The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-06-24
WHOLE No. $50

|
following years.
His talent, integrity anl assi,lnous levo,lo,
10 public business, soon won for him the con.
lilence of The House in an uneXaInpled de:
gree. Ii was a common remark among the
members, "if FILLMORE says it is right, wa
will vote for it g.
The most important measure of a genera
nature, tia, came up during his service in the
state Legislature was. the bill 10 abolish Inl-
prisoamen, for Debt. L., behalf Of HAT gre1al
and philanlrophic measure, Mr.. FILLMORE
took an active pant, urging with unanswera-
bic arguments lis justice and eNredi ency,
and as Il .neHb1r ot the committee on the
subject, aiding to peliect its details. That
was alled ty him; the remainder being the
wolk OF the Hon' John g. Spencer. The bill
met with fierce, unrelening opposition al
every step OF lis progress, and to WILLARD
fillmore as much as 10 any other man, are
we indebted, tor eApunging lIom The statute
book thai rerl of CT uel barbarons age, Ina
DrlSonmenl tor Debt
He was elected to Congress in the fall Of
1882. The session OF 1881 will long be re-
membered as the one in which that system
OF politics. known under the comprehensive
name of Jacksonism was fully developed.
He took his seat i'll the stormy session OF 49,
33-,, Immediately succeeding the removal
of the Deposits. In those days the business
of the House and debates were led by old
and expereuced members-uew ones, un-
les. they enjoyed widespread and almost
national reputation, rarely taking an active
and conspicuous part. Little chance, there
fore, was afforded him as member OF the
opposition, young and unasSumlng: of dis
playing those qualities that so emlnenlly lit
him for legislative usefulness. But the
school was one admirably qualified 10 more
fully develope and cultivate those powers
winch, under more favorable circumstances.
have enabled him 10 render such varied and
important services TO his country. AS he
has ever doue in all the stations he has fill
ed he discharged lis duty with scrupulous f.
deity, never om;,,in! on all proper coca
Sous any effort to advance the interests Of
his constituents and the country, and win
ing lhe respect and confidence OF all.
At The close of his term of service he re-
suned the practice Of his profession: which
he pursued ilh,,dis,ingulshed reputation and
success until, yielding 10 he public voice: he
consented 10 become Il candidate. and was
reelected to Congress iii the fall OF 1896 The
remarks above made i'll relative to his ser
vice in the 23d Congress will rIeasurdbly APP
ply 10 his second term. Jacksonisrn and the
Pc, Bank system, had in the march Of the
.pru.resslve Dcmucacv:' given place To
Van Burenism and the Sub Treasury. TWAS
but another step toward the practical rcpudi-
a; ion of old republic principles, and All adj
vance 10 the Locoiucoi>rn OF the present day
In this Congress Mr. FILLMORE took more
active par, than lie did during his first term,
and OH the assembling oflhe next Congress.
TO which he was reelected by largely in
creased majority, he was assigned promi
nenl place on what, mex! 10 that of Ways and
Means, il was justly anticipated would be-
come the most important comnlllee OF the
House that On elections II twas in this
Congress that the famous contested N ew
Jersey case came up. Ii would swell this
brief biographical sketch 10 too great length
10 enter upon the details OF that case, and II,
is the less necessary to do 80 lnasmuch as
the circumstances OF The gross outrage then
perpetra,ed by party ealing itself republic
can, and claiming 10 respect State :l9h's,
must ye, dwell i'll the recollection Of every
reader.
The prominent part which Mr.. FILLMORE
took in ,ha, case, his patient investigation OF
all its complicated, minute details, the clear
convincing manner i'll which re.sa' forth the
facts, the lofty and indignant eloquence ;sih
which he deaomced the medlaled wrong,
all strongly directed public atteA'on 10 linn
| DIS one OF the ablcs, men of tina, Congress-
distinguished as it was BY the eminent A.
hil,y aud s,atesm anship OF many OF its mcn'-
bers.-Publc Indignation was awakened by
the enormily Of the outrage, and'I tina, long
catalogue OF abuses and wrongs which rou-
sed Il long suffering people 10 action, and
resolution in the signal overthrow OF cor
rupt ard insolent dynasty III 1910. the New
Jersey case stood marked and conspicuous.
On the assembling of the mex, Congress.
10 which MIR. Fillmore was reelected by a
majority larger than was ever before gwen
10 his district he was placed at the head OF
the committee OH Ways and Means. The
duties of that station, always arduous and
responsible, were at tina, time peculiarly so.
A new Administration had come into power
and found public affairs in state ofthe grea-
test arrangement Accounts had been
wrongly KEEP, peculation Of every kind aboun-
ded in almos, every department of the Gov
eminent, the revenue was inadequate to
meet the ordinary expenses, the already
large existing debt was rapidly swelling IN
magnitude, commerce and manufactures
| ,,or. da,rosseJ tho c,rrency was uerangeu,