Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-29
F1om tho Baltimore Sun.
Capt. Magruder and Gen. Pierc


Capt, Magruder and Gen. Pierce.
In the amount of personal abuse and
villiGcation of private character which it
appears to be the special Office of GER
tain class of journals, of either political
party, during Presidential campaign, to
pour out upon the respective candidates
for that high office, there has been much
as to the alleged poltroonery of General
Pierce while in Mexico. On the other
side it is absurdly alleged that General
Scott embezzeled the public funds that
he is wanting in honor, &c.
With regard to the alleged cowardice
and want of manly courage of General
Pierce, the testimony OF his fellow Of
ticers and soldiers in Mexico, without ex-
cep,ion, gives the lie to it-and to this uni
versal testimony is now to be added the
following frank and hearty letter from
Col, John Bankhead Magruder, Ga whig)
who is we'll known in this city, but now
stationed at San Diego California. This
letter we find in the Washington Union,
and is of more particular interest just at
this period, from the fact that an addition
al imputation has been circulated against
Gen. Pierce lately, to the effect that at a
social party in the city of Mexico, on the
night before his departure for the United
States, he had his face slapped by anoth-
err officer Of the army, and had not resen-
ted the insult. The name of the officer
alleged to have perpetrated this outrage,
the Union says, soon became we'll known,
and Col. Magruder was declared to be
the man. Since then II letter has appear
ed from Capt. George McLane, of this CT
ty, acknowledging that he understood
himself to be the person given as the au-
thority for the statement against General
Pierce, but that the article in question
had been published "without his knowl
edge or consent" and was ga material
misrepresentation" of what he had "said
or intended" yet he says that it was his
"imPreSSi0n" that some such difficulty as
that referred to had taken place between
another officer and Gen. Pierce. He
does not say that he was present and saw
any such difficulty; he does not assert that
there was any, but gives his impression"
alone. Thus the matter now stands.
when the following letter from Col. Ma
gruder comes along, showing at least
what are the present relations and cordial
feelings existing between himself and Gen.
Pierce, and how little they will be likely
to thank any pseudo friends for their in
discretion in this matter-even surprising
in a conviVial or forgetful moment any-
thing really did occur on which to base
the statemcnt-in which case it seems
most likely, judging from the present re-
laLions of COL NJ, and Gen. Pierce, the
latter displayed manly, courageous,
generous and gentlemanly forbearance
which was truly noble, and is doubtless
greatly appreciated by the opposite party:
San Diego, Cal. dug. ID, 1859.
My Dear General: Permit me to ten
der you my sincere congratulations upon
your nomination by one of the great po-
litical parties of our country for the high
est Office in its gift.
Your " comprehensive arms" whatev-
er be their politics, and however disinclin-
ed to mingle with the political parties of
they day, should not be the last to ex-
press their pleasure and evince their pride
that SO distinguished an honor has been
conferred upon one recently of their own
corps, who was as faithful and gallant in
the field as he was generous and kind in
the social relations which grew up upon
the termination of the campaign.
A Wing myself. and professionally of
the "Scott school" Of military men-che-
rishing withal the fullest confidence in
the devoted patriotism and ability, civil
and military, OF that eminent citizen and
soldier Il still can say, in his own Ian
guage, in reference to yourself, that, if
he be not elected, the choice of the people
will fall upon observing man."
Hero might stop; but have seen in
the newspapers of the day, published in
the Atlantic States, that there has been
an attempt to dspreciate your services in
the-late war with Mexico, growing out of
an accident that befel you in one of the
battles in the valley--an attempt as un
generous in motive as it is unjust in fact
to yourself. allude particularly to the
severe accident which prevented you from
taking more active part in the battle OF
the 18th August, and from which you
suffered so much on the Goth, at the bat
tie of Churubusco.
Rumors put in circulation by the mali
cious and thoughtless generally do not
deserve the attention of sensible persons;
but when an officer of the army k,aoscs
that false charge is brought through
the public prints against the reputation of
another. however exalted or humble, it
becomes his duty to place atleast at the
disposal of the party attempted to be in