The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-06
The Position OF Willard Fillmore.

The present position Of Willard Fillmore is
curious, anomalous, and embarrassing. Il de-
Ponds on himself alone, whether II shall become
ruinous. Congress has adjourned, and for nine
months the gaze Of lhe nation will be fixed on the
President Nominated TO the Vice Presidency
without his solicitation, and raised to the Office he
now fills, without his agency, he became "a child
Of fortune" and from that moment his destiny
was placed 10 his own hands. Gifted, as WAS sup
posed, with superior sagacity, wanting by no me ans
ia political experience, sad above all, favored in
our recent history with similar example Of po
lcal elevation, IL was clearly within his power
to meet the crisis he called 10 pass through as
TO secure a still more brilliant fortune. Up 10
certain point, his conduc. challenged the admlra.
ton ~ he whole country; for in the selection Of
his Cabinet, and in his prompt and cheerful acqui.
essence q The i've great measures Of adjustment,
he won the confidence Of the nation. Here his
fame rested; end upon il he himself could repose
securely for a while. That period has, however,
pessed, and Mr.. Fillmore has no charter Of exemp-
tion from the pressure Of events in their progress;
since in 1851 the world cannot afford 10 stop, even
for Pre- sident Of a great republic TO hesitate.
Ia the interval from the signing of the peace
measures till The opening OF the last session, criti
cism hardly ur shea he'd ts blade against him, and
almost every iacton allowed h al mlnistration TO
pass wltheu, assault He found himself in the
curious posi,ion-curious, al all events, 10 times
like these-of man who NORMALLY represe nted
a great party, against whom its antagonists them
selves could hurl no shaft Of malice or word Of
satire.
Ruttbese piping times of peace are over Events,
n their restless pr sgress, have begun to thcken
around him. To stem the tide Of popular progress
he has not even shown desire to do, much less
has he tried TO guide public opinion in
end healthful channels. Fortune, although
sometimes capricious in her favors, is the
most exactlng Of all divinIties. II, in the luxur.
ance Of her pos, essions and the abundance Of her
cspriscs. she sometimes chooses strange objects
for her munidcence, he invariably ends by COM
ing, at a trying momeat, ia claim the redemption
81 the pledge, and demanding from her favorites
what her enemies are glad never to have been
called on TO perform. There is an illustration OF
this IN our history, less striking in is characteristic
features, bl, none the lrss entitled TO be consul led
FOR the purpose Of gathering lessons Of wisdom
John Tyler found himself, by the dIspensation of
Providence, President Of the United States All
men wondered, at the time, that the fortunes Of
such country as this should have fallen into the
hands Of such President; and yet there was a
disposition to await the event, and give the acci.
dental prince Of the republic fair opportunity for
"dieplsying his reporton." How cruelty n.
hreathed the hope to the ear and broke il TO The
skesrt, all men now know; into what nsigniGcance
he pldrged after the accidental halo Of Office had
passed of from BIS brow, they are equally well