Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-17
LETTER FROM Ex-pI;EsIDE&T PIERCE.
CoEcoED, n. H., Jan. 1, 1865.

GENTLEMEN ii it was III nay power, as i
will rot he, to accept your invitation to thc
celebration oi the iifty-third anniversary oi
the battle OF Ntw Orleans, it would afford
me ploasur" Oh many grounds. Still it is
only too apparent that no one can sit at
your banquet table without contrasting with
painful emotions the condition OF OuI
country now with what it was during the
eight years that the great defender ot the
Crescent city was at the head Of the govern
ment.
By whom was Shat battle fought Where
were the homes Of the men tie result oi
whose steady courage On that eighth of Jan
uary carried, as the news spread, not only
q fresh feeling OF national security, but
shed radiant giadneSS IL every hamlet, every
valley and along every hillside throughout
the land [ remember we'll the relief and
JOY with which my young ear caught the
sound. In sparsely settled towns fami
lies assembled together parents went with
their children to Join IL a prayer of thank
fulness, and then to send up their united
shouts for the great Gehysrance. Were not
the soldiers under the command and lead
ership of General jackson the fathers anC
grandtathers OF citizens now dISiranchlS0d
ruined IN estate, and Ill the want and sui
| ferlng Of their families p4raiYZed and held
| down by n deSpOtISm clothed with the all
! thOrity OF might to execute upon the weak
and helpless the bahests Of yengcanos
[ am sure especially if [ were with YOU
{ could not help contrasting the career O.
! Tennessee, her political and domestic tran
guilty, her increasing Wezlth and pOWcl
during the life OF the sage and hero whose
| memory i Cmbalme0 in the hearts, Of al
| who viii be at your banquet, with the de
| pl1rably humihatlng reign Of absoIutism II
the State which pre-eminentiy he loved
and adorned. 1t cannO, be otherwise thar
salutury at all times and particularly o.
such an occasion as you celebrate, TO recall
the events Of our foreign wars, from th(
revolution to the treaty OF peace witt
Mexico, and to remember that the blood O
gallant men North and South, fighting side
| by side IN q common cause. mingled OF
| every battle field.
If the prosperity Of all the colonies, anG
| later of all the States and the united prov
| ess Of their people were essential IN these
conflicts, have they ceased 10 be SO now
Win they be less SO should we be required
in any complication Of events to assert and
maintain by force Of arms on sea and land
the rights OF American citizens Whatever
may be before US, let us hope that the
period is not remote when the Union shall
be III TACT restored, each Statc standing
forth as the co-equal of every other State,
with ''dignity, equality, and rights unim-
paired" There are, itseems to me, marked
and cheering indications that the people
are rising III their majesty with united
strength to deliver from misrule their
country and themselves. Signs that in
tegrity and economy in the conduct OF
public affairs, instead of profusiye pecula-
ton and abounding fraud, are by their
command to be the rule again that taxa
ton is to be equalIzed that the bondholder
is not to screen himself behind exemption,
and thus cast upon another, Of more
humble means, his fair proportion Of the
public burden
You, at least, will welcome the conviction
that the time is at hand when statesman
ship, humanity and patriotism will better
meet the demands OF the nation than wild
theories outside Of the constitution, a
wicked malevolenco toward neighbors II
they happen to be of our race, and selfish
clnging to power, place and plunder.
With high consideration,
Your friend and servant
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
TRo1I HON. GEORGE Il. PENDLEToN.
CINCINNATI, January 4, 1868.
j. D. HooUer, Esq, Washington:
| My Dear Sir; I regret that I cannot