Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-04-08


president PIP his pass
age has drawn many bravo and influential men
to the league. P---y of the l.. c. D,
sent line to DR. F. 10y K------. the
Mormon elder), who, as you perhaps know, is
JUST across Tho line from Port il. The
league is doing nooly in NJ, | and Wis He ID
cautious, but in common with Others. ia pradu.
ally preparing the minds Of the people for a
great change. He expresses fear that any at.
tempt to draft men will produce a premature
outbreak. think his fear is well founded. A
member of tho league in Genesee, who paesed
through tho woods on his way with dispatches
to Dr. F., told that any ATTEMPT to draft
our fflends there would bring on an open rup-
ture' think our leaders should look to this,
as no doubt they will, =
"YouTs, in the cause, [Cnb1listic sigus -
Mr. Pierce replied in the follwoiDg sharp let.
ter:
MR. FIERCE TO MR., SEWARD.
"ANDovER, Mass, Dec. "a, 1861.
"sR: A package indorsed ,Departmept oi
State, U. S. A. franked by w. Hunter. Chief
CLERK, aud addressed 10 franklin Pierce, ESQ.
Concord, New Hampshire, was received by me
to-day, having been forwarded from the place
OF my residence. But for the stamped euvel-
ope and the handwriting OF Mr.. Hunter, with
Which am familiar, should probably have
regarded the Enclosures as an idle attempt at
Imposition, 10 which your name had been sur
repNtously used. must, l suppose, though |
DO go reluctantly, now view it in q different
light ln the note bearing your signature, you
say: i inclose an extract from letter receiy.
ed at this Department, from which It would an.
pear that you are member of a secret league,
the object OF which is to overthrow this Gov.
ernment; any explanation upon the subject
which you may offer would be acceptable
'hls not easy to conceive how any person could
give credence to, or entertain for a moment, the
idea that am now, or have ever been, connect
ed with secret league or with Gny league,
the object OF which was, or 10, the overthrow OF
the Government of my country, Surprise,
however, only Increases as l pass from your
note to the extract to which you refer as
sumelent basis for an official communication.
lnccherent and meaningless as this extract
from the vagaries of an anonymous correspond.
ent seems TO me TO bo it ia not little singular
that 1t should have been sentfor explanation to
one who during his whole life has never be-
longed to any secret league, society, or associa.
tlon' my name does not appear in the EXTRACT
and as there is not the slightest ground for any
reference to me in the connection indicated, [
take It Tor granted that your inference ia who'll
~ erroneous, and that neither | nor ANYTHING
which ever said Or did was in the mind of tho
writer.
"Nothlpg but the gravity Of the insinuation,
the high ofijial source whence it emsnates, and
| the distracted condition Of our recently united
prosperous and happy country, could possibly
llt this matter above ridicule and contempt.
Not, therefore, because explanations would be
acceptable but because this correspondence 10
| 20 hold place upon the files Of the Department
OF state long beyond the duration Of your life
and mine, and because would have, SO far az I
am concerned, no ambiguity upon the record, IL
is proper, perhaps i. is my duty, 10 add shat my
loyalty WI lnot be successfully impugned so long
es ENJOY the constitutional rights which pertain
70 every citizen OF the Republic, and especially
tue inestimable right to be informed of the ma
ture and cause of accusation, and to be con.
fronted face to face with my accusers. Love
Tor our whole country, respect for the reserved
rights of the States, reverence for the Consti-
tuition and devotion to the noble Union, which
for 30 many years reposed securely upon that
sacred instrument, have been interviewer with
my best hopes for civil liberty--my deepest
emotions and my sternest purposes, from youth
to age. II | have failed to illustrate this in
official station, in private life, and under all
circumstances when it became me 10 speak or
act, have labored under singular deluson,
the consciousness Of which would embjtter,
more than anything else, the present hour and
such remaining hours or years as may be in re-
serve for me-
al am, Sir, your obedien servant,
"FRANKLIN PIERCE.
"Hon. VIM, II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State,
Washington"
aR. sEwARD's REJoINpER.
Mr.. Seward rejoined as follows:
"WAsHINoToN, December 80, 1861.
"MY DEAR SIR: An Injurious asperslon on
your fair fame and loyalty came into my hands.
Although 1t was In an anonymous letter, the
writer was detected, and subsequently avowed
the authorship. The document must become
part af the history of the times.
II desired that you might know your name
was made use OF by traitor to increase the
treason he was encouraging. Unable to prepare
q note to you personally, devolved the duty
on the chief clerk Of this Department.
"The manner in which it was done has given
you ofense. | regret 1t, and apologize for it
with the only excuse | can make, namely, the
necessity OF employing another head to do
what ought to be done, and which had not time
to do personally.
III place your answer on the files of the De.
partment OF State as an act of justice TO your.
self
"And beg you to be assured that III the un-
kindness OF that answer does not In the least
diminish the satisfaction with which have
performed, in the best way | was sble, q public
duty, with desire to render you service
81 am, with great respect.
"Your obedient servant,
"FRANALIN PIERCE. w. H. S."1