The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-22
UNION WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY MORNING. OCT y 1851.


the Clayton compromise bill was defeated by the action
of few southern wings Nor it require paricu-
lar and accurate quotation OF hs ny to remind the south
em people that the Philadelphia convention of June,
s4s, nominated for the presidency who refused to
state his views ON The great issu OF the day. and for
Vice President one who had writ the following letter
Burr Ala. October II, 1885
Sm, Your communication OF he 18th inst. chair
man of a committee appointed by the Anti slavery So
ciety of the county of Erie, has Just core TO hand You
sosit INV answer 10 the foow ng interrog atories:
First Do you believe that the petitions TO Congress
on the subject OF slavery and To slave trade ought TO be
received read and respectfully coWdefed by The repre-
SEM aiyes OF The people
Second Are you opposed , the annexation OF Texas
In Union under any crcu distances SO long as slaves
are h ED therein .
II bird Are you in favor of Congress exercising all
the stuona power il possesses to abolish the inter-
nal slave trade between the s,ts ties
-Four th Are you ia favor of immediate legislation for
The abolition of slavery in hs District OF Columbia"
am much engaged, and have no time to enter into an
argument or TO explain a. MI length my reasons a or my
by answering all your ute rogaories IN the affirmative,
and leave for failure occasion more extended dis
cussion OF the subject would, however take this &C.
casion To say that thus frankly giving my opinion
would not desfs 10 have understood IN the nature OF
pledge Al the same time that seek no Disguise but
freely give my sentiments any subject of interest to
those for whose surages am candidate am opposed
to giving any pledges that shall deprive hereafter of
4 II.
for the general correctness of my legislative
department On every imPo rtan subject am bound to
deliberate before act and especially as legislator to
arg umen that be adduced by my associates before
give final vote II stand pledged to particular course
of action cease 10 be responsible agent but become
mere machine Should subsequent events show beyond
all doubt that the had become pledged to pursue
ruinous to my conssen's and dsgraceiu myself
have no alternative, opportunity for repentance and
there is power TO alb solve from my obligation
Hence the improperly not to say absudiy in my view,
OF giving pledge.
am aware that you have not asked any pledge, and
believe know your sound judgment and good
well TO think you desire any such thing 1t was, how
ever, TO prevent any misrepresentation the part Of
othes that have fell my duty to say thus much the
subject
/ am. respectfully, your most obedient servant.
WILLARD FILLMORE.
w. Mills, esq, chairman, &C.
After presenting this evidence, think il unnecessary
to do in order TO prove the first portion of
But for fear that there may be witless cavaliers, will
barely mention that all the wing party OF Virginia and of
the South was convulsed with ecstasy when the
was received that Ford, The -sympathizer had
beaten Weller in Ohio and that Johnston the aboonst
had beaten Longsreth in Pennsylvania. Governor Ford
urged the speal Of those laws which made distinction
between the aegro and the white before the courts
the abollionism of Governor Johnston is well known
to need explana ton Yet the southern wligs-the Vir
pinia whiss-the very who pretend to be the
exclusive friends Of the Unon-gave ~ to wild
ocngs when il was .,sceraned that Ford and Johnston
were elected.
But this is not all no. is il the worst. The southern
wings were calm and coml asant in face OF the tremen-
dous impulse given to the northern assaults on slavery
during the last session of the 1hireh Cong ress arising
out OF the election of Zachary Taylor and Willard Fill
more They saw the northern wing party sustaining the
Wmo proviso and voting for the abolition of slavery in
the District OF Columbia They Mr.. Seward and Mr..
Ewing defeating Mr.. Walkers amendms mt, and giving
new vitality to the anti slavery agitation They Gen.
eral Taylor place Mr. Ewing in his cabinet and form
cabinet controlled by free sellers and yet they sustained
General Taylor although it was known hat Mr.. Seward,
of New York, controlled General Tayol's appointments
and directed his patronage.
The Taylor cabinet used all its authority defeat the
Compromise II bound itself to the Presidents PLAN"
as il was called and urged the single md separate ad-
mission of California, leaving the other uesons rankle
in the public mind and breed civil The Republic
the organ of the administration this ground
up to the time of the adoption Of the Compromise Yet
now the Repsblnths organ of MIR. Fillmores admins
traonpre,ends be the especial champion OF the Com
promise while insists that Mr. Fillmore who refused
10 sign the fugitive slave law without an opinion from
the Attorney General one OF the chief authors Of that
measure.
We have said thus much in order prove facts ante
ceden, the passage of the Compromise But. since the
passage of The Compromise there other facts which
show that the whg party Of the North which controls
the action OF the ederasts, hostile to the Adjustment
nasmuch is the enemy Of those features Of the Com
PROMISE which make il acceptable TO the public No
man doubt at this late day thai the fugitive.
slave law alone commended the Compromise to the
people OF the South. How that law enacted How
many northern wings voted for it in the Senate' How
many southern whigs' What the vote in the House
OF Representatives The following figures, gathered
from the journals Of the two houses. will tell the tale
In the Senate