The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-26
Rx.Pre,ident Pieree,s Speech

The New Hampshire Patriot publishes
the following speech of Gen. Pierce W hen
called upon in Concord last Saturday
night:
FELLOW TOwNsNIEN-I come to ascer
tain the motives of this call. What is
your desire2
Some person in the crowd replied:
I'VE wish to hear some words from you
on this sad occasion" General Pierce
proceeded
wish could address to you words of
solace. But that can hardly be done.
The magnitude of the calamity, in all of
it's aspects, is overwhelming. If your
hearts are oppressed by events more cal
culated to awaken profound sorrow and
regret than any which have hitherto oc-
Cured in our history. mine mingles its
deepest regrets and sOrrows with yours.
1t is to be hoped that the great wicked
ness and atrocity was confined, morally
and actually, to the heads and hearts of
but two individuals of all those who
still survive on this continent; and that
they may speedily, and in obedience to
law, meet the punishment due to their
unparalleled crimes. It is we'll that you
it is we'll that well that all men
worthy to be called citizens of the
United States, make manifest in all suit
able forms, the emotions incident to the
bereavement and distress which have
been brought to the hearts and homes of
the two most conspicuous families of the
republic. give them my warm, out
gushing sympathy, as | am sure all per-
sons within the hearing of my voice
must do. But beyond personal grief and
loss. there will abide with us inevitably
the most painful memories. Because, as
citizens obedient to- law, reyering the
Constitution, holding fast to the Union,
thankful for the period Of history which
succeeded the Revolution in, so many
wears of peaceful growth aud prosperity,
and loving, with the devotion of true
and faithful children, all that belongs to
the advancement and glory of the ma
ton, we can never forget or cease to de-
plore the great crime and deep stain.
"A voice from the crowd-"Where is
your hag}"1
1t is not necessary for Inc to show my
devotion to the stars and stripes by any
special exhibition. or upon the demand
Of any man OF body of men. My ances-
tors followed it through the Revolution
one of them, at least, never having
seen his mothers roof from the Begin
ming to the close of that protracted
struggle. My brothers followed, it in the
war Of 1912; and left my family, in the
spring of 1847, among you, to follow its
fortunes and maintain it upon foreign
soil But this you all know If the Pc
Rod during which ! have served our
State and country in various situations,
commencing more than thirty-fye years
ago, have left the question of my devo-
ton to the flag. the Constitution and the
Union, in doubt, it is too late now to re-
move it by any such exhibition as them
ouiry suggests. Besides, to remove such
doubts from minds where they have been
cultivated by spirit of domination and
partisan rancor, if such a thing We're
possible, would be OF. no consequence to
YOU, and is certainly ofAnone to me. The
malicious questioners would return to
assert their supremacy and pursne the
work of injustice, r.saEl tEav.g i
Conscious, Of the iphrlnities of tempef-
ament, which TO q greater or less extent
beset us ally Ishave never felt or found
that violence or passion was ultimately
of beneficial results 1t is
gratifying to perceive that your obser-
walton, brisfer than mine, has led your
mind to the Same conclusion.
49,