The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-23

!
! Lieutenant Governor, fhave justly been a sub
ject of congratulation among our friends, and a
most fortunate omen OF eventual success. Had
the members of that convention been called up
on TO nominate candidate for the Presidency,
there can be no doubt that they would, with
equal unanimity, have presented to their con-
stituents the name of WILLARD FILLMORE
Circumstances may hereafter make 1t expedi-
ent for the Wings of Virginia to choose another
standard bearer in the next Presidential election,
they may possibly find it necessary and proper
to give up their own first choice in Difference to the
wishes of majority Of the party in other States;
but, at present, MIR. FILLMORE has unquestionably
the unanimous preference of the Wings Of the Old
Dominion. And this is no trifing honor to be con-
ferred upon any man. That an individual hilh-
erto almost unknown beyond the boundaries of his
native State, with dazzling prestige either of
civic or military glory to accompany him, should
have SO administered the affairs of this great ma
ton to have won the undivided applause of
great and influential State, herself fruitful mo-
Their of Presidents, is surely ordinary achieve
ment.
MILLARp FILLMORE started in life with not one
single adventitious circumstance to aid in smooth
ing the rougbness OF his upward pathway Untr-
ing industry, incorporating integrity, and the
iron vigor of his own strong will to do and dare all
that became man in order to reach that mental
and moral elevation to which he aspired, constituted
the only available capital of the poor clothier boy
His steadfast eye fixed firmly ON the goal, so dis
tant still that nothing but faith in his vigor
Gus mind and righteous purpose could have ena-
bled him to discern it, he never swerved nor fall
tered till success had crowned his efforts. Though
evidently of temperament to which pleasure sell
dom sings her syren song in vain, blandish-
ko-.
! youthful soul to those onervatng indulgences
which have proved the grave of hope to many
gifted spirits. At length his love of knowledge,
and the manly vgor Of his efforts to obtain it, at
tracted attention. There is perhaps magina
| bic situation in which mind and will such as
| FILLMORE possesses could have been tanned down
| TO the dull routine OF mediocrity. Had destiny
| decreed that he who now wields so worthily the
| executive authority OF the most powerful nation on
the globe should spend his days in handling 'tca-
zle' and stretching cloth upon the "tenter hooks"
| he would nevertheless most aesuredly have found
some of displaying, even in that humble
| sphere, those qualities by which his Maker had
distinguished him. Circumstances have much to
| do with moulding human character; but we have
| no faith in that doctrine which has now 30 many
advocates, and which would make that being, who
created but ga little lower than the angels"
mere inert macs. floating upon liies stormy ocean,
| to sink or swim at the mercy of the pillows. We
would rather seek parallel in the skiiully-con
structed bark, which, though obliged TO yield at
times 10 the fury of the tempes, has yet the power
when strong hand and stout heart control the
| helm, to brave the utmost fury OF the blast, and
even to fill its sails with the adverse gale which
| is forced to bear il onward towards lis destined
haven. Talent of the first order, with industry to
back it, thus resist the force of opposing cir
cumstances, them TO contribute their assist
ance in working out its own high destiny. Such
ability did FILLMORE possess, and such the use
he made OF it. Friends were found ready TO assist
one so ready and so able to assist HIMSELF and from
that moment his success was certain.
He now entered upon the study of the law, and
was soon placed in situation in which his emf
nent qualities could be rendered available. After
this his progress in life was rapid, and kept pace
with the rapidly developed energies of his power
full intellect. His admirers do not claim for him
any extraordinary briliancy of mind, but it has
| tributes of much greater value in position like
his. Ii was not his diamond hted sword that Ma
poeon grasped upon the field of Waterloo He
chose good, stout, serviceable weapon, upon
which he could rely with certainty in the hour of
trial. The jcwellcd rapier reserved for gala
days and public pageants. And SO it is with the
wise and good of the American people. They have
nice men and brilliant for holiday usee; but
when serious business is to be transacted upon the
proper management of which the fate of unborn
millions may depend, they then look out for ''hears
of Steel" true and trustworthy, like WILLIAM
Henry HARRISON, like ZACHARY TAYLOR, like
| MiLLARD FILLMORE. And the last of this hi gh-
hearted triumvirate, though not directly selected
for the post in which Providence saw fit to place
him, has proved himself well worthy to occupy q
place by the eide of our two Wing warrior Presi-
dents, who were elevated to that high station, not
because they were warriors, but because they were
staunch, incorrupdble, honest men, well deserv-
| ing of the seat hallowed by the presence OF
the Father of his Country.
With FILLMoRE's Chief Magistrate OF
the Union all familiar. The Roman fortitude
with which he threw himself into the breach which
fanaticsm had opened, eschewing those prejudices
! of youth which difficult TO eradicate dsre-
garding the anahemas of many of his early friends
and associates and FORGETTING at one blow the popu-
larity which he had been for many years acquir-
ing in his native State, is now matter of history,
and in after years will be recognised and applaud
cd as a noble deed, we'll becoming one of the sue
cessors of Washington. His administration has
been so eminently wise and patriotic, that for a
long time scarcely murmur was heard against it,
unless from some pestient aboltionst, or some Ill
| ira and Incorporating sccessionlst. For the
| fret time for many years the din of party strife
was quoted, and the voice of opposition was al
most unheard. The demon of party spirit grew
feeble for want of sustenance, and the lion like
roar of former days tanned into feeble whine.
But at length the whispered inquiry began to cir
culate among tho Democratic cohorts" May not
the people choose to employ this good and faithful
servant for another term? We are forgetting
ourselves. Sound the tocsin Ring the alarm bell
The Democracy is i'll danger. This President who
pleases everybody must be put down at all hazards
Scan well his coat of Office We will surely be
able TO find holes in It, and if not, we
must make them" Judging the cause by the
effect, the tree by it's fruit, we may well believe
that some such orders passed along the we'll
drilled ranks of the opposition. And we'll have
they been obeyed. From the deep mouthed roar
Oft the great guns of the Union newspaper, down &c
the udicrous pop gun imitation of the little Whitley
brown, seven by nine Possumville Democrat, tn,
party organs, from Madawaska to the Rio Grande