Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-12-13
The Message.

We were able to lay the whole of the first
Message Of President FILLMORE before our
readers two days ago. They have undoubtedly
read it, and formed their own opinions of its
merits.
We confess that we have read it with almost
perfect satisfaction and pleasure. Even in the
1ow respects in which we are inclined to i'm.
pute fault to it, we are constrained to say
mat the fault leans to Virtues side" We
cannot agree with President FILLMORE that the
"peaee measures" Of the late Congress have
allayed the public excitement" on the sub
ject Of Slavery, nor do we particularly like his
Aasioa to the veto. In respect to the former,
(the peace measureo'') every gale that comes
10 US from the South is freighed with disun-
Jon movements in Georgia, Mississippi,
Tennessee, &c. and in respect to the latter,
Uhe Ne,o) we think it would have been great
deal better if the President, had wholly omitted
the paragraph in which he .refeis to it. Nubud,
doubts that he will be true to his "consitution.
sl obligations" 1t the "velo" should become
necessary Gas he himself does not anticipate)
Is will doubtless apply it. But sufficient for
the day is the vv thereof. The power is an
'odiou." one, Cor rathe has been msie 50 by
previous Presidents) and we should have been
hotter pleased it even its proper application
had not been GUARANTEED, by Wing Presidcn',
before hand.
- We would to Heaven that the late
peace Measures had proved to be "a final
settlement of the dangerous and exciting sub.
jrct which they embraced" No man could
rejoce more heartily than we should over such
u "srltlement.' No man can excel us in true
reverence for the glorious Union Of these States.
Bnt that settlement" has not yet been effect
I'd. il is useless to deny or blink this fact
The South do not like the California, Texas
aud New Mexico part Of it, because they think
il takes something from Slavery. and the North
90 not like the Fugitive Slave Law part, be.
cause they think il takes something from Free
dom. The difference is material, and excludes
tue idea of "settlemenl. We hope the
Slave Law may be So modified, at least, as TO
he rendered less inlrinslcally offensive to the
Free States while, at the same time, we in
woke such a spirit OF reason aud good sense
upon the councils Of tn, Slave States as shall
lead them to regard the admission of Calilor-
MA &C., as no real" invasion Of their right.
With these exceptions, land if they are
regarded as slight, they are certainly not cap
tou.) we look upon President FILLMOREs
inn nd prido
In its strict conformity in substance to the idea
the Constitution contempaes, it is most ADM.
Fable. Concise, perspicuOus, explicit and in
tsligible, il gives the Presidents views of the
condition of Public Affairs, and his suggestions
his to the wants Of the Country in the ceaiest
and most nnexceptionabe manner. Ii is in the
best tone aud temper Of elevated patriotism
thrOug bout. Even in that portion of the Mes.
rage which refers t" the exciting and delicate
topic of Slavery aud the Peace Measures, it is
the praise o: comprehensive and patriotic
views and intentions. lie aims to be the Pres
idenl of THE UNlnN, as his noble predecessor
did, snd all his instincts aud impulses are on
the generous side of Poace and Harmony.
The recommendations Of the Message in re-
gard TO the Tariff, especially, will be received
with particular satisfaction. They are plain,
practical, good common sense--worth all the
tkeorizrng speculations that ever abstract wis
dom conceived or ultered And so with re-
gard to the duty of the Executive TO mainta;r
the I.aws-a duty that no trne Patriot would
desire to see President omit or avoid.
Ditto, with regard to cheap postage !; river
and harbcr improvements; in Short the Mes
sage is most excellent and admirable, il
style, dlrec,ness, lucidness of statement, alb
.snce OF tedious augmentation, brevity ant
statesmanlike ability.