Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-02-08
Senator Hale Insuitcd ut the White House
We find the following in the N.Y.Time. of
Tuesday, Goth instant

We find the following in the N.Y.Time, of
Tuesday, Goth instant
Z" We have never yet, until in recent
instance, heard of an act Of personal rudeness
OF iil-breeding in any Of our Presidents
towards a political opponent. When John
Quincy Adams was President, he had per
sonal alteration with the late Commodore
Porter, and once reiuscd 70 take the hand Of
the gallant sailor, when Lafayette acted az a
mediator between them. But in no instance.
that we remember, has ever the President
been guilty of personal incvility to n polit-
ical opponent who visited him In hir Official
residence Such a gross improperly. we
regret to learn, has taken place at the pre,-
dents mansicn, We should be most happyir
the source of our information permitted US
to.doubt the truth of the incident.
According to the facts as related to us,
it seems that. II fortnight ago, Senator Hale,
of New Hampshire, accompanied by his wife
and daughter, called upon the President at
one of his public receptions the ladies were
received by the President with his accustomed
graciousness and urbanty Of manner; but
when the good-natured Senator himself APP
preached the presence of his Fxcll!oncv to
salute him, President Pierce termed deliber-
ately upon his heel, ard presented his back
to his visitor The movement WAS executed
in such manner as to make the indignitv
marked and unmistakable.
I" The cause of Offence on the part Of the
Senator, which SO worked up the mind of the
President as to induce him to act in a manner
80 unbecoming his station, was uule's re-
marks upon the annual Message in the
Senate. The insult offered by the President.
therefore, was not an accidental expression of
malevolent feeling towards personal enemy,
/ lsfho mo At .,..t-4
trayed into; but it was deliberate outrage
towards political opponent who had dared
to criticise his acts before the Senate and the
country.
. Mr.. Hale had the same right to visit the
Presidents mansion that amy other decertly
dressed citizen had, on the occasion OF a pub-
lie reception, and, if he could forget his poll.
teal differences, the President had no riaht to
remember them. The conduct of the President
! towards to Mr.. Hale will doubtless be the
mean Of keeping mary other of the Pre-
sldent $ political Antagonists from visiting the
White House, and it may have been intended
| as a hint to them that their personal attend
ance waInot desired by him. His. extraordin
airy conduct towards Governor Reeder, and
the tone Of his last Message, coupled with
his treatment Of Senator Hale, make too pal.
pable that he is ready to do anything which
will be likely to conciliate the South
" 1t is sad sign of the state Of our inter.
political relations with the South, that there
is said to be great deal Of social proscrp-
ton in Washington this winter on the part
OF the leading members of Congress from the
! slave states. Several Southern members We
have been informed, have refused to be intro.
duced to gentlemen on the score of their known
opposition to the extension of slavery. j
the President sets the example of turning hi,