The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-07-23
MIR. Fpilmsrs's Opl",o"s Critical Position or d

President.
We perceive that many OF the wing papers are circu
ting the letters which written by Mr. Fllmo|
during the presidential campaign They rew
duced with the professed object Of engh,enng the s
Nc mind az to the views which the new President b
heretofore entertained and enterans OF the varo
questions growing out of the anti-slavery agitation
have seen, also, that the wing press, with its usual
of candor has not dealt fairly with the public in this nj
ter for it has confined it's publications only those es
which were written during the campaign Of ls4s. VIII
Mr. Fillmore willing to make himself acceptable
the people OF the South as candidate for the vice pro
dency Some care taken not only TO omit. but TO no,
not even remote ausion to, the celebrated letter m
Mr. Fillmore's pen, which written in the year ISL
when he was candidate for Congress in New York. 4
to w. Mills, esq. as chairman Of = comm
tee appointed by "he anti slavery society of he county
Ere" Nor is any allusion made by the wing pres
the votes which were given by Mr. Fillmore while
member of Congress from the Erie district Of NJ
York
We will endeavor to remedy, partially at least. III
omissions, by publishing Mr. Fillmore's Buffalo leu
We publish, at the time, his letter to Governor Cay
of Alabama, and his letter to one OF his friends in v
gina
1t will be by reference to the first letter which
have mentioned
LIST. That MI. Fillmore, in October. 1888, believed d
petitions the subject Of slavery the slave trade ou
to be received. read. and respectfully considered;
3D. That be was opposed to the annexation Of Ter,
under any circumstances, 50 long a slaves are b
therein;
3d. That Congress should exercise all the constituted
power TO abolish the internal slave trade
tween the States:
4th. That be was in favor of immediate legislation
the abolition Of slavery in the District OF Columbia
The letter concludes with refusal 10 give any y
cfc pledge as to his future conduct but yet Mr. Fimo
while a member Of Congress. fully carried out By
votes the doctrines Of his letter addressed TO the
abolitionists. When that letter was republshed in
South, during the OF 1885, and those votes
made known to the southern people, great excten,
created and At one time impression was emit
tanned that Mr. Fillmores should be stricken IN
to Governor Gayle and TO gentleman in Virginia i
peared
The first of these letters-the one to Cover
Gayle-repeats the doctrine OF the Buffalo letter,
to the right of the abolitionsts 10 petition for
abolition OF slavery; but il surs over the other th
doctrines and also the real, practical. and sxen
question OF slavery in the Territories. The gni
part OF the letter to Governor Gayle s taken up with
expression OF Mr. Fllmores opinions ~ to slavery
Sates-a question which has never yet agitated the
lie councils II should also be borne in mind that
last sentence Of the letter reafrms its authors prsv'
opinions. and OF course reafims the positions Of
I'll 49, IL f~.~.
virginia-,he third and last Of the series which We
sh days confined exclusively to the slave trade
the States, in which he refers 10 the Of Crc
& Slaughter, which turned the right Of the State
Mississippi to forbid the Importation of slaves within
jurisdiction for sale. The Supreme Court decided
the State OF Mississippi had that right With this
PLANTATION, Mr.. Fillmore a Rtsr can be understood
not, a reference to the Buffalo letter may remove ev
difficulty
We have only referred to the past we do not pref
to know what the new Presidents opinions may Be u
present time. We cannot doubt that the positions
vis-d vis, Mr. Seward. may have had some eject n
him; and sincerely hope that the imminent p
which the anti slavery agitation and the Erie abolition
have in part constituted to bring upon the country
not be without some effect upon his intelligent mind.
trust he will now feel that be 10 the Chief Magistrate
the whole country, and that he may turn away with
dignani disgust from the demagogues and facuonss
have imbtered by their mischevous acts. the fesI'
of the people until the pernanancy OF the Union 'f's
brought into peril We know not what time may y
forth. and we wait events with as much equanimly
possible.
We have not the slightest unkind feelings towards
Fillmore. We opposed his election. But PROVE
tia dispensaon has raised him to be the President OF
United States. What course will he pursue is nov
theme Of speculation for thousands Will he PEI
to forget the past in the future ;" Has he the mo
courage to bruise the serpent OF aboltonism under
heel will he suffer himself to be hurried on by
current OF fanaticism which is setting in IRON
North,
The press must speak out The Union is in too seFt
a crisis TO permit the democratic editors. who love
country. to fold their arms in silent inactivity Neve
Chief Magistrate require more decision OF character
the new President at the present moment One se
OF the country is deeply agtated. The Union ''sen
danger. Our public councils have been distrac's'
more than seven months by the most alarming conuo'
AZ which can exist The country 10 distracted .!
excitement Various attempts have been made to ~
il. and give peace to the country. Will Mr. Fillmore
his arms and do nothing to pacify the country
we'll knows that he stands suspected by many per-
in the South OF going against her rights. he k'
that he was indebted to the southern wings for the
dence which they reposed in him during the camp
and the support which he received To these polino
particularly he is under deep obligations for bis seep
Will he redeem these obligations by the liberal eou'