The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-08
Yours, in the Gauss.
[Cabalistic Signs
- I0'1""''o 0fSo HD' ]
MIR. Pierce replied Ia the following letter

|
Mr.. Pierce replied In the following letter:
ANDovER, Mass, December "a, 1861.
DIR "A package endorsed department of
State, U. S. A, ranked by w. Hunter, chief
clerk, and addressed TO 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 cnyeIlop and
the handwriting of MIR. Hunter, with which |
am familiar, should probably have regarded
| the enclosures as an idle attempt at impo,iton
! IN which your name had been surrepitiousy
used. l must, SUPPOSE, though do 60 r lac
family, now view 1t Ill different light In tie
note bearing your signature, you say " | en-
close an exlract from letter received az this
department, from which it would appear that
you are . member of a secret league, the OBJECT
OF which is to overthrow the government; any
| explanation upon the sub .c5 which you may
uher would be acceptable -
1t is not easy to conceive how any person
could give creucnce TO- or entertain for moment
the idea tnit5 am now, or nave ever baen, co.,
necCVu With ~ "SecreG league" or with ann
League, the object OF which Was, Or is the oyvl-
throw OF the government OF my country. sur
prise. however, only Increases, as | pass FROM
your note to tine - eXlraci" - 70 when YOU refer
as a sufficient basis Tor an Official commu nicaton'
lncoherenI and meaningless rs tins "extract.'
from the Vagaries of an anonymous currespnn-
Gent Gems to me to he, IT is not lit )e Dguiar
That II should have been sent Tor ex plana tlon t.
! one who during his Whole life has 5yer b.luuy-
ea TO any secret league, society, or U.s. o3ia lol
My name does not appear in the "extract," ami
rs there IS NOS the slightest ground for any ref
ereDce 10 NE IL The connection indicated. take
II foi granted that your ME. encc is wholly er-
roneou3 and that neither nor anything winch
ever sad or dli was III the mind Of the writer
| Nothing but the gravity OF the insinuacon,
the high oficia! source from whence i. enlanates,
and the distracted c. rio OF oar recently Unit.
ed, prosperous and happy country, could posi-
| by lit this mat e. above ridcule an coutempc.
Not, therefore. because " exp l4nati,ns would be
| accep able" bus because ills corresuonuence is
to hold place unon The Fl IS of the D .yar. ment
OF State long b yonl the duration Of YOUR life
and mine, and because | would leave, 20 far as
am concerned, no amb guilty upon ,hs record il
proper, perhaps it IS M duty, to add t. a. my
| loyalty VIII never be sue ,essfuly inpA med 50
| long as enjoy the constitutional lisn,s which
pertain to evoiy citizen OF the kepub.lc, and es-
peciaiiy the lnessimADle night 10 be informed of
the nature and cause Of accusation. and to be
confronted lace to lace with my accussrs. Love
| Tor our whole country. respect for the reserved
| rights OF the States, reverence Tor the Cuuslitu
ton and devotion for the noble Union, which
for so many years reposed securely upon that
sacred Instrument. have been interviewer with
my best hopes for civil lberty-my deepest
emotions and my sternest purposes from youth
to age. Ut have Jailed to illustrate this In Off
cial station, in private lite, and under all cir
cumstances when it became me to speak or act
| have labored under u singular delusion, con-
seriousness of which would embitter more than
anything else, the present hour and such re-
naming hours or years as may be in reserve for
me. am, sir, your obedien, servant,
FRANKLIN PIERCE
Hon: VIM. IL. Seward, Secretary of State
Washington, d. 9.
Mr.. Seward rejoined as follows:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 80, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR An injurious dispersion on
your lair tame and loyalty came into my hanJs
Although 1t Was IN an Anonymous letter, the
writer was detected, and subsequently, avowec
the authorship. The dDcuncn. must become /,
part OF the history Of the times.
desired that you might know how YOU,
name was made use OF by IL traitor to Increas,
the treason he Was encouraging. Unable tc
prepare note to you personally, devolyed tb,
oe.y VII VIC c'iie' clerk OF thls department.
Inc manner IN which 1t was done has giyer
you oliense' regret it, and apologize Tor j
with the only excuse can make, namely, thu
necessity OF employing another head to do VIVA
ought to be done, and which [ had no lime +,
do personally.
place your answer on tho files of the Do
paitmeht o State as an act OF justice to yourself
And beg you to be assured that ali the nm
| kindness nay -.
diminish the satisfaction with which bave mar
formed, in the best way was able publ
duty, with IL desire to render you u service.
lam, with great respect,
Your obeiien, servant, WIS
Franklia Pierce.
1t may BIZ proper to state that, adopting tb
form vi nddrss 10 ex.Presi lrnia nf thu IIn;,