Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-14
The FILLMORE Administration.


particular word in regard to the Fillmore
Administration and the popular confidence
which ii is fast securing.
How rcceived-not merely by the peo-
pleat barge, but even by the body Of the
Opposi,ionItself THAT was its leaders and
its Press-was the First Annual Message
Of President Fillmore. our readers who did
not know it of themselves have, by this
time. little need to be further told. The
soundness fairness, moderation, practical
ness Of It's views; its singular straightfor-
wardncss and explicitness Of avowal, as
toevery public purpose or principle hereto
fore IN dispute the excellent contrast to
such manliness, of modesty as entire
the truthluiness, the rcctitude which,
throughout the whole performance, obvi-
ously refuse alike to suppress or TO affect
anything for mere popularity sake; the
cain, the passioness, the just concililiory.
and 1--WE may well say wise temper, APP
parent everywhere; the true nationality OF
spirit. as contradistinguishcd from the err
sors, the excuses Or the hypocrisies in D.
pimon OF mere party, or Ito use those
words in their best sense) the cat olicify.
the broaduess, the Americanness Of public
doctrine aud sentiments which all through
inform and animate this admirable docu-
ment, have, conlessedly, nowhere been lost
upon the people in the mass, all unused as
they had become, for many year, TO hear
Themselves addressed by their Chicf-Mag-
istraie. to a tone, a language and charac-
ter which absolutely carry one back to the
best days of our republic, and revive and
renew the untaintcd public honors and pat
riotism Of the very Golden Age ofour pol
tics.
The message in a word must stand con
fessed, "A sort Of public phenomenon of our
times, at once nits inward character and
lis outward effects. There is no exagger-
alton, we think, in saying that it has been
welcomed, throughout the country, by an
approval so nearly unanimous as no paper
of such sort-no administrative exposi-
ton Of "A general policy to come-wbether
by prince or minister or magistrate-has.
within orr own day, commanded. In a
period and land OF faction and Of dema-
gooucs it has either silenced the voice OF
mere party, or wherever not totally rcck-
less and immitigable, extoried its praise
And that it has done all this without the
prestige. the magic, ola name either dear
or dreaded; the PRESIDENT was, it is true,
esteemed as far as known; but he was com
paratively little known. TIE wide and
remarkable degree, then, in which he has
SCI :ed upon the good feelings OF every
body except the most desperate men, and
slnost reunited into a single party all who
sincerely desire but that the country shall
be ably and honestly governed, can be due
only to the merits OF the system Of public
90 which he has set forth, and to the
complete confidence in his intention and his
ability to realize it, which he has at once
inspired.
We have already glanced at those ad-
mirable characteristics Of the Message
which have lent to it such an extraordi-
nary, but such legitimate success. Two
Of these in especial are, however, to Be
moro distinctly referred to, as the par,icu-
lar keys-now long disuscd-which have
unlocked for Mr.. Fillmore he popular con
fid' nee; a gate wii.h, when once fillt
opened, stands wide. and is not again.
without some fragrant fault Of bis own, 10
BE slammed and bolted IL his face, by any
mere selt-assumed turnkey Of the Jail il
which pretended 'lt'euds of Freedom"
would gladly keep all public thought.
The TWO especial characteristics to which
we aliudc are. first, the extreme unatftct-
edness and singlencss ofpurpose conspicu.
ous, without an Effort, in al that the Prcs-
dent says; and Secondly, the palpable pres
euce and sovereign performance in lis
mind, all the while, of one great leading
Idea-that Of Derry. as supreme over all
other moti7os-duty to his trust. and lis
country.
Iris that one high governing idea which
lfunited with practical abilities, makes the
chief OF Il nation worthy to rule: without it,
he cannot be. The people, we are sure,
after having for many year seen but a
CLEAN or two Of that true light Of authority,
hail once more with delight what is plainly
ii new dawn of it. Ii strikes us too that
weary OF The long annual exhibition OF pre-
sidennal acruples upon paper, the pomp of
political conscicnces brought out like State
coaches once a twelve moth for show-rhe
pubhc is not little charmed at having to
10 once more with man Of no such self
decoration, no such Sunday-suits ofdoctrine
no go-to-mee,ing clothes ofopinion that are
pulled Of on working. days; who does not
hide lis actions under lily words. sets out
NO lures nor Gne-tvigs Of profession to
catch popularity with; but delivers his pub
lie sentiments to his fellow citizens simplv
as II they We're their due; is too frank to be
conscious Of his frankncss, and quite too
honest to be visibly surprised at his own
virtue. Such surprises have we seen IN
the Presidential saints Of that most evan
gelical schoolofpoLticians, the Jacksonian:
who naturally made much ado over their
smallhonesty seeing that it cost them great
efforts and came TOO rarely not to be avon
der.
But not alone the Message or Messages
have thus attracted to the Prcsidenta gene
raj confidence. Sick of the mere talk of
good government; surfeited with sound:
cloycd with the confectionery Of perpetual
Democratic sugar-plums, the good folks Of
tins country We're not again to be taken
with snare of speech. They are birds
grown little too old to be caught with
chat. They have learnt that words, how
ever wrtuous, Republican, Democratic, and
all that, are not the substance but mere
shadows at best, unworthy Of attention
until they be proved by corresponding ac-
ton to be true signs ofthe intention; not a
mere make-believe, but bodily and solidly
things. Such earnest had Mr. Fillmore
given, from the beginning, that he was per
iectly sincere, and meant, rs far as the coun-
try viii let him, to give it capable and a
althtul administration Of It's affairs. such as
II had long ceased to see. Towards doing
this. the FIRST and most iniisnensahln sfe,,