The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-07-14
Letter Ofmr. FILLMORE on the Nomination.

Mr. FILLMORE, to be presented in the
convention whenever he should think
proper. A noble spirit. Of, patriotism,
and disregard of self, breathcs through
out the letter and as, beyond question,
it truly Expresses his personal wishes and
feelings regarding the nomination, It will
bo read with much interest
~ WASHINGTON, June 10, 1852
To the President Of the National Wing
Convention .....
Sir: This communication will be pre-
sented TO you, and through you to the
delegated wisdom of the wing party
over which you preside, by the Hon Geo.
X. Babcock, who represents in your body
the Congressional district in which l
reside. Ae.
trust that / shall be pardoned by
the Convention for adverting briefly to
the course which | have pursued, and
the causes that have induced it, as a
means of explaining why I have selec-
ted this time and mode of making this
annunciation.
All must recolcet that when T was so
suddenly and unexpectedly called to the
exalted station which i now occupy--by
the death of my lamented and illustrious
predecessor there was crisis in our pub
lie affairs full of difficulty and danger.
The country was agitated by political
and sectional passions and discussions,
growing out of the slavery and terrific
rial questions then pending, and for
which Congress had as yet been able to
agree upon no measure of compromise
and adjustment.
The Union itself was threatened with
dissolution, and patriots and statesmen
looked with apprehension to the future.
In that feeling l participated most pro-
foundly The difficulties and dangers
which surrounded us were calmly but
anxiously surveyed. l was oppressed
by sense of the great responsibilities
that rested upon me, and sincerely dis
trusted my ability to sustain them in a
manner satisfactory and useful. to the
country. Butt was bound to make the
attempt, and, to do it with any hope of
success, felt it necessary to discard ev-
lery personal consideration, and devote
myself to the difficult task before me
with entire singleness Of heart.
To prepare and strengthen myself for
this task, cndeavored to lay aside, as
far as practicable, every merely selfish
consideration-to Danish from my mind
every LEGAL or sectional prejudice--and
to remember only that was an Amcri.
can citizen, and the Magistrate of the
American Republic, bound to regard cv-
cry portion and section Of il with equal
justice and impartiality. That I might
do this the more cffcctually, I resolved
within myself not to seek a reelection
Thus prepared, l entered upon the dis
charge of my official duties, with de.
Termination to do everything IN my pow
or to aid in the settlement of those dan
gerous controversies. Fortunately for
our favored country, a majority in both
Houses Of Congress, rising above mere
party and personal considerations, NOT ly
and periodically devoted themselves to
the great work of pacification. The
constitutional advisers whom i had cal
led to my aid, and to whose fidelity, tai.
ents and patriotism the country is chiefly
indebted for any benefit it may have re.
ceivcd from my administration, with a
unaninity and zeal worthy of every com
mendation, cordially gave their countc
I,a aud ina 20 tbo Ian,s,I. L.
partmcnt, in perfccting and adopting
those healing measures of Compromise
to which upon their passageI felt bound
BY every consideration of public duty
to give my official approval These law.
being enacted, my constitutional duty
was equally plain to take care that they
were faithfully executed" But this
: found the most painful of all my official
duties Nevertheless, resolved to per
form it, regardless of all consequence,
to myself and in doing SO, dctermin-
cd to know no North and no South
no fric.. DIS but those who sustained the
CONSTITUTION and laws,--and no enemies
but those who opposed them.
| The gratifying result of this policy il
tbefore you and the county, The angry
Istrifo which for q fine threatened to ar
ray State against State, and brother a
gainst brother, aud dcluge our happy
land with fraternal blood and .desolatC
it with fire and sword, has fortunatcl,
passed away The surging pillows O
sectional agitation are GAINED, and the
public mind is fast settling down into III
accustomed channels, and will soon re
new its wonted devotion to the Constitu
tion and the Union.
Awaiting myself of this .unhapp,
change, / had determined, when the pres
cnt Congress met, to. announce to tho
public, in my annual message, my prcvi
GUS resolution not to suffer my name t,
come before the National Convention TO
a nomination accordingly prepared
paragraph to that effect, but was persua
ded to strike it out. lest it might hay,
an unfavorilble influence upon, the thcl
pending election in Yirginia Ate
= that had passed, / concluded to with
I draw my name by published address t.
= the people, and prepared one according
+, ly but this. coming to the knowledge Q
u some of my friends, they represented +
r me that my withdrawal, at that tim,
r would not only endanger the perpetnit
4 Of those measures which I deemed S
Essential to the peace and welfare of tn
country, but would sacrifice many friend
J. who had stood by my administration i
Q the dark aud periloas crisis throug
h (which it had so recently passed Tn
first was an appeal to my patriotism, an
the second to my gratitude. | eoul