The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-10
Mr.. FIllmoro'. Letter to Gov.rnor Gayle.

The southern whig press is holding up this recent pro-
duction of Mr. Fillmore as shield against the charge of
aboltionism which is fully fastened upon him by his
letter to the slavery committee in 1885 We publish
both these documents below; and from perusa of them
will be that the recent letter to Governor Gayle,
so fac from denying any single point in MIR. Fill
more's abotonist position of 1888, most clearly confirms
it ALL Mr. Fillmore avows to Gov. Gayle, that he
still thinks that abolition petitions and abolition resolu-
tons ought to be received and considered that is say,
treated Just like any other class of petitions and resolu
TONS Just in terms this point, he said, when he
wrote to the antslavery in 1888. Just so and no
more, on this point, says Joshua r. Gddings But
in his letter in 1885, Mr. Fillmore said he in favor
OF immediate legislation abolish slavery in the District
of Columbia On this point he is now wholly silent in
his letter TO Governor Gayle-and his silence is plainly
his previously declared and recorded opinion
In 1895, he said he was in favor of Congress aboshng
the trade in slaves beDeen the States. On that point,
too he is wholly silent in his Gayle letter-and again
his silence is assent.
What he says in his Gayle letter as to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the States slavery, is said just as
strongly in the resolutions which form the Buffalo plat
form They say that Congress has nothing to do acuh
slavery in the States and Mr.. Fillmore says no more
Are them the southern wings ready to stand on the Buff
falo PLATFORM If not, let them take Mr. Fimore's two
letters, and point out how he differs from the Buffalo
men as to the question of slavery.
The fact is, this Gayle letter touches only point in
the abolition patformhe point we mean, in reference
TO peons-and that point expressly confirms. The
aboitionists themselves admit with MIR. Fillmore, IN
terms, that Congress has power over slavery IN the
States They strike at it in the District and of course in
all the Territories, and in its passage from State to
another So does Mr. Fillmore.
The fact is, Mr. Fillmores Gayle letter amounts,
denial of aboitonism, to nothing at all The South does
not ask any northern candidate what his views of the
power Of Congress slavery IN the States. There is
no dispute anywhere that point. No sane man in
any section of the country differs from any man in
any other section about that Giddings, Hale Van
Buren,, and Gerrit Smith, and Fillmore agree on that
matter exactly with Bencn and Calhoun. The contro
versy and the sole controversy is the duty power
of Congress over slavery IN the District of Columbia,
slavery as branch of trade betDeen the States, and
slavery in the Territories These are the three points OF
practical aboitionsm now. These the anti-savery
points, and the only anti slavery points, in the Buffalo plat
iorn--and Mlllard Fillmore is beyond all dispute
SOUND AND STAUNCH ABOLITIONIST upon every
of them and his Gayle letter read in connexion with
his letter in 1885, and with his avowed and undispued
support of the WiImot Provso indisputably prorcs the
fact.
In attempting to defend Mr.. Fillmore upon this Gayle
letter. some OF the southern journals taking position
which demands the immediate and indignant attention Of
the whole South The Richmond Wing, for example,
says:
The soundness of Mr. upon the question Of State ju-