The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-18
HOW THE PAPERS AND POLITICIANS
WE'RE HOAXED.

Dy Secretary seward, ID compliance WIN
the resolution offered by Mr.. Latham and
adopted by that pcdy, has been published
in official form. One letter from ex.Presi.
dent Pierce, dated Concord, January 7,
and addressed to Mr.. Seward, but not in
cluded in the copies sent to the Senate, was
placed on the record in the Senate by Mr..
Latham OF California, and was published
few days since in the Senate proceedings.
The correspondence began on the 10th of
December, 1861, with the following note
from Mr.. Seward to Mr.. Pierce, requesting
an explanation concerning the ex~Presi~
dents connection with secret league:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, December 20, 1861
SIR inclose an extract from q letter re.
ceived at this Department, from which it
would appear that you were a member of
secret league the object of which is to over
throw the government.
ANY explanation upon the subject which
you may offer would be acceptable.
wi william LII H. SEWARD.
FRANKLIN PIERCE, ESQ.,, Concord, N. H.
NORTH BRANCH, Oct. S, 1861.
President P in his pas
sage has drawn many brave aud influential
men to the league. Ply, of the L. G.
D-t, sent line to DR.. F. 10y K
the Mormon elder), who, as you perhaps
know, is just across the line from Port
H. The league is doing nobly in M.
l. and Wis. He is cautious, but, 10 CON-
mon with others, is gradually preparing the
minds of the people for great change.
He expresses fear that any attempt to
draft men will produce premature OUT
break. think his fear is we'll founded. A
member of the league in Genesee, who
passed through the woods on his way with
dispatches to DR.. F., told that any at.
tempt to craft our friends there would bring
on an o1en rupture. l think our leaders
should look to this, as no doubt they will.
Yours, in the cause,
[Cabalistic Signs.]
MIR. Pierce replied in the following sharp
letter.
MR.. PIERCE TO Mr.. SEWARD.
ANDovEk, MASS, Dec. "a, 1861.
SIR: A package endorsed department
of Stale, U. S. A." ranked by w. Hunter,
Chief Clerk, and addressed to Franklin
Pierce, Esq., Concord, New Hampshire,
was received by me today, having been for.
warded from the place of my residence.
But for the stamped envelope and the hand.
writing of Mr.. Hunter, with which 1 am
familiar, should probably have regarded
the inclosure as an idle attempt at IMPOSE
ton, in which your name had been serrep.
titious!y used. l must, suppose, though
do SO reluctantly, now view it in differ
eat light. In the note bearing your sigma
ture you say: 81 inclose an extract from a
letter received at this department, from
which it would appear you are member of
secret league the object of which is to
overthrow this government; any explanation
upon the subject which you may offer
would be acceptable"
1t is not easy to conceive how any person
could give credence to, or entertain for
moment the idea that I am now or have
ever been connected with q "secret" league
Or with any league, the object of which
was or is, the overthrow of the government
OF my country. Surprise, however, only
increases as pass from your note to the
''extract" to which you refer as sufficient
basis for an official communication. Inco
herent and meaningless as this "extract"
from the vagaries of an anonymous CORES.
pendent seems to me to be, it is not little
singular that it should have been sent for
explanation to one who during his whole
life has never belonged to any secret league,
society or association My name does not
appear in the "extract," and as there is not
the slightest ground for any reference to me
10 the connection indicated, l take it for
granted that your inference is wholly erro.
neous and that neither l nor anything
which | ever said or did was in the mind of
the writer.
Nothing but the gravity of the institu>
mates. and the distracted condition of our
recently united, prosperous and happy coun.
try, could possibly lift this matter above
ridiclle and contempt. Not, therefore, be-
cause "explanations would be acceptable"
but because this correspondence is to hold
a place upon the files of the Department of
State long beyond the duration of your life
and mine, and because would leave, so far
as am concerned, no ambiguity upon the
record, it is proper, perhaps it is my duty,
to add that my loyalty will never be success.
fully impugned SO long as l enjoy the con-
stitutional rights which pertain to every
citizen of the Republic, and especially the
inestimable right to be informed of the ma
ture and cause of accusation, and to be
confronted lace to face with my accusers.
Love for our whole country. respect for the
reserved rights of thesStates, reverence for
the constitution, and devotion to the noble
Union, which for so many years reposed Sc
curely 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. If
have failed to illustrate this in official sta.