St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-05-09
Speech of EX-PreSident Pierce.

A large and enthusiastic meeting
in reference to the war was recently
held in Concord, n. H., which was ad-
dressed by Ex-President Pierce. At
the time of aprevious meeting he was
out of town, and on his return several
of his friends communicated to him
their regret at his absence, and de-
sired to know if he would address his
fellow citizens ut some other time.
He expressed his willingness, and
made the following address the next
evening, from the balcony of the Ea-
gle Hotel:
FeiloW Citizens and Neighbors If had been
appriSed OF your meeting last night seasonal
bly, i should have been present at it, but the
notice did not reach me until this morning.
l wish to say in advance, that since my arri-
val here, the resolution which you passed has
been read to Inc, and it has my cordial appro-
val Applause You call for me, my friends.
as lovers of our country and of the blessed
Union which our fathers transmitted to Us ON
an occasion more grave, more momentous,
more deeply fraught with painful emotions
than any under which have addressed YOU,
but ! rejoice that that flag, (pointing to the
flag OF the United States,) floats there.
Cheers.
Love for the flag of our country is a serti-
mcnt common to us all at least to my heart
it is no new emotion. My father followed it
from the Battle of Bunker Hill uninterrupted
ly till the enemy evacuated New York in l7s3
ht..tl . n.
upheld il in the war of 1872 Can /, can YOU
fail to remember how proudly it aoated, at
more recent date, from Palo Alto to Buena
Vista on one line of operation, and from the
Castle Of San Juan ID Ulloa 10 the City of Mex
leo on the other. Never can we forget that
the gallant men of the North and of the
South moved together like band of broth
ers and mingled their blood on many "a field in
the common cause. Can l, if would, feel
other than the protoundest sadness when / see
that those who have SO often stood shoulder
70 shoulder in the face of foreign foes, and
now in imminent peril OF standing face to
face as the foes of each other .#
But they should have thought of this as
well as We At all events there is no time
now to consult our feelings The question has
resolved itself into one of patriotism and
stern duty. We cannot fail to see what the
nature of this contest is to be, and, to some
limited extent, the feaIfulness of the propress
and consequences. We must not, however.
turn our faces from them, because the true
way to meet danger is to see it clearly and en-
counter it on the advance. lApplause.) /,
for one, will never cease to hope, SO long as
the fratricidai strife is not more fully devel.
oped than at present-that some event, some
power, may yet intervene to save us from the
worst calamity that ever impended over a ma.
ton. ,..
The opinions of many of the vast crowd be-
fore me with regard to the causes which have
produced the present condition of pulic affairs,
are known to me and mine-are we'll known
to you. do not believe aggression by arms
is suitable or possible remedy for existing
evils. Still, neither of these matters ought
to be considered now-they may well be
waived-nay, must be, until we have seen
each other through present trials and future
dangers. Should the hope have expressed
not be realized, which may abeneiicent Provi-
dence forbid, and war of aggression is to be
waged against the National Capital and the
North, then there is no way for us as citizens
OF one OF the old thirteen States, but to stand
together and uphold the flag to the last, with
all the rights which pertain to it and with
the fidelity and endurance of brave men, /
would counsel you to stand together with one
mind and one heart.
be calm, faithful and determined, but give
no eounlenancc to passion aud violence, which