Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-06-21
oo1flfunTcATIoNs.
For the staudar,

o0l7EUNIcAII0Na.
For the Standard.
LETTER OF HON EDWIN g. READE.
Before proceeding to comment as intend to do
ON the contents of this production, will premise
that in what shalisa Of it intend no personal
disrespect to the author, who is for aught know
or believe to the contrary gentleman OF iair cnar
acter and standing. But tho letter is given 70 the
public, and as public property, is legitimate SUD-
iect for criticism In the first place. it smells OF the
lawyer; it snacks Of the profession whose business
it often is s to make the worse appear the better
cause. s 1t is such garblns Of testimony as is
calculated to exhibit in bold relief those portions
which favor the client, and to withdraw attention
from such az make in favor of the adversary. Gus
legalized this practice at the bar and on the
hastings but Il seems to me that the constitu-
e1ts Of q representative have right to expect
fair statement when he addresses them. Mr. Keade
was sent to Congress, not to represent the Know
Nothngs alone, but all the people OF his District.
Mr. Reade in the outset says that "the North is OPP
posed to slavery almost to man." This deny in
toto and from hundreds of facts which 60 to dis
prove it will only select one, which is, the exls-
tence Of the New York Day Book, with its thou
sands of subscribers at the North-which goes as
far not merely in defence but bold outright ddooca-
ca Of African slavery as the most ultra pro-savery
newspaper, magazine, book, pamphlet or speech
which circulates or has circulated at the South
No man who does read the Day Book will deny
this and to those who do not, say send on dol
lar to the Editor for it, and he will send youa paper
which will satisfy you of the truth of what assert
He then says that after the Missouri Compromise
was made the country was quiet" This, too,
DENY and appeal to every man acquainted with pub
lie events in this country from 1920 to this time, to
sustain the denial From the first commencement
of the anti-slavery agitation the country has been
like patient suffering remittent fever. There have
1,oor poroviemo md remisSiOnS the Datient has
been sometimes better and sometimes worse; but
the fever has never left him will this agitation
ever cease until the South unites to choke the agl-
tators down. Mr. Rcade says that Mr.. Clingman
has united with those who maintain that there
shall be no difference in bestowing the offices
which govern the country between native-born and
foreign born" If he means that the Democratic
party maintains this doctrine deny it, and call for
his proof It is true that the Democratic party is
opposed to holding man disqualified for Office on
account of foreign birth but their creed and prac
tice have been, caeteris parab to give the native
born American the preference. I suspect that Mr..
Reade knows very well that there is wide differ
ence between foreign influence and the influence of
Joreigners nGturalized in this country, but thinks
there are many of his constituents who do not.
suspect too that Mr.. Reades detestation of foreign
ers grows mainly out of the fact of their generally
voting Democratic tickets Will he have the hard
ihood to say to his constituents that the Democrats
as party, are more tainted with abolitionism than
their opponents or Know Nothings? He
says in his letter expressly: {" do not charge the
Democrats as such with abolitonism." How, then,
he have the face to charge our foreign born cit.
beg the honest Know Nothngs land would fain
hope and believe there are many such) to keep in
view the distinction intimated above between for
egn inAuence-that is, the influence of foreign gov
ernments and peoples, and the influence of men
who, although born in foreign land have preferred
ours to their native land and have become through
choice and preference American citizens. Accord
ing to numbers they form in the free States the
soundest portion Of their population, far op-
position to aboitonism and love of the Union CO.
1t has not been very long since the Irish patriot,
John Mitchell, pledged himself to furnish natural
lied foreigners enough to drub the aboltonists into
quiet in the event of their attempting war on the
the administration Gen. Pierccs) has pandered to
the abolition influence" and quotes the following
passage from speech of Mr.. Douglas to prove it:
Why do they not state the matter truly, aud state
that it opens the country to freedom by leaving the
people to do as they please" Here Mr.. Reade must
have fancied himself playing the advocate before
ignorant jury, and have forgotten that his letter
to be read by intelligent citizens" his consttu-
ents." Does not Mr.. Reade know that Mr.. Douglas
meant by this, and was understood by every intel-
gent man, who heard him read the speech, to
mean that the people of Kansas should be free in
it should be free slave State? Does Mr.
Reade deny them this right? He next arraigns Gen.
Pierce for bestowing Office on men in New York be-
longing to the party called Soft Shells In this l
this think the President erred but think the err
ror was venial one, and will be so considered by
every impartial man who will make himself acquain-
ted with the facts of the case The Hards and
Softs both proessed to adhere to the Baltimore plat
form of principles on which Pierce was elected
So long as they stood up to that the Presi-
dent did not consider himself at liberty to 20 be-
hind this platform to search for their antecedents or
procliyities. They had given their adhesion to a
platform of principles satisfactory to the South as
well on the slavery question as others, and were,
therefore, considered to be entitled to full commu-
Mon. The Presidents relations to the two wings of
the Democratic party in New York were about the
same as those of Baptist minister to his flock,
some of whom are Calvanistic and some believe in
free will Although he may believe in free will, and
brother in Calvinism, yet he dares not refuse the
sacrament an this account alone Mr.. Reade charges
as grievous sin Gen. Pierce's appointment as Gov
ernor of Kansas of Reeder, who has turned ont
bad enough, admit But is President to be held
responsible for the conduct of every man of the
many thousands he has to select? Did he not dis
miss Reeder when he had proof of his misconduct?
And did not Washington, the great and good, ap-
point Arnold to command the most important mill.
tary post in the United States? And that too after
being cautioned that he was dangerous and un-
principled man? Did not Madison give to Hull the
chief command of our Northern army in our last
war with Britain There never was and in all pro.
liability never will be President of whom it can
De said ne never made bad appointment to Office.
But Mr.. Reade endeavors to make the impression
most unfairly that the President knew him to be at