The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-19
From the B.ss.io IN " Con. Ad.1ti.s, Noe. ls


though embracing bat two .hir1s OF full Presi
dental term, will have covered the whole period
Of actual legislation by Congress during the four
years succeeding the Inauguration Of General Tay-
or. He succeeded TO the Presidency about the
beginning Of July, 1880 Congress had then been
In session seven months. but nothing had been ac'
coDplished. The slavery controversy was then
raging with virulence never before equaied.
Furious invCctive, threats, taunts, and gibes were
the order of each succeeding day in both Houses.
and physical conflict in the Halls Of the National
Capitol looked upon az probable result Of
the scenes which had superseded the duties OF
legislation. With tho change Of administration
came a change Of policy. Quiet and order sue
ceeded a state Of almost revolutionary violence.
The functions of legislation almost imme.
dately resumed. The syStem Of bills known as
the ..Omnibus." to which II j. understood that
MIR. FlLiMeess- nau not given his approval a. Vice
President, was rejected, and in the course OF six
short weeks the Compromise measures were
framed by the concerted action of the greatest
men Of the nation, were passed by Congress, and
received the sanction Of the Executive. In sign
ing these memorable bills, Mr. Fillmore knew that
no was offending the prejudicos and running
counter to the matured opinions Of some of bis most
cherished friends. But from the new position to
which Providence had called him, he COM
PEELED to survey the whole country, and that sur
vey satisfied him that a sacrifice Of assumed
rights, by both aides. was indispensable to the
peace Of the nation. and the continuance OF the
Union. Undoubtedly the greatesr struggle In
the mind of tho President was in giving his sane.
ton to the Fugitive Slave bill. Its provisions
were not only hostile to the feelings and convic
tons Of large portion of the northern people,
but they were in conflict with sentimsnts he had
long held in common with hsimmediate constitu.
ents. Bot statesman fitted to control the dealt
mica of country like this, must govern himself
by motives higher than sentiment. The Presi'
dent determined 10 sign the bill peace offer
ing to the South, then alarmed and incensed to
the highest pitch of evaporation by the admis-
sion of California, event which the extreme
southern politicians commended was devised and
carried through to break down the equilibrium OF
the two sections in the Senate, and to prepare the
way for the abolition of slavery by the action OF
the Federal Government, controlled by tyranni-
cal northern majority. 1t is in vain now to say
that this was unfounded pretence, which time
would have exposed. No time would have been
allowed. The Secession and Disuuion parties we're
preparing for action; and the recent revelations Of
Messrs. Clingman, Cabell, and others, abundantly
prove that, had not the adjustment taken place
when it did, the questions involved would have
been committed to the arbitrament of arms. But
q constitutional difficulty remained. The Presi-
dent took the opinions of the Secretary of State,
the first constitutional lawyer of the Union, and Of
the Attorney General, the official adviser Of the
Executive in CASTS of the kind. Those dstin guish
ed authorities concurred in everything objections
that had been made to the constituionality of the
Fugitive bill, and the President hesitated not
instant longer in making it a law.
he mi me no dan
which impended over the Union and the public
peace 1t would be uncandid to cay that all dis
content and excitement were allayed by them
The division of parties at the South into Union
men and Seccssionsts, and the scenes of disorder
and violence at the North, the recollection of which
cannot be recalled even now without regret, at
test the contrary. The promptness with which
the masses Of the southern people, rallying under
the banner of the Union, suppressed the spirit of
sedition so pcrseveringly invoked by demagogues
in that quarter, afforded a gratifying proof of
their deter mnaton to adhere to the settlement
Of past disputes But at the North the surges of
agitation continued to disturb the popular mind
after the force of the tempest was spent. The
voca buary Of vituperation exhausted in de-
nouncing the President and Mr.. Webster for ap
proving the Fugitive bill and the indemnify to
Texas. Both assumed the full responsibility
which devoved upon them. In bis next annual
message, that of December, 1850, the President
declared discussion closed, and that the Compro
mice acts, taken together, were a settlement Of
all questions respecting slavery with which tho
National Government or the free States had any
concern. This declaration had most important
effect In fact it determined the fate of the Com
promise. In those few wofds the administration
took position from which friends and foes saw
it could not DO swtrvrd. The consequence has
been, that two years and two SEASONS OF Congress
have passed without any attempt, or even any
serious proposition, TO repeal any part Of the ad
justmcnt. The motion Of Mr.. Sumner, last Au.
gust to repeal the Fugitive act hardly descrv es 10
be noticed as an exception to this universal &C.
qucscsnce. With the calm dignity which forms
striking trait in his character, the President
has awaited his vindication in the deliberate judg
mcnt Of tho people. Assured Of the beneficial re.
sults Of bie policy, he has doubted the favor.
able verdict Of his Countrymcn. And he has
received il at n time and under circumstances
which render it doubIy grateful Both the great
parties which divide the nation have, in their con
ventions asserted the principles Of his Adminstra
ton TO be the only on which this Government
can be conducted. That MIR. Fillmore should. in
justice and consistency, have been made the repre-.
sentative of the doctrines which his party adopted
when entering upon the late contest, is now ad.
mitted Dy many OF the moat vehement pa F.35
of his successful rival II ia also clear TIM General
Pierce owes something Of his triumph ,he fact
that he considered sterner suppor to- Of somr
of the measures with which Mr.. Fin.re Is tIcn
tilted than his competitor.
Under circumstances such these IL, Pea,
dent addresses himself for the last time to Con.
gress. His career Executive head of the Gov.
eminent has been brief, but eventful and illus.
trious. All the laws of both Congresses bear his
name. He has risked p pularity which was
unbounded, and by the unfiinching performance
of duty has given peace to the country and sta
bility to the Union. He took the helm at a time
when the nation seemed divided into geographical
parties, each glazing upon the other: each ready
to spring at the throat Of the other. Now these
parties unknown, and mutual hate has given
place to harmony and unity Every portion Of
this vas,y-cxtendcd Republic now enjoys the ad-
vantages Of an organized government; then an
arohy seemed rapidly marching from the from
tiers to- the centre. No nation has ever exhibited
n more splendid spectacle OF prosperity and
grcatness. The Jaws strictly emf. reed, but
no citizen is oppressed. Our revenue is overflow.