a speech delivered by me OF
New Boston, in this State 10 January last
until my attention was called t, it as re pub
lished in the Republic. The pretended re-
port is, and presume was designed to be, an
entire misrepresentation. Its not mcrelyun-
truthful bat is so grossly and ahsurdly false
as to render in this vicinity any denial Of its
authenticity entirely unnecessary
Thus runs General Pierce's letter of dcni-
al, "Ihe pretended report is. and pre-
sumo leas designed to be, AN ENTIRE
MISREPRESENTATION. n is not mere
~ untrmhfui, but IL is SO grossly and ab-
surdly false as 10 render. In this riciaity, am
denial Of its authenticity Unnecessary
This is most sweeping and unqualified
denial, and we presume is by far more so than
t was designed to be-" for it not only ex-
cludes the offensive part Of the report. to wit,
that Gen. Pierce was in favor oe enforcing
the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Law. :
False in one particular, false in everything
is maxim as universal as it is pre- per and
Just If, then, according to Gen picrce's
statement, Fosss report is grossly and absurd
y false, and IAN ENTIRE misrepresentation, y
he did not adpocdte the enforcement of she
provisions Of The Fugitire Stare Law in bis
New Boston speech How is this
But again, the letter proceeds:
My votes in the Senate and House Of Rep.
rescntativcs were not republishcd in the Era
for the first time. They have been again and
again paraded to arouse the passions and pre-
JUDGES 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 the re-
cord 1t has been at all times freely admit
ted, and my position sustained upon grounds
satisfactory to my own mind ! am not sur
priSed to know that the attempt to prove me
an Abohtiouist provnkes much merriment
among men Of all parties here and this weak
and antruthful sketch OF what purports to be
my speech is really too ridiculous to be con
sidered in any serious light
Ny rotes intte Senate and horse of Rep
resentdtires, hare been at all times freely
admitted, and my position sustained, npoa
grounds satisfactory 10 my o,rn mind"
Indeed Then his vote in the slave case
Of Edmund Brooke. BY which he sought to
digest the property interest Of The olener. by
means OF FORFEITURE OF VESTED RIGHTS
'bas been at all times freely admitted, ana
(my) his position sustained on grounds sat
isfactnry to (my) bis own mind I"
Here then. we have the distinct admission
of Gen. Pierce, that ''hs votes in the Senate
and House Of Representatives have been
freely admitted. and sustained on grounds
satisfactory 10 his osa mind when, by one
of those votes, he sought 10 abolish taeright
Of property of Virginian to his slave in the
District OF Columbia
Now let us, in al seriousness, consider this
nelo and self-seleeted positioa of this cham
pioa Of Sldcery, Let US advert not only to
his second positi' n in this political game,
but to the position, sentiments, and policy of
mis- Northern allies
We have frequently published the votes,
resolutions and CREED of the New Hamp.
shire Democracy on the slavery question
Let it be remembered We have also dis
closed fairly, the position, sentiments and pol
icy of the Southern allies Of the Frcesolers.
on this subject Let that be not forgotten
No havo also cootal FROM, tho Daf-;nf -.