Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-08-25

ciples, and in advance to the Locofocoism Of
the present day. ln this Congress Mr. Fillmore
took a more active part Than he did during his !
first term, and on the assembling Of the next
Congress, to which he was reelected bv a large.
ly increased majority, he vas assigned PROM.
nent place on what, next 10 that Of Ways and
Means, II was justly anticipated would become
the most important commillee of the House
that on elections. Ii would swell this brief bi.
ographical sketch to too great length to enter
upon the details Of the case, and il is the less
necessary 10 do so inasmuch as rhe circumstances
OF The gross outrage then perpelratcd by par.
y calling llset republican, aud claiming to res.
pecI State rights, must yet dwell in the rccollec.
ton Of every reader. The prominent partwhich
Mr.. Fillmore took in that case, his patient in.
vestigation Of all its complicated minute details,
the clear, convincing manner in which he set
forth the facts. the lofty aud indignant eouuence
with which he denounced the n ediated wrong,
all strongly directed public attention to him as
one of the ableSt men Of that Congress; distin.
guished as il was by the eminent ability and
craftsmanship of many Of its members. Pub.
lie indignation was awakened by the enormily
of the outrage, and in that long catalouge of a.
buses and wrongs which reused long suffering
people TO action, and resulted in the single over.
throw Of a corrupt and nsolent dynasty in $40,
the New Jersey case stood marked and cunspic.
uous.
On the assembling Of the next Congress, TO
which Mr.. Fillmore was reelected by a major.
ly larger than was ever before given in his dis.
tricI, he was placed at the head of the commit.
tee of Ways and Means. The duties of that
ctotip, ol,pa,ys
that lime peculiarly so. new Administra.
ton had come into power, and found public af.
fairs in state Of the greatest dcrangement.-
Accounts had been wrongly kept, peculalion of
every kind abounded in almost everv department
OF the Government, the revenue was Inadequate
TO meet the ordinary expenses, the already large
existing debt was rapidly swelling into magni.
lude, commerce and manufactures were depres.
sGd, the currency was deranged, banks were
embarrassed aud general distress pervaded the
community. To bring order out Of disorder, to
replensh the National Treasury, to provide
means that would enable the Government 10
meet the demands against it, and TO pay off the
debt, 10 revive the industry of the country,
and restore lis woned prosperity; these were the
tasks devoIved upon the commillee of Ways
and Means. To increase their difficulties, the
minority, composed OF that parry that brought
the country and Government into such condi-
ZION, instead o! aiding to repair the evil they had
done, uniformly opposed almost every means
brought forward for relief, aud too often their
unavaIling efforts were successfully uided by a
trcucherous Executive. But with an energy
and devotion to the public veal, worthy Of ali
admiration, Mr.. Fillmore applied himself to
F. the task, and sustained by majority whose en-.
Iigh!cncd patriotism has rarely been equalled,
and never surpassed, succeeded in its accom-.
pishment.
Z he measures he brought forward and sus
tanned with malchIeSs ability, speedily relieved
the Government from lis embarrassment, and
have fully justified the most sanguine expecta.
lions Of their benign influence upon the country
III large. A new and more accurate system Of
keeping accounts, rendering them clear and in
ielligjbIe was produced. The lavoritsm and
pecuIa ion which had 50 long ii 'graced the de.
partn ents aud plundered the Treasury, were
checked by the requisilion of contracts. The
credit OF the Government was restored, aud
ample means were provided for the exgcncies
of the public service, and the payment of The
public debt incurredby the eIormeradminiStration
Commerce and Manufactures revived, and pros
perily and hope once more smiled upon the land
The country has so recently emerged from the
disasters of Mr. Van Buren's Administrations
it yet too keenly feels the suffering it then en-.
dured, and too justly appreciates the benefcen
, aud wonderful change that has been wrought
TO render more than an allusion TO these mat
ters necessary. The labor of deVisng, explain
ing and defending measures productive of sucl
happy results was thrown chiefly upon Mr.. Fill
more. He was nobIy sustained by his fellow
Wings; but on him, nevertheless the main res
E possibility rested.
After his long and severe labors in the com
mittee room-labors sufficiently arduous 10 breal
down any but one Of an iron conslituton-sus.
tained by spirit that nothing could conquer, he
was required to give his unremtting attention Il
, the business OF the House, 10 make an eXplana
ton that might be required, and be ready will
, a complete and triumphant reluIatlon Of any
cavIl or object that the ingenious sophistry Of
lactious minority could devise. All this, too
was required TO be done with promptness, clear
ness, dignity and good temper. For the proper
performance of these varied duties, few mer
are more happily qualified than Mr.. Fillmore
At that fortunate age when the physical and in
teIlectual powers are displayed in the hghes
perfection, and hasty impulses of youth, without
any loss of It's vigor, are brought under contro
of large experience in public affairs, with minc
capable of descending 10 minute details, as wei
as of conceivng grand system of national pol
q icy, calm and deliberate judgment, seIfpossos
sed and fluent debate, of dignifed presence, ne
yer unmindlul of the couresies becoming so
, ciaI and public intercourse, and of political in
I legrity' unimpeachabe, he was admirably fteC
: for the post of the leader of the twenty sevenIl
+. Congress.
r In 1914 he was selected as the Wing candi
J. date for Governor of New York, but in conse
e quence of the Barnburners and Old Hunker
i uniting their support on the late Sias Wrigh
/. he failed to be elected. eG.-Confdent, howeve
S that he could command the strongest vote
e New York, the Wing party again selected hiI
nc thnir candidate for Enrn ntKnllar. in 12l7- mn