The republic., 1851-06-13
From the Richmond (Ya.) Republican.
A "Tfmtd President

The Louisville Democrat denounces Pres-
dent FILLMORE as a g timid President" The
Democrat must have peculiar ideas of timidity.
Our Democratic opponents seem to have been
long at loss for ammunition with which to make
upon the President. and it has been observed
that no American Executive, for long period. has
afforded little ground for the assaults of political
enemies. This is the more remarkable when we
consider the exciting and even perilous condition
of public affairs since President FILLMORE assumed
the reins Of Government. If his Administration
had commenced and been continued througha Pc
riod of great quiet and prosperity, it would not
have been wonderful that he should have been
singularly exempt from those angry and persever-
ing assaults which almost all his predecessors were
forced to encounter. If there had been smooth
sea and gentle breezes, ii would have been no mark
Of signal merit to guide the ship Of State peacefully
over the deep. But it cannot be denied that never,
since the foundation of the Government, has the
conduct fpublc affairs required moreconsummate
craftsmanship and patriotism than during the Ad-
ministration of Mr. FILLMORE, and yet never has
there been administration whose course go COM
mended itself to the confidence Of the great mass of
thecountry including its most bitter political oppo-
nents. 1t ia fresh in the recollection of everybody
that the administration of General Taylor
failed to command that forbearance, to say nothing
of admiration, of the Democracy which has mark
ed Mr.. FILLMopE's course. Gen. Taylor, with all
his illustrious virtue and military renown, was
bitterly assailed by his political antagonists; yet
their leaders have been warm and decided in their
appreciation of the national and patriotic course
of Dir. FILLMORE. We know not what they may
hereafter say, but what they have said remains on
record, and cannot be unsaid without fragrant in
consistency and fiat contradiction. No man of or
dinary craftsmanship and character could thus
have stled the raging elements of party warfare
in the midst of their greatest fury. Such q result
can only be accounted for on the ground that Pres
ident FILLMoRE's Administration has been con-
Quoted on truly national and patriotic principles,
and that he has sincerely and conscientousy en-
deavored to perform his whole duty to the whole
country
Now, no man could have thus performed his duty
in the trying circumstances in which MIR. Fill
MORE placed, no matter how sincere his inten-
tons, but man of we'll balanced, well poised and
well-proportioned character, who alike
free from the extremes of rashness and timidity.
The Louisville Democrat will find it an uphill
business to convince anybody that Mr.. FILLMORE
is ga tinid President" There are no throats large
enough to swallow such monstrous fable. Mr.
FILLMORE came to the Presidency northern man,
and, at the time when he commenced his Admins
tration, found almost the whole body Of the North
arrayed against those measure the establishment
OF which has given peace and safety to the coun-
try. II he had been timid man, he would have
yielded to the prevailing current. If he had
sought popularity, he might have made himself
the unrivallcd favorite of the northern masses,
by acting in conformity with their views and feel
ings. No northern man but of the truest
patriotism, and the very highest moral cou-
rage, could have signed the Fugitive Slave law
Suppose law distasteful to the South as was
that law to the North had been approved by a
southern President, whatever else might have
been said of him, it is very certain that no one
would have accused him of timidity. Mr.. FILL
MORE has in fact been forced to breast pitiless
storm of fanatcism and demagoguism in the
northern States, and now that he has subducd that
storm, il i'll becomes those who have never been
known to dispute single decree of section or par
ty, to brand him as 'timid President"
We venture to say that his future course will
confirm the favorable impressions of his firmness
and prudence which have been awakened by his
past career He has, it is true, the virtues ofcaln-
and discretion; he never loses his self posses
sion, and is never rash. But the greatest determi
nation is found in combination with these
qualities; and we thinkit matter Of fespecial gratu
lation to the country that, in such times these,
just such character wise, cool, and brave as that
of MIR. FILLMORE, is at the helm of the Govern.
mcnt.