The daily union., 1852-09-11

his profession He is kept by the government for the
express purpose Of fighting is battles he IS hired and
naid for H. La consideration that he kept under pay
on The condition that he will hght. he bound always
10 fight when fighting is necessary There Is no merit
therefore, in has going into war when one Is com
meneed IL he dld not, be would be guilty o dlshon-
oTable act He would be ungratefui TO the country
which feeds and clothes him. and supports him 10 uxu-
rous ease IN peace, IN consideration OF MS military
abilities and services during war.
Not so with General Pierce When the with
Mexico declared he was private citizen pursuing
his private concerns. He under no more obligation
10 20 into that than any other patriotic But he
did GO He volunteered priuats soldier, IN order 10
encourage by bis example others 10 enlist and 10 go 10
the defence Of their country in the peril OF war Pesi
dent Polk knowing his worth and abilities, promoted
him TO high command. His official comrades in arms,
eyewiinesses of his conduct have borne distinguished
testimony his courage and skill soldier. On this
point the tongue OF slander IS eeciuay parayzed Al
ier the brought TO close by honorable peace
and the demands OF patriotism were discharged, be re-
tired from the army private life General Pierce did
not enter the army fight for pay, in consideration
OF support from the government but because bdey and
devotion 10 the counry OF his birth demanded the sacrifice
and the risk. Fighting for ones country under such
circumstances is honorable and fraiseworthy. Such a
soldier will have merit in the eyes OF the American
people than the professional of arms, who ls
hired and paid for his hghtng and bound by mere pc
cuniary consideration to turn out when The government
demands his services Such soldier was Gen. Pierce
and such was Andrew jackson. Gen. Plerces friends
do not place his claims upon his military services, but
upon his civic qualifications and Illness for the once o
President, which, without detracting from the great
merits of Gen Scott military man, they contend
infinitely superior TO the qualifications OF the latter as
civilian and statesman.
Touching the charges against General Pierce IN rela
ton the religious test and abolitonism, il is sufficient
10 say that they wholly unfounded. No man has ex
erted himself more TO expunge from the constitution OF
this State the clause which excludes Roman Catholics
from the Office of governor and members of the egsla
ture On all occasions he has been the eloquent advo
cate Of theIegous and political rights OF all denom
nations OF Christians. And. in connexion with this mat
ter may add that the religious test in the constitution
OF this State the lgork Of the old federal parry
the ancestors Of the wings OF the present day was
that party who formed the constitution, and inserted
among its provisions that Usry test And that party
the federal whg party-has kept II in that instrument
ever since Since the democratic party obtained the
tendency in this State have made repeated efforts to
call convention TO expunge that disgraceu provlson
and 10 make other reforms. But The Wtig press and
ihen BY uniting almost in mass, with small portion
OF the democratic party On the fifth effort the whig
press advocated the call for convention, but after that
body had assembled, and perfected its amendments, he
expurgaton Of the religious test being one0 the tcaoe
united achig press opposed and deea'ed those amend
men's before tts psope-e vote Of t,oo thirds icing re-
gured for their adoption And yet, with characteristic
mendacity, they attempt TO fix the odum OF their
bgoted intolerance upon the democratic party In con-
nexon with this matter should be remarked that
qued the vote OF thirds OF the legal votes OF the State
to amend the constitution misreresentatons OF Gen
Pierces in relation to abolitionism, for which
southern whg politicians are more particularly respon-
sble par,ake OF the same reckless and shameless
dacy. General Pierce has never given counienance
TO that peslent heresy On the contrary. he was the
apos,acy from the democratic party, and again in epu
dating the Rev John Atwood after like treachery TO his
party These facts which the sixty thousand voters
of New Hampshire, whg and democrat, knou 10 be
true. And yet there politicians among the wings
of The Soulh-traitors TO the South and worse trail
tors to the Union, inasmuch as they would strike
down and sacrifice the only men in the North on whom
the South rely for the support OF lis rights under the
constitutonthere southern whig politicians,
peat, who guilty OF the disgraceul mendacty and
treason OF representing Gen Pierce countenancing abb
oonsm; and they retail this calumny the authority
of known aboons,s and abolition newspapers in New
Hampshire! Can political dishonesty descend TO lower
leveli
Thus you The charges against General Pierce are
wholly without foundationwithout the semblance OF
truth reeve the agitous aud wanion defamation OF
his beers speak form personal knowledge, and know
what cay be true But why this systematic belying
of political opponent The reason is obvious The
authors of il have truth by which they can sustain
their sinking cause. and hence they knowingly and will
fully resort falsehood and detraction. They little
dream OF the Indignation which they provoking from
the American people, who love honesty and fair play,
and who will not be imposed upon by bold and brazen
untruh They scorn such dshonorable efforts those
OF which the leaders Of the wbg party now guilty TO
break down political opponent
am, very truly, your friend, &c -
EDMUND BURKE
To Hon. JOHN II. PRENTIss