Southern shield., 1851-03-08

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 PRESIDENT FILLMORE'S PROCLATIA- TON.
 The Proclamation of President Fillmore, published in our last, (remarks the Louisiana Republican, is the theme of almost univer- sal commendation. With here and there a grow from some party hack, who cannot, and wiN not, see any good in anything which emanates from the head of party op- posed to them, the Southern people are unanimous in its favor.
 Well may such be the case, for if there lever was a man who deserved well of the |South-well of the patriots of the North well of the conservatives of all sections of the Union-that man is WILLARD FILLMORE. Firm, yet energetic; prudent, yet decided; cautious, yet bold and inhexible; he has shown himself willing, and determined, to carry out the laws in full integrity, no mat ter if reckless men in the South, or fanatics in the North, attempt their infraction. His proclamation ordering the military to assist the civil authorities at Boston to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law, to which reference has been made, is a case in point, and shows, in its most eminent sense, the firm and elevated national patriotism of the man.
 We point 10 this proclamation of Presi- dent Fillmore with some degree of pride and satisfaction, for, in lS4S, we maintained, with all our humble ability, that he was a national statesman, in the fullest sense of the term, above sectonalism, and wholly untanted with abolitionism. We had i'm pIicit confidence in him then, as candid ate for the Vice Presidency, and as Presi- dent, he has come fully up to our expecta- tions.
 It required firm, as well as patriotic mind, to write such proclamation as Pres ident Fillmore addressed to the Massachu- setts fanatics. The very gravest of questions were involved in the premises-questions of the first magnitude, and of momentous importance. And the result must show whether we are 10 live under a Government of constitutional law. supreme in the scope ot its operations, administered and enforced by one chosen central head, or whether each and every fragmentary section, or fractions of those sections, can with impunity set the laws at defiance, and violate or obey such as they choose. This is the great question involved in the issue, and Mir. Fillmore has met it as President and patriot should have done.
 This proclamation is nothing more than the manifesto of government which can bring 10 bear the whole power of the country to enforce its authority. We believe there is no question of that And it comes from an Administration which will exert that power to the fullest extent, should it become ne- cessary, to preserve peace, and compel full obedience to the laws of the Union. The President has announced his determination in a solemn proclamation, vigorously to ex- act submission 10 the law, and to bring to condign punishment all who may violate it.
 We trust that no necessity will arise for the employment of military force to quell the Boston rioters, and to preserve order. But, should such unfortunately y be the case, the President will not hesitate in his course. His proclamation displays the mette of the man. Should it, however, become incum- bent upon him to employ the means at his command to suppress this atrocious ont break, let the thing be done with se- verty that it will in future deter all evil disposed persons from such outrageous acts of flawlessness Let the warning be ample and complete, and the outraged law fully
 vindicated. There is no time like the first
 for the quelling of insubordnation. That
 fell spirit, so destructive 10 all social and
 political liberty, must be crushed to the
 earth and deprived of all power of doing
 harm in time to come, ort will shortly, like
 the dragons teeth, multiply itself in excesses
 and evils until all good government is des-
 troyed.