The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-02
From tke Albany (N. " Register.
The Great Question.


The Great Question.
1.-THE following communication is from the
pen of an eminent clergyman of the Methodist
denomination in one of the northern States
Eds. ID. S. Reg.
For the Register.
Why did not Mr.. Fillmore veto the bill for the
recapture Of fugitive slaves? How does his
accord with the assertion of that great statesmen
who knew him 90 WELL ''Mr. Fillmore 10 the most
honest politician ever knew. John q. adams.
But why did he sign the bill? Was it because
the Wings are opposed to the exercise of the veto
powers No; for he is not bound by their views
unless he believes they are right.
Was it because General Taylor had said he
would not veto bill adopted by both houses Of
Congress, unless in the extreme case Of manifest
not always obliged to look to that illustrious
for perfect model in political tactics.
Did he suppose it was not clearly his preroga-
tive toveto the bill, because he was not elected
President directly by the peoples He knew that
it was his right to do 80.
Did he fear assassination? We have no assur-
anccs that he did. lie was frequently threatened
by anonymous letters, both from the North and
from the South, with assassination; but such threats
have never deferred him from doing what he be-
lievcd to be right. The law gives him personal
protection, no bodyguard, power TO call upon
the militia from mere apprehension of personal
DANGER but In view Of the fact. that he must some
time meet his final fate he chose to do 30 in the
discharge Of duty.
Did he sign the bill to gain the favor of the
South' No, never He has little to hope from
them. They opposed his election az Vice Presi-
dent, and would have defeated him if they could
| have done 80, and at the same time have elected
| southern man as President
Did he take that course to proptiate the favor of
| the North? BY no means. He knew il would de-
stroy bis popularity there. With eagle eye he
forcsaw the force and fury of the gathering storm.
He anticipated the many outbreaks of popular in
dignation against him. He knew that thousands
of his warmcst friends would become his most
| bitter enemies, and that hundreds of thousands
among the heaying where his popu-
| larity was unbounded would Immediately turn
their backs upon him, and withdraw the hand of
friendship forever. He knew that the occasion
would raise up multtudes of ambitious dema-
gogues, and agitators, and snti-slavery office
seekers, all over the North, who would improve
the opportunity by making capital for themselves
by rousing sympathy for the colored man, a feel
ing already awakened to a high pitch by excite
ment, and would use their best endeavors to &C
complish his ruin.
| But why did he not veto The bill? The true an
swcr is, because HE WOULD NOT VIOLATE TINE Con :
sTrTUTIoN OF THE UNITED STATES, which he had
| sworn to support. The observance of that sacred
chart is the only guaranty to the psrpetuity of the
| Government. The bill il in accordance with the
| injunctons Of that instrument; not that the Con-
sitution required law exactly in that form, or in
any other form; but it did require law which. in
its Details should be effectual to surrender the f-
| gitivc.
| rhapa he he -, lie IF 10
but thatwas subject for the consideration of the
| Legislature, and not for tho Executive. lie had
| arrived at point where he must either sign or
veto the bill unmodified; and could he waver here?
Could he hesitate to do he agreed to do by his
oath Of Office because il would be unpopular at the
North? Those who think 1t do not know him. To
| have proved rccreant to his oath and to his high
| trust would have been as unlike any action of his
former life fatal to national welfare if not to
our national existence. The political waters were
| dashed into foam, and the crisis was awful The
whole South was wrought up to frenzy, and the
southern disunionists were there, hoping he would
veto the bill, to the whole South at once
to action. They anxiously waited the occasion to
justify strike for division. Many Of the governors
Of the southern States amid the highest excitement
were loudly calling for southern convention. The
| political elements were all in commotion Every
thing was ripe for destruction. The magazine was
ready, and now all that was necessary to touch
the match, and veto that match; and civil
war and division would have been inevitable had
the match been applied at that fearful crisis 1t
| need not be said that there was no danger He
knew better, his Cabinet knew better, and Con-
gross knew better. There were mon high in pub
lie life who wished to strike the blow and, when
once struck, the whole South would be ungovcrna-
BILE. Say not they were afraid to strike for divi.
- - A..
themselves. They not In temper to look at
consequences.
There traitors 10 the Union who want q south.
ern confederation extending from Maryland to
Cuba, and they determined to have it if posi-
bic. There traitors at the North who arc re-
solved to agitate and agitate, till the South shall
sccede; and then they can form a northern con-
federation, in which they shall be prominent lead
ers; and some Of them may be known by their
scurrous cpithets against tho President, and by
their declaring that he has deserted the North;
when they know he is sworn to "prescrve, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the United States"
and that he has regarded his oath, and done il
faithfully, and no more. There is danger and
treachery on every side Of U.s.
BY the refusal to veto that bill, the hopes of mil
lions have been disappointed The man of sin
seated upon the seven hills, and seeking the over
throw of liberty, is disappointed. The princes of
Europe represented at Washington, and having an
eye on all our movements, are disappointed; the
whole colorcd population North and South, as we'll
as vast army of agitators, North and South, are
disappointed; and more than all, there is great
disappointment experienced by multitudcs of
worthy northern Grccmen, who, in tho integrity Of
their hearts, deeply sympathize with the colorcd
man in his degradation. but do not consider the
fatal consequences which would have resulted from
the exercise of the veto at that momentous crisis.
1t is the opinion Of a majority in Congress, and
Of the most profound statesmen in the land, who
have the best chance TO know, that division Of the
Union would be fatal to the welfare Of both sections
resulting in perpetual war. The line from the At
lantc to the Pacific would be line OF fire and
blood, and would be wide and dcsolste field for
robbery. murder, and couhagration Fathers, en-
tcring the domnions of slavery to rescue their