The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-06
informed. Mr.. Fillmore should learn q lesson

The present position OF this illustrious per5onage'
we said in the beginning. was anomalous. II is.
When Mr.. Tyler was called to the helm OF State,
after his superior had been swept overheard, there
were fair skies, and there was smooth sea. Any
navigator could have brought the vessel safely to
her moorings. The general current of events
tended calmly in one direction. Things could
hardly 60 wrong There was no proclivity to evil
In the public mind. But Mr.. Tyler showed him.
self unequal even to the task Of being quiet, in
offensive passenger on board the ship which his
own crew were SO fully competent to command.
When she reached the haven his services were
dispensed with, and scarcely corporars guard
greeted his debarkation. But with Willard Fill.
more the case is far different. Having won
laurels, as brilliant as they were unexpected, by
dong his simple duty in the beginning of his ai-
ministration, the impression has now gene abroad
that he is losing the main chance for the future,
by relying, as irresolute, tranquil men always do,
upon the achievements of the past. II might be
well if he would ask himself the CUES ion whether
even the glory that for while spread its light over
him came from higher dispensation, or whether
men awarded it to him alone. In any event, the
people of this country have expected Mr. Fillmore
more than he has accomplished. 1t is true too
much is expected of men; but it was thought, for
instance, that he would have manifested more
alacrity in redeeming the pledge which the COM
promise measures imposed on him, than merely to
publish proclamation and message. He had an
opportunity to do more, and the opportunity was
repeated. 1t is very doubtful whether some of his
district attorneys have not attempted to evade their
federal duties, when the testing of the Fugitive
Slave law came on. 1t is believed, too, that he
iuhf kau he
tain confidence IN his administration, by turning
out some OF the men who were supposed to be in
fected with sectional and fanatical spirit. But
above all, his own party in this State feel abundant
cause for complaint.
We will specify. 1t is well known that for the
last fifteen years, there has been clique of men
infected with the fanatcism ofabolltion, who have
attempted, by every means in their power, to gain
control of the politics of New York. Mr.. Fillmore
has been aware of this. He must have known
that for many years Seward, Greeley, and Weed
have exhausted all their power in attempting to
suppress his influence, and put their avorite leader
in his pace. The President, knew how hard the
contest was in this State during the last fall elec
tion, between the Union wings and the Seward
abohtonists. He must have known that during
this struggle bis own personal and political friends
were looking to him for aid and encouragement in
this difficult work. 1t was even stated, with the ut
most confidence every district of this State, du-
ring the gubernatorial election, that the sympa-
thies of the President were undoubtedly on the
side OF the conservative or Union party, and that,
whatever might be the result, after the election he
would show il in his public appointments and in
his public acts. But how has it been! Since that
election hundreds of applications have been made
10 Mr.. Fillmore, and they have been 20 well sus-
tanned that he could not doubt the truth Of the
representations, that multitudes of his political
enemies, in his own party nominally, were still
holding posts of honor and emolument, where
they dared openly to defy his power and un-
hesiatipgly to proclaim that he did not dare to
brave the wrath of Seward and his CLIQUE, by turn
ing them out of office. One by one the real
staunch, incorporating friends-of Mr.. Fillmore,
and OF the union OF these States, went to WASH
ington and confidently askcd-n not for themselves,
indeed--but for the sake of the friends of the
URion, that he would appoint those men to office
who had established incontestisly their claim to
the public confidence. They had right to sup
pose that in such a crisis the pledges they had,
from their own hearts, given during the election,
would Re redeemed. The world can Judge of the
disappointment they felt when he seemed disin
clined 10 make any clear distinction between the
national wings of New York and the Seward abo-
litionisis.
Here is the upshot of the whole matter. The
national wings Of New York were disappointed
Seward, Greeley and Weed held their rod Of pow.
er over the head OF the President IN terrorem;
and IN SO far as events have transpred, we
have yet seen no evidence that Willard Fill
II
tain it is that their intimate friends and sup.
por'ers still hold large proportion Of the public
Offices of this State, and there is no immediate
sign of their removal. We learn from our private
correspondent that only two weeks ago, when the
President was requested to give some expression
OF HE intended policy on this subject, to crafty
his best friends in New York, he coolly remarked
that he did not feel called upon to make any war
against the friends of Mr.. Seward, because IL was
even doubtful whether these men did not number
majority in the whig party; and while, at all
events, they were so evenly balanced, it did not
become him to take sides very decisively II was
remarked 10 him in reply, that he had received
some clear indications from his New York friends
on this subject, and one, within day or two,
which could not be mistaken and that was, that
the friend OF Mr. Seward, He milton Fish-the cam
didate Of the abotionsts and the pet of the Seward
clique-had been defeated in his election to the
Senate by a single vote. II was known to the
President that Mr. Beekman was friend Of the
administration, and friend Of Mr.. Fillmore. He
also knew that, If five votes had been necessary,
instead Of one, to defeat Hamilton Fish, these FIVE
votes would not have been wanting; and yet, with
all these facts before his eyes. the President unhe-
sitaiingly said that he had no objections 10 Mr.
Fish
What does Mr.. Fillmore conceive to be
the legitimate effect Of such conversations
and such actions Does he suppose he csn
sii quietly in his Presidential chair, and look
unconcerned on the ferocious struggle through
which the friends Of the Union are march
ing in this State, and still retain their confidence,